Exmoor red deer

The stag, a young one

The hinds, suspecting something is not quite right

The amazing row of beech - these are positioned along the traditional bank and wall field boundaries.

October took me to Exmoor for the red deer rut. The weather had been incredibly mild over the past few weeks which didn't give high hopes of seeing any red deer fighting action - the colder weather brings the hinds down from the moor peaks and thus the horny males follow.

We pulled up at a good site at about 6am when it was just gettin glight and as soon as the car engine stopped running we could hear the bellow of the males echoing over the valley.

We came close on numerous occasions to groups of deer, but alas no actual scrapping. In the distance we could hear the clash of antlers and the continuous roars but could not get close enough. Still, it was an excellent experience of which I am keen to experience again next year.

Exmoor red deer

The Giant Chestnut

Back in June 2007 a small group of us visited Dinton park near Salisbury, Wiltshire. The grounds were owned by National Trust and we were kindly shown around by the warden.

One of the highlights was this fantastic Sweet Chestnut tree in the grounds of a private dwelling on the site. The girth of the monster was a massive 9.70 metres and as you can see from the photos all of us stood next to it look dwarfed! The tree is in healthy condition and new growth can be seen reaching for the sky on the upper limbs. It is interesting that the tree does so well as just out of shot is another equally impressive beech tree which does not seem to pose a threat to the chesnut at all....remarkable. I entered this baby on the Woodland Trust's Ancient Tree Hunt website.

Check it out http://www.ancient-tree-hunt.org.uk/

The Giant Chestnut

Bring on the tears

The spuds are out...the onions are in. Lets hope they fair better...not too many things like to devour onions. By spring the first crop should be ready for an early years salad. The fleece is for added protection if the frosts ever return here. Already (after 2 weeks) the onions have sprouted and have put on about 4 inches in growth.

Bring on the tears

Harvest Time

The first (small) crop of spuds, these were delicious simply boiled with a dash of mint.

The cooking apple crop from the fallen tree also gave up a bumper crop...pies, pies and more pies!

The wildlife pond has settled in great. A bit of turf kindly given to me improved the steeper slope. Pond weed has establised itself well...though I can see myself having to periodically remove excess weed. There's plenty of waterboat men and diving beetles which naturally appeared. Rocks are set in place to provide shelter for overwintering newts and frogs/toads. The observation bench just to the left of the picture is a great spot to sit and contemplate things after a hard days weeding and digging. The other day I watched a dragonfly from a neighbouring wetland area arrive to lay eggs underneth the rocks.

Harvest Time

Stop growing you lot!

Everyting has gone a bit crazy in the orchard (formally 'top field'). Here's me without a mower!



The spuds are doing okay, they've spurted upwards...but closer inspection below reveals not too much progress...I think a late Oct early November might yield something, if the frosts don't come.



There's signs of slight blight so may have to get some Bordeaux magic to sort that out.





As for the pond....fantastic. Add a bit of water and magic happens, already there's diving beetles, water boat men, strange snot worms, mosquito larvae, pondweed and algae.


Rabbits and Muntjacs have been seen visiting too and a Roe came in for a drink.



Here's a little collection of the pond progress:

Choosing the site

Cutting out the desired area



banking up

I lined the pond initally with newspaper, then with carpet salvaged from a refuse dump

Like Mums apple pie it was ready to eat, well...fill with water

Adding some liner

Secured with rocks and stones

After a few days of rain the pond began to fill nicely (June 2007)

I'll add some more pics shortly with the pond in full sucessional flow.

Stop growing you lot!

I'm on Facebook too for more photos and friends

The first round of veg

The veg patch a few days before I left for germany

1 month later....veg! Mostly potatoes and a couple of very late pumpkins

Germany was an interesting experience...a mass of incredible creatures I havn't seen before, in particular lots of different birds of prey in a 1 square mile...3 Buzzard species, Ospreys, Red and Black Kites, Kestrels, Peregrinne to name but a few.

