A damp day in Philips Park

Back in February, we shared our excitement about our work with Lancashire Wildlife Trust and their work in Philips Park in Manchester. Our contribution has allowed them to hold various volunteer days since then, making a huge impact on clearing the invasive species and opening up the forest floor ready for planting later in the year. 

Earlier this month, we put our manpower where our money is and sent some staff along to get their hands dirty, and wet, very, very wet. Somehow managing to choose one of the wettest days in June, we packed up our raincoats and umbrellas and headed out to brave the elements. To be clear, our staff all volunteered for this, probably thinking June would be dry and sunny, and it would be a pleasant day out of the office. 

Kay, Dean, Gemma, and I met up with Stephen from the Lancashire Wildlife Trust to hear more about the work we were supporting at Philips Park before popping on our wellies and taking a walk through the grounds to the ancient woodland. 

Our task for the day was the removal of Himalayan balsam, which has been spreading rapidly and crowding out the woodland floor, preventing light and water from reaching the soil. Himalayan balsam needs to be pulled up before it flowers, as each flower contains hundreds of seeds and spreads over a large area, causing more issues the following year. The removal of the balsam was surprisingly easy, as a gentle tug removed the whole plant, including the roots. Being careful not to remove any other plants we managed to clear a large area before we were absolutely drenched and hungry for lunch and a warm brew. 

The rain may have been against us but we still had a great day and it was satisfying to see the difference we had made in a short space of time. We are looking forward to heading back in September to plant some native species in these spaces and seeing them bloom in the future.