On a balmy summer evening, groups of willing volunteers gathered at Smallcombe Community Nuttery, scythes in hand, to clear the nettles and long grass in readiness for the Nuttery Community Picnic.
Smallcombe Community Nuttery had been neglected over the Covid years but is now the focus of attention as Transition Bath volunteers, together with members of Bath Organic Group, Dry Arch Growers and local residents prepare for the “Here we go round the mulberry bush” community picnic on Sunday 20th August.
A few weeks before the scything, to make sure we would not be damaging any interesting/unusual growing/flying/crawling things during this exercise, we invited Bath Natural History Society (Bath Nats) to do a site survey of the Nuttery. They reported that they did not find anything of special note, so we were able to progress full steam ahead with our clearing exercise.
Keith Williams of Dry Arch Growers kindly provided the scythes and gave us all a lesson in how to scythe safely and effectively.
Several of us were distracted by the beautifully ripe mulberries on the tree at the top of the Nuttery and felt compelled to eat a few to keep up our energy levels.
Luckily, there was also a break for cake and a chat before we continued with our work.
After the 3-hour session, the top area of the Nuttery was cleared sufficiently for picnickers to be able to set down their blankets and picnic hampers comfortably and enjoy this beautiful spot beside the Bath Skyline Walk.
Please join us on Sunday 20th August from 12pm to 2pm for a family friendly picnic. Cake will be provided but you will need to bring your own rug/chair and food/drink. There will be activities to keep the kids entertained and, of course, plenty of mulberries to enjoy.
We hope to see you there!