Also saw 4 huge Red deers and spied on a beaver twice....see pic below. Although the content and professionalism was lacking from the host partners the knowledge shared amongst our group was enough to keep me entertained for the duration.

For all the pics see my Facebook page (you may need to sign up!) http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=512010523

The first round of veg

work, rain, work, rain, work, rain.

In between the summer showers I finally got round to

fixing up the first raised bed for some late veg or fruit bushes.

Need to fill it with some manure, so I'll be out later covert,

ninja style to track down some cows.

Why have I decided to store my swiss cheese outside in a box?

Well, actually it's an insect hide - primarily for bees, but other squatters are welcome too.

Fruits are appearing left, right and centre!

Apparantly seeds and fruits are appearing about 4 weeks earlier than usual, which isnt surprising since the early spring bud burst. These cherries are taking on a lovely orange-red hue and if the birds don't get 'em, I'll be sure too.

work, rain, work, rain, work, rain.

National Bat Monitoring Programme 2007

The Bat Conservation trust has started up it's national bat counting survey agin this year and I have signed up to do a 'secret' colony to submit. It was a visual survey, which I aided myself by using a bat meter too to hear them coming when it got too dark to see.
The method was to select a known colony of bat, I chose Lesser Horseshoe, and arrive just before sunset to set up and then await the first bat emergence. This time was recorded and then each subsequent signting was noted...if bats returned to their roost then this was counted also, to be later subtracted from the emergence to gain the total....geddit??

There was a good show, about 16 bats in total...of which two I was unsure about (basically did not emit any ultrasound at the 109 kHz which picks up Lesser Horseshoes). They also put on a fantastic show above my head foraging for flying insects.

Prior to going to Europe I'll be conducting a more in-depth survey within a selected grid square to plan then walk a route. The idea is to create 'stop points' to then scan the area with the aid of a bat meter for any potential bats out on the town looking for a good time.

Should be interesting to navigate the route whilst dark, so I'd better eat my carrots!

What's a bat meter?? Have a look here http://www.magenta2000.co.uk/kits/bat-detector-mk2b.htm

National Bat Monitoring Programme 2007

Germany calling

I'm chuffed to bits to be offered a placement on the Leonardo Da Vinci (Grampus Heritage and Training) event in Germany at the Dübener Heide national park (fairly close to the Czech border). It's going to be month of sustainable woodland based education which will no doubt be of great enjoyment! I have to thank my tutor, Mark Malins for making me aware of the opportunity, cheers mate.

Here's some info from the site regarding the venture:

The wood festival will be the last weekend in July and to coincide with this event, Peter Kaiser (our principle host) is offering a 7 to 10 day long training / work experience action on 'forest art'. It will involve going to the forest to select a tree / log / wood, for making an art work, working with local artists (especially Wolfgang Köppe) and then positioning the artwork at a forest recreation site. The idea is to use sustainable natural products and make some sort of environmental statement or promotion.
The remainder of the content revolves around practical nature conservation in the Dübener Heide Naturpark, including heathland and forest management, working at a village arboretum, making interpretation boards and signs, working on school conservation projects, etc. There will also be the possibility to work on a local Agenda 21 type project, using local and natural materials to build heritage reconstructions (Saxon houses, etc.) to demonstrate sustainability.

Now, doesn't that sound great?!

As far as I can gather, there is still spaces available..check out http://www.grampusheritage.fsnet.co.uk/index.htm for more details.
It's not just Germany, but also Slovakia and the Czech Republic. There's also excellent opportunities for archaeology placements in Europe that don't just cover diggin' in da dirt but also cultural aspects too. The only criterea for applying is that you are currently a student (of any age, mind) that is envolved with environmentally based studies (current studies).

Germany calling

Skools out - time to tend again

Exams are over, college has finished for this first year, assignments are done (crack open the beer!) and in July I'll be off to Germany for a month thanks to a lucky placement on a woodland sustainability course...for free! Can't wait.

Since the hot spell and multiple showers the 'top field' has awoken with vegetation appearing quicker than I can cut it! Good job the species I want to thrive are doing so and the invasive nettles are limited to the edges which can allow the meadow grass in central areas to become properly established.

