6月：生き物の気配と新しい植物たち Work Report-June: Signs of Life and New Plants

(English follows Japanese)

本来であれば「ほぼ毎日雨」のはずの6月。
今年は6月半ばから「すでに夏」モードの日が多く梅雨感がない6月でしたが、新たな生き物の気配や新しい植物の出現も。

植生の変化や季節の花など

遊水池、沢沿い、それぞれの斜面地のしがら土留めを作った場所、「風の草刈り」（先月・5月の作業報告参照）を行った場所には、うれしい変化が。

ヒメジオンやイネ科の植物など限られた種類の植物がはびこり多様性がなかったところに、多様な小さな植物が育って来ました。

手を入れたところと入れていないところの違いを観察できるよう、あえて全く手を入れないままにしている反対側の斜面は一面葛に覆われており、差は歴然。

新しく育って来る植物だけでなく、約30年前にこの遊水池がディベロッパーによって造成された時に植えられたアベリアもかわいい白い花を咲かせています。
この30年、ほぼ人が入ることがなく花を眺める人もいなかったのだと思いますが、毎年こうやって初夏になると花を咲かせていたんですね。

しがら土留めの上には準絶滅危惧種に指定されている植物も生えているのが確認できました（準絶滅危惧種とは言え関東でもあちこちで確認されているようですが、「盗掘の懸念から種類や場所は公表しない方が良い」との記載をネットで見たので写真は控えておきます）。

そして、作業通路や獣道を通す草刈りをした２週間後、水鳥のものと思われる白い糞の跡が作業道の草むらから池にかけて残っていました。
「もしかすると２羽が並んで歩いていたのかも？」
とも思ったり。

水際の土の上には何箇所か直径7~8cmの穴が。
自然にあいたのか、動物があけたのか、、、？

沢の様子と作業

沢の水は、大雨の後は茶色の濁流となりますが、今月の雨程度だと白っぽく濁り、浅瀬の一部では水中に堆積している落ち葉が黒くヘドロ化して悪臭を放っているところも、、、

この状況が川の水が流れ込む海中の状態にも影響しており、私たちが、
「海中の状態をこれ以上悪化させたくない。少しでも良くしたい」
と陸域の手入れの活動をしている理由です。

引き続き、沢沿いの斜面地から表土が川へ流れ込まないよう、土中に雨水を浸透させ、泥濾しされながらゆっくりと水が動くように、しがら土留め作り。

アオキのみが生い茂り下草が生えないことにより表土が流れやすくなっている箇所で、アオキの剪定も引き続き行っています。
全く奥が見えなかったのですが、剪定して見えるようになると擁壁が。
水捌けの悪さの要因を見る思いですが、少し風と光が入るようになり「少しでも状態が改善してくれるといいな」と願いつつ、剪定したアオキの葉を先月の葛同様に知り合いの有機農家さんが飼っているヤギのタマちゃんに食べてもらうために茎から葉を1枚1枚切り落とします（茎は食べないそう）。

川のせせらぎやウグイスの声を聞きつつの地味すぎる地道すぎるこの作業、脳波アルファー派状態と言うのか、マインドフルネスと言うのか、、、😂

7月・8月は暑さ対策で早朝に作業するなど臨機応変にやっていきたいので新規の方の参加募集はお休みさせて頂きますが、活動にご興味を持って頂ける方は下記にメールでご連絡をお願いします。
chottojapan@icloud.com

（三木真理子：水の環つなぎ活動 chotto 代表）

Work Report: June - Signs of Life and New Plants

(Please refer to the photos in the Japanese text above）

June is usually a month of “rain almost every day” here, however, this year, from mid-June onward, it has felt like 'summer is here!', with little trace of the usual rainy season. Seasonal changes and weather patterns are becoming more and more unpredictable, but still, there were subtle signs of life and the appearance of new plants.

Changes in vegetation 

On the various slopes where we installed "shigara-dodome" (retaining fence made with organic materials) and in places where we carried out the “wind inspired grass cutting / trimming ” (see May work report), we’ve seen some encouraging changes. In spots where only a few dominant species like Erigeron annuus and gramineous plants had taken over with little biodiversity, we’re now seeing small, diverse plant species starting to grow.

To allow for comparison, we intentionally left the opposite slope completely untouched—and it's now entirely overrun with kudzu vines, making the contrast quite striking.

Not only are new plants emerging, but even the Abelia × grandiflora trees planted around 30 years ago when this basin was first built by a developer are blooming with charming little white flowers.
For decades, no one had really entered this area except some maintenance workers, so it's likely no one even noticed them flowering each early summer. And yet, here they are, faithfully blooming year after year.

On top of some of the retaining fences, we spotted a plant species classified as "Near Threatened." While this category of species is reportedly still seen in various locations in the Kanto region, we’ve decided not to include photos, as online sources recommend keeping the exact species and locations undisclosed to prevent illegal digging or poaching.

Signs of Life

Then, about two weeks after we cleared some paths and animal trails through grass trimming, we noticed white droppings—likely from waterfowl—leading from the grassy path down toward the pond. It made us wonder, “Could two birds have been walking side by side here?”

We also found several holes, about 7–8 cm in diameter, in the soil near the water’s edge. Were they formed naturally—or dug by an animal? The mystery remains.

Stream Conditions and Our Work

After heavy rain, the stream turns into a muddy brown torrent. But with the level of rainfall this month, it becomes milky and slightly cloudy.
In some shallow areas, fallen leaves have built up underwater and decomposed into black sludge, emitting a foul odor...

This situation also affects the condition of the ocean where the river flows into, which is why we continue our maintenance work on land—with the hope of preventing further deterioration of the marine environment and, if possible, improving it even slightly.

We’ve continued building retaining structures along the slopes by the stream to help prevent topsoil from washing into the river which makes the water in the river muddy, the flow of the river slow down, then sediment buildup in the ocean inhibits the growth of seaweed and marine life.
These retaining structures allow rainwater to seep into the ground, filtering sediments through organic materials such as branches and dead leaves we installed and allowing the water to move more slowly and cleanly.

Also, once the soil becomes stable and small ground-cover plants begin to grow, their roots spread throughout the soil, facilitating the supply of water and air within it. This process further stabilizes the soil and fosters a positive cycle that promotes greater biodiversity.

In areas where only Aucuba japonica (Aoki) has overgrown and no groundcover plants remain—making the soil more prone to erosion—we are continuing to prune back the Aoki. Previously, the view was completely blocked, but after pruning, we discovered a concrete retaining wall behind it. This may be a clue as to why drainage in the area is poor.
Now, with more light and wind entering the space, we hope the environment will gradually improve.

Like last month's cut kudzu, we carefully remove each leaf from the Aoki branches, one by one, to feed to Tama-chan, the goat kept by a friend who runs an organic farm (goats apparently don’t eat the stems).

This quiet, repetitive work—listening to the murmur of the stream and the call of bush warblers—feels almost meditative, inducing a state of mindfulness or perhaps even alpha brain waves…

Work schedule for July & August

Due to the heat and humidity in July and August, we plan to work flexibly, such as starting early in the morning. For this reason, we’re pausing recruitment of new participants during this period. However, if you’re interested in our activities, please feel free to contact us by email.
email: chottojapan@icloud.com

（Text: Mariko Miki, organizer)

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