Five inch nails!

No rails, wire netting loosely fixed

Completed tree guard 

Not an alternative to the band 'nine inch nails' but signalling a return to the tree guards partially constructed last year to protect the new elm saplings from the local sheep. Todays task was to be dedicated to completing the construction of as many tree guards as possible and suitably armed with tools, rails and wire fencing we headed over to Moors Copse via Sandy Hill Copse to the work site. Before we reached the work site however the gate by Sandy Hill Copse required some repair to its 'catch'. This was duly carried out plus it also allowed me time to see how the hedges we planted last year in this area were doing and they seem to be coming on nicely.

So why the fascination with nails, well I have been waiting nearly a year to use the new 5 inch nails and at last that wait is now over. The good news was that the young elm trees are progressing well so the temporary tree guards did their job. Further good news was Mike had bought two new wire twisters which were a great success protecting my delicate fingers! and also we had the use of the 'Silky' saw for cutting off the excess wood on the rails. So the morning was spent getting my muscle memory back for some serious hammering of nails and staples. By the end of the morning we had got two tree guards with the top rails fixed and the bottom wire fencing suitably tensioned. The afternoon, with little help from Maddie, saw three more tree guards partially fixed plus a fourth completed. So more work still to do but a satisfying days construction although my arm/wrist may feel a little sore tomorrow from some major hammering. True to form Mike observed that 6 of the older tree guards in this area would need to be replaced having suffered 'tractor' or storm damage over the years. Also to add to the task list would be the removal of a sizeable ash tree which had fallen over boundary fencing. No letting up then in the workload for the Sherborne estate , just as well Mike's assistant is now on board.

Mum showing off 3 of 4 offspring

Given the weather forecast for the immediate future looked dire had to take advantage of fridays unexpected dry spell by dropping into Sherborne. Hence this late addition to this week's blog. Was rewarded by my first view of this years Cygnets {born after my wednesday visit}, not as many as last years 9 but the 4 still a good sight on the Broadwater. Proved to be a good day for birds with a siskin, number of goldfinch, willow warbler, lapwings, red kite, buzzards, cormorant and heron.  The lapwing were clearly unhappy to have me walking anywhere near their nests, with their cries even more pleading than Maddie's. Bumped into the Barrington estate's gamekeeper & wife who exposed my lack of knowledge in the abundance of wildlife in this area. This included information on water rails, grey shrike, grey partridge, hares, otters, owls, bittern, snipe and a 'white chaffinch' and some of the plans/management techniques he employs on the estate. Interesting to hear of a plan to create a 'snipe bog' habitat along the Windrush.

Lapwing telling me to go away!