This
site was described as a ‘sea of yellow plants’. The job
of removing and burning them before they cast their seed,
was enormous, and completed between July 29th
– 15th August. The student work-force of four,
were experienced users of the L-D, and were lead by J.
Trevelyan,. They camped on site.
This
was ‘conventionally’ managed land, so the owner was permitted
to use chemical sprays if he wished. It was used as a
cattle pasture and horse gallops, which made this difficult.
Completing
this job during the heat of summer, with the plants in
flower and about to seed, was instructive. The heat combined
with more than two weeks continuous pulling made the job
arduous. Why not attack the worst of the problem in the
winter ? The L-D tool allows ground-level rosettes
to be pulled, without any bending. The ground is moist
in the winter months, and the rosettes are made visible
by grazing. We made the decision never again to start
work on large infestations during the height of summer.
The
cost of this job was £3962. (£79 per acre) This included
the sale of 2 Lazy Dog Tools.
Photographs
& drawings.
