4 weddings and ..

Lodge Park, loads of leaves

Something different on a warm and damp day at Sherborne as Mike loaded the leaf blower, forks and rakes in the 4x4. Pressure was on to tidy up, mainly the leaves,  at Lodge Park  in time for several 'wedding viewings' next week with the hope to secure the bookings. The recent storms had certainly left quite a few leaves to clear up and the bonus of clearing them was to reveal the snowdrops hidden beneath. As ever Mike had some shrub clearing and tree pruning queued up once we'd finished with the leaves. Started clearing shrubs by the drystone walls at the front of the lodge using a really good bow saw and loppers. It soon became apparent that the pole saw would be more efficient for the thicker stuff. This proved true and this led to pruning back beech wood branches hanging over the woodland walk and park boundary stock fence. Fortunately bad light called a halt to a productive days work as Mike with pole or chain saw often loses track of time especially with no shortage of potential work to do.

In spite of the heaviest downpour of the day at lunchtime I still managed a visit to the Broadwater. It was good to see the pair of tufted ducks still there plus a new family of mute swans {2 adults with 2 juveniles} occupying the river above the weir. The existing swan pair didn't seem to object to the visitors as long as they didn't venture below the weir.

More noteworthy blogs from Mark Avery on continuing declines in farm birds and offsetting.