The pond is almost finished, just need to remove some of the sharper stones in the base, cover with a layer of sand and some old carpets, chuck the liner in and fill 'er up!
Then I'll not introduce anything just to see what will naturally colonise the area. It'll be good to establish a pond in the area as a network of pond is required for many amphibians (such as newts and frogs) to migrate to and from to breed and forage.

Ponds were once comon in the landscape and one could be found every 1 and a half miles or so, unfortunatly many were filled in at the turn of the last century to increase arable and livestock grazing areas.

The two veg plots are dug, one is covered to keep out the weeds for now, whilst the other is being reguarly turned untill July to then accept a large lad of seed spuds for a later autumn/winter crop....funny though, don't like spuds that much!

The bat box was taken over by blue tits earlier in the spring, but they built their nest and then buggered off. I shall leave it a while as I want the bats to come in, but am a bit concerned that there may be an unpleasant present left inside for me.

Bumper sun, bumper rain...bumper crop of gooseberries...they're growing well, and have never yielded fruit before due to be completely crowded out by brambles, which have now been dealt with.

Finally, the fallen apple tre was done for we thought, but it surprised us by budding, then flowering and now the fruit is growing well...strangely though only in an area of about two metres from the floor and not on the (now) top. New shoots are coming from the trunk, so it seems there's still a good fight left in the tree.

Skools out - time to tend again

Spot the pond.

Our first survey for Avon Wildlife Trust's Pondways newt scheme!
(That's Dave in the waders, scribbling away)

Alas, the bugger was very overgrown with no sign of any newts to be found, not even any eggs.
This was a neglected dew pond - which was originally dug for livestock to drink from. The building behind is an old pump house. This land is now a public area called Siston Common. We did find excellent plants suitable for newts to lay upon and with a bit of attention and clearing theis pond may become suitable habitat once again (I think the hunting potential might also be good).

Luckily, all was not lost - we found one solitary froglet, a couple of leeches and a water spider - species unknown!

We're guaranteed some Great Crested Newts at our next pond, which we'll survey in a few weeks time.

Spot the pond.

Study tour 2007

Across the Duddon estuary - to the hills and mountains

Wastwater glacial
lake

Millom Nature reserve - the large mass in the background is the remains of contents from the iron furnace that was too heavy to move after demolition on the site

RSPB Hodbarrow - at a pond known for its Natterjacks

The remains of the 18th Century beacon at Hodbarrow

Atlantic oak woodland talk at Borrowdale

This is Johnny Wood - containing a mass of moss covered boulders with sessile oak

The lake district Osprey project - views across the lake - this wood also holds a colony of red squirrels - who were camera shy when we arrived

Free time!! - no hangovers, so lets try and get sea (lake) sick instead! Lake Windemere

Whitbarrow limestone pavements - somewhere just over the next hill.......

One of my favourites from the trip - Meathop Moss - so tranquil and unique - a real surprise habitat



A glorious week was spent in the Lake District at a small post-industrial town called Millom, south West Cumbria. Are group stayed in the small, but colourful YHA on the edge of the Duddon Estuary.
The week was an excellent mixture of sight seeing and educational talks and visits and was perfect to draw together all that I had been learning in the past year at college.

Timetable (for personal ref:)

Sunday - Wasdale - glaciated landscape (pictured above)
Monday - Seashore habitat and local nature reserve (Millom)
RSPB Hodbarrow
Natterjack Toad Foray - non event - no Natterjacks around!
Tuesday - National Trust Borrowdale trip (pic above - sessile oak woodland)
Whinlatter forest trip - red squirrels and ospreys - no squirrels - did see an osprey hunting from afar!
Red Deer Spotting - saw numerous does on the horizon
Wednesday - day off - went boating on lake Windermere - (see picture above)
Thursday - Whitbarrowlimestone pavement visit - almost found it - had to settle for second best
Meathop Mire visit - amazing, tranquil place - perfect examples of succession.

Study tour 2007