What no snow?

Impressive and heavy Beech, start of thinning 2013 

Snowbottom Belt

What a contrasting week which began at Snowshill Manor with me on bonfire duty with temperatures at 12C and that's without including the heat from the bonfire which helped to melt my mars bar. So today in glorious sunshine, but temperatures down to 2C, Mike & I set off for some thinning in Snowbottom Belt  (derivation of this name unknown, but snow does seem to feature in a number of areas/places in the Cotswolds).  Before starting we had a quick tour through the Belt which also included the Rabbitground plantation with its Scots pine. Snowbottom Belt is one of the larger woodland areas at Sherborne and has a healthy variety of broadleaf including Beech, Ash, Elm and Hornbeam.  There's a lot of wood! which although well managed over the years was ready for some serious thinning. It just so happens that most of the trees selected for felling by Mike today were on the big side and included a number of 'dense' Beech. Good news for Mike since he got to use his new extra large tree lever but not so good for me since the wood piles were made up of heavier than normal cordwood. Still we both were kept suitably warm especially in the afternoon with more trees resisting a graceful fall to the ground & needing additional work with tree levers, wedges and cutting.  So although a hardworking day, its difficult to beat being in such a peaceful attractive woodland environment watching the deep red sun sinking below the horizon to end a very satisfying day, even in the absence of snow.

Can't  finish the blog without mentioning (re-iterating) a couple of things. First is if we are to preserve such woodland environments we can't forget there still appears to be no 'sustainable' common response to the threat the fungal diseases pose. Equally there is still no visible evidence of any impetus to renewed & resourced plans to combat pests like grey squirrels & deer which continue to significantly add to the overall threat to such woodland environments and their regeneration. Whether my views on this are actually fair is difficult to say but it would be interesting to survey those rangers and foresters, who are charged with facing these threats, as to whether they are receiving any practical advice and additional support {or changed priorities} to help them respond!

On a lighter note I hope to enjoy an old tradition at Snowshill Manor this saturday, which thanks to head gardener Linda  is celebrating a New Year Wassail!