Following our preparation at the geotextile site last year (see our first blog for step 1 here), we have been back to put the geotextile fabric in!
Clearance in November 2023
First thing that we needed to look at was the weather, we had originally booked to do the day in January but due to the heavy wind and storms we've had in the last few months, we had to rearrange to a better (and less windy day).
Placing the first bit of fabric was definitely a trial and error moment for us, we had 10 rolls of the fabric as well as a variety of pegs to pin the fabric down. Everyone was gloved up (as young hogweed seedlings have started coming through already!). However, with our super volunteers we managed to get into a groove with it.
Laying out the first piece
The first thing we did was roll one of the geotextile strips out, this was pegged in as far to the bottom of the site as we could, using the hedgerow as a boundary line. Once the first sheet was in place, we rolled out the second one. Stones were placed temporarily on the textile to hold it down in place before they were secured with pegs.
In order to minimise wind impact, we ensured that each new role was layered underneath the previous one and pegged down. Each peg was place 0.5m apart and secured with a hammer. We soon got into the flow, and had already completed half of the area just in time for our 11 o'clock flapjack break.
Back to work and we managed to do the final strips of the geotextile. Once they were all in place, we went over the areas, and placed extra pegs in to secure parts where there were gaps. It was definitely a lot easier to place the textile down when the ground was fairly flat, if it was left much later, it would have been a lot more difficult to flatten due to the giant hogweed growth!
Once all of the fabric was secured in, we used heavy stones and branches and placed them over some areas of the geotextile, although this will not necessarily stay like this, it is an extra bit of protection from the wind.
Some of the great volunteers we have and a student from Barnard castle school doing work experience with us!
The next steps for us will just involve monitoring! When we return to spray giant hogweed within the woodland area of the site, and over the winter when we are brush cutting access routes we will check on it. We also have spare pegs and fabric in case any come loose. The aim will be to leave the geotextile down for a few years to supress any giant hogweed from growing. Once removed, native species will be able to recolonise!
Final area coverage pinned in place.
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