Action
taken: 104 man-hours, with chisel hoes & L-Ds.
Assessment:
the long grass made work with the Chisel Hoes difficult.
The Creeping thistle was well advanced in growth, so finding
its base was difficult. Some of this work was done by
a workforce of three, but most was carried out by one
man, alone.
The
maintenance task on this needs a more planned approach,
from an energetic workforce nearer to the site.
Cost:
£780.+ Vat and Travel.
Chisel
Hoe Creeping especially towards pond end of site, with
the aim of beginning long term control, and preventing
seeding.
Remove
Docks & Spear thistle growing on slopes of the raised
flood bank.
- Site
Inspection. Late April.
Both
creeping thistles and grass were found to be unexpectedly
long, which was going to make chiselling below the point
of growth hard work. Plant stems were difficult to locate
& there was lots of grass to cut through. Docks
and Spear thistles were easier to spot, although the
long grass once again would hamper visibility.
- A
total of 13 days handwork were worked.
Creeping
thistle was chiselled on both sides of the raised bank.
Spear
thistle and dock plants were removed.
This
work was also done in the area between the bank and
the lower path.
Some
work was done near / in the meadow by the sluice.
Some
docks were piled near the entrance gate, and others
found there way back here (in bags), and were composted
No
inspection of the site has been carried out since, and
no work was attempted on the hog-weed in the little
meadow near the entrance. This is winter work, when
the ground is wet.
- Follow-up
is an essential part of all control. The general feeling
was that the work was hampered by long grass and length
of the creeping thistle. Chisel hoe-ing is much more
efficient in grazed pastures. Here (Hill Top Farm),
we do this work as soon as the sheep have left the pasture,
when grass is at its shortest.
- The
control of creeping-thistle using chisel hoes does depend
on repeated visits, especially in wet areas, and in
the 1st year. A long term plan must be drawn
up, if this method of control is to be effective &
long lasting. Every effort must be made to piece together
a workforce for April 2005, and two passes with the
chisel-hoes is recommended.
