An odd name for an insignificant-looking flower. It has two egg-shaped green leaves and greenish-yellow flowers on long open spikes. It's Latin name, (listera ovata) is derived from a British naturalist, Dr Martin Lister, and ovum, an egg, referring to the shape of the leaves. I don't know of any English derivation, other than "two blades" which I have worked out for myself! It is Murphy's Law, of course, that when whenever one of the green team have to take a day off from the reserve they often take it at the same time... Thus I spent a happy, quiet morning watching the birds, and drinking a lot of coffee in the sunshine in between some bramble cutting to give the twayblades a chance to develop to their full potential.

Then we were back to working to extend the board walk (which, erroneously, I have described before as a "causeway") where there is a permanent ooze of brown water which tends to make our less well shod visitors pretty mucky. I believe the water is similar to the chalybeate spring waters at the Pantiles in Tunbridge Wells. To make the board walk, take lengths of green chestnut as required along the length of the path, followed by many smaller lengths sawn up, split and nailed to the former, to make the treads of the walk. That's it, apart from some tidying up with a billhook.

Now, a short story. I put up two notices on a large post in the car park. The higher one asked visitors to please keep the to the main paths while the nesting season was with us. The other, lower one, added "...and please keep your dogs under control." Guess what. Some large male dog defaced the lower notice, obliterating it completely!

I should have known, I suppose...

John Hall © 2003