A worthy Celebration!

Sherborne's cygnets almost adult size now

Wednesday at Sherborne was spent at Lodge Park with some brush cutting, tree tidying and stone collection for the Cotswold wardens who were repairing a wall in the village. More importantly I got to get inside Lodge Park for the first time where Emily the Lodge manager was making final preparations for an exhibition showing part of Mike's impressive photographic images of the Sherborne estate where he has been working for over three decades!

Puts some of my photos of Sherborne to shame but I can't begrudge Mike's  well deserved place in this spotlight.  Even better the exhibition at Lodge Park {access available weekends through to 31August , includes bank holiday} provided an ideal setting to show off Mike's selection of photographs of the living landscape of the Sherborne Estate where he has made a serious contribution to its care over many years. He represents what I think is an all too scarce breed which quietly, modestly and diligently looks after our beleaguered countryside, which in Mike's case not only includes its 'flora and fauna', but also the community living within it. Talking of the great variety of fauna to be found in the estate one of the villagers was lucky enough to spot an Osprey {6 august } catching a trout in the Broadwater. It was no doubt on its way back to Africa and Sherborne was a handy stop on its lengthy journey.

Hard graft raking on the Cirencester flood protection bank

Today was out in Cirencester with the Wildlife Trust at the old Nursery site close to the river Churn. The main activities were raking up after the brush cutting/mowing by the Cirencester council staff, clearing the fence line at the entry to the site which runs along the Palladium Way and cleaning up the small stretch of the river Churn. Notable wildlife sightings were 3 frogs {which survived the brush cutting}, kestrels having a bit of a fight overhead, a kingfisher, trout and the unwelcome Signal crayfish. A good turnout on a pleasant day delivered a better than expected outcome for Will who led the days activities.

Worth selecting this particular Mark Avery blog on the long running Hen Harrier debacle.