A Bird's Eye View
What does your site look like from above?
The way your site looks today may be very different to what it will look like in 3 months, 6 months or even a years time. There are many things that could change the way your site looks, for example, trees could die or be removed, other trees might grow, or heavy rains could wash large areas of the banks away.
Sketches are a useful way of keeping a record of the changes that are occurring at your site.
On a sheet of A4 or A3 paper, draw a ‘birds eye view’ (looking down from above) of your site.
- Mark in areas of native plants growing in the water, and on the banks.
- Mark in areas where there is bank erosion or invasive trees and weeds growing.
- Mark in rocks, boulders and other static habitat for animals and insects.
- Mark in areas of deep water or culvets of still water.
- Mark in riffles and other areas where the flow of water has been broken or disturbed.
- Mark in structures and other new developments since your last visit.
Taking photographs is also a good way to keep record of how your site is changing.