25/07/2026  9.00 - 13.00  Dockens Water path and north side. Bramble trip hazard clearing ++, along most of the paths.

Issues of note:

• Goosander Hide : signs of antisocial behaviour again. All windows left and the door propped open. Scorch marks along the timber below the low window. ?at least one name - 'Ryan'
• Tern Hide: Adjustments to left hand long window still required to facilitate closing.
• Oiling of kissing gate on south side of Ellingham Drove from Tern Hide needed. 'Squeaking ++'

 18/07/2026  9.00 - 13.00  Dockens Water path and North side. Bramble trimming as ever - there were still plenty of potential trip hazards.

Issues of note:

• Main drive: Brambles could do with trimming back along the left hand side at the exit from the carpark and the rest of the left side up to the parking area at the top of the drive [I trimmed a bit but it could do with some more]
• Dockens Water path: The 2nd bench on the left hand side of the Dockens Water path with the large dead tree down behind it. Is there a chance that one or more of the dead branches could fall from the tree onto the bench?
• Tern Hide: The left hand long window could do with some sanding on the lower edge - particularly the outside of the lower edge - to facilitate the closing.
• The kissing gates on either side of Ellingham Drove for the path that crosses to and from the Tern Hide could do with oiling+++

 11/07/2026  9.00 - 13.00  Dockens Water path and North side. Usual bramble trimming - still growing ++ - and hide check.

Issues of note:

• Lapwing Hide. Signs of out of hours use. All windows left open, drink cans left. ? the two spare benches at rear of hide removed or taken.
• Goosander Hide. 'Socks'  thrown onto the vegetation in front of the Hide. Sun glasses left in hide, returned to Catherine. 
• Empty crisp packets again left in the hedge just before exit onto Ellingham Drove.
• Increasing numbers of bramble trip hazards encroaching from the verges onto the eastern path.
• Trimming of nettles on western path - great, thankyou.

Sightings [or lack of]

• The spit in front of Lapwing hide is now partially visible.
• Great crested grebe nest appears to have disappeared from in front of Goosander Hide.
• No ponies seen on the western shore.

 04/07/2026  9.00 - 13.00  Dockens Water path and North side.  Usual bramble trimming ++, hide and path checks.

Issues of note:

• reeds over boardwalk and nettles either side of the south end of the western path increasingly encroaching over the paths.
• Dead branch still hanging over the western path,  approx 50m south of the cross path.

NB: Is there any chance that Robin could be contacted to come over and scrape the main drive. Potholes becoming increasingly difficult to avoid.