This month saw one of the final steps taken to clear up part of Newburgh waterfront acquired by Newburgh Community Trust.
The decaying 30-ton boat “Perspection” was lifted from its final berth at the old piers onto dry land. It was then decked out in flags and pirate guys made at the local primary school in an initiative involving the Steeple Arts Group.
Saturday 10th saw a large crowd turnout to see the ceremonial burning of the boat, and this was followed by torches lighting up the well known local landscape feature of the bear and ragged staff marked out on the hillside above the town.
Funds raised during the day will go to the trust to help with the purchase of the piers.
The good weather continued into the middle of the month with some very mild days.
Work on the riverside included the planting of conifer, chestnut, and blackthorn trees. The tractor and grubber gave the hailings and beaches their annual going over in time for the redshank returning in numbers.
As the weather got much colder the feeding stations in the woods got started up again with fat blocks and mixed seed being put out for the birds.
The smaller birds are flocking up now, and we are seeing a lot of fieldfare stripping the hawthorn and rowan trees of their berries. It is good to see the dabchicks and goldeneye duck back on the estuary, we also had quite a lot of whooper swans passing through earlier in the month.
Work also carried on at the old boatyard in Newburgh,
clearing out skip loads of rubbish and taking down some of the old sheds.
A start was made along the waterfront footpath pruning back sukers on the wall, and clearing overhanging branches.
The month ended with a cold wet spell and some spate coming down the system.
Dago.
