Ponds and getting wet

Well the oak tree looks wonderful – the paddock green and the sun shining down. A new place for a picnic, sundowner or just a rest and nearby the oak as stream to the pond. The pond! Overgrown with trees in the water a bridge over the stream just about accessible but afterwards not much to see but mess. The pond really is lovely and there are ducks on it, but it really needed some attention and tender loving care.

First clear the stream around the bridge to allow the water to move and to help the film on top disappear. So in my new Hawkshead wellies in I go, much deeper then expected and not long before I am taking in water as the pond bottom slopes – still it is warm so we continue to rake out the leaves and branches, all dirty black but make good compost in the end.

Carolyn is on the bank doing the same thing, clearing a little side pool. Soon there are piles of mud, leaves and sticks littering the banks. We also had a laugh. Carolyn said, ‘W need to get rid of that stake by the waters edge.’ So I go over to see if I can move it and pull it out I give it a push, it doesn’t move. Another push and there is a loud crack as the stake breaks and falls into the pond with me close behind it! I manage to throw myself sideways and land half in the pond but most of me on the bank, wet but not drowned!!

We then head over the bridge. There is a hedge to clear and I thought, as already wet, I’ll go into to the pond – to see if I could cut down some of the trees and branches there. Played jumping from stump to stump, losing my balance on a few occasions but managed to stay reasonably dry and quite far out from the edge. Lots cleared so more light on the pond and more mess to clear away but all in all a great fun day on Woodgate Farm.