Gully Stuffing

[ysabetwordsmith]

This video explains how to repair eroded gullies by cramming them with cut brush.  Compare with gabions, which are rock walls also used to slow water, trap sediment and biomass, and let that sink into the ground.  Gully stuffing is another technique for fixing what humans broke and restoring habitat.  The improved watershed then benefits humans as well as wildlife.

Comments

[siliconshaman]

They're doing that up on the Moors this year, building brush dams, heather, brambles and gorse mostly since they need an annual trim, into eroded run-off spills from the peat bogs. For exactly the same reasons, to stop erosion and raise the water-table in the peatland to stop it drying out. (and stop heathland fires as a result.)

I might just put in a few days of volunteer work if I'm able, although it's hard graft on the old back.

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> They're doing that up on the Moors this year, <<

I've seen a variety of interesting news about restoring the much-ravaged parts of the Isles. Some will take years of work to achieve, like restoring megafauna wiped out by humans. But some can be done by expanding the range of animals (e.g. water voles, beavers) and trees (e.g. willows, oaks) that have survived.

>>I might just put in a few days of volunteer work if I'm able, although it's hard graft on the old back.<<

Find an organization near you and talk to them. Remember that not everyone has to do the same job on a project to contribute. Bushwhacking is brutal on tools. Can you sharpen an edge and replace a hinge bolt? Jerryrig something on the spot? Because I'm betting most groups won't have a blacksmith available to fix what breaks, which would make you more valuable than another bushwhacker.

Re: Thoughts

[siliconshaman]

I can that! I even know how to use an old fashioned pedal powered grind stone and whetstone. I've picked up, or relearnt a bunch of old skills, just in case. (well, that I couldn't afford the fancy tools for a long while.)

Re: Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

You should definitely call around and ask. Most restoration projects would love to save money as well as gain volunteers and fix tools. Advantage of a pedal whetstone: it's a bastard to carry, but requires no electricity and can sharpen even heavy farm blades efficiently.