Another year ends

decent shape to new hedge at Moors Copse

new hedge line looking good in fading light

Another year of volunteering came to and end this week with an afternoon at Sherborne followed the next day with a morning session at Greystones. The session at Sherborne was particular satisfying with hedge laying at Moors Copse. Attending were Mike and I with Maddie and Ollie along for the ride. Ollie had to be tethered as the hedge laying was next to the road and he didn't like it too much with a little too much whining for a 'special' ranger. Ollie's behaviour aside, the creation of a hedge using the existing hawthorn, field maple and hazel was very satisfying especially since I had the use of the Silki saw and Mike volunteered to work on the road side of the hedge line. Unfortunately the light and complaints from Ollie ended the session too soon leaving completion of this stretch of hedge for the new year. 

The work at Greystones with the Wildlife trust featured some serious shrub clearance over one of the water courses to allow it to be dredged next year to ensure efficient functioning in a flood protection context. A large turnout {~30 volunteers} marked the last session of the year, possibly influenced by a BBQ at Greystones which sadly I missed to ensure Ollie got his mid day feed. 

Overall another rewarding year on the volunteer front albeit with less opportunities due to weather and the arrival of Ollie. Look forward to next year with the possibility of a companion for Ollie and hopefully some more positive signs on the Conservation of nature & our countryside. 

Not a Norwegian Blue!

In the Commons, awaiting the arrival of the Xmas tree

Site of the Norwegian spruce, deep into the Commons

Mike preparing the Spruce for felling

Tractor ready to pick up the 18' xmas tree

Expert driving by Mike to deliver xmas tree to 4x4

Its that time of the year again, not appealing to me but I certainly don't have a problem with the majority who like their Xmas celebrations. So on a frosty but sunny morning I found myself driving the 4x4 with trailer down to the Commons, closely followed by Mike in the tractor. The pictures tell the tale since I left the 4x4 on the ride nearest to the site of Norwegian spruce one of which was to provide the Xmas tree for Sherborne House. The narrow and muddy track to the spruce was only passable by tractor so I followed on foot to the felling area. Mike armed with his new chainsaw first set to on some trimming of previously felled spruce. This helped to clear the area for the chosen spruce to be felled with what we believed was to provide a good 18 foot xmas tree, as well as valuable wood for fencing materials. Unfortunately once on the ground the top of the spruce proved to be unsuitable so we had to select another candidate. The next candidate lay nearby but on trying to move it we damaged the top. The next selection proved a failure as well with yet another 'split' top but fortunately the final selection came up trumps.

A perfect xmas tree but at 18 foot really tricky to first move with the tractor through the Commons to the 4x4 and then even more of a challenge to load it on the trailer so I could drive it back to Sherborne safely. Needless to say with the usual ranger expertise the tree was safely delivered back to Sherborne estate offices,  just in time for me to make my speedy return to Cheltenham to feed Ollie plus meet my fencing contractor.

A good summary by Mark Avery of the running saga on Hen Harriers and driven grouse shoots. The issue for me is not so much the general attack on conservation/nature but the fact that the small shooting {but highly influential} community with laughable arguments supporting their activities {including illegal use of lead ammunition and the killing of protected wildlife} are allowed to continue without too much fear of being held to account by any authority be it Defra and/or  Government. How can I prevent my tax from funding anti nature activities like this.  The shooting fraternity almost make the NFU look rational and reasonable {but not completely}. So what can be done to turn this around given solid, researched and reasonable arguments continue to fail. Little with this Conservative government it seems {but will any alternative be that much better} so is it any wonder that a more extreme conservation stance needs to be taken or do we just let our natural world wither on the vine with the greedy few forever dictating what the rest of us can hope to enjoy in 'our' natural world. Autumn statement impact on Environment curtesy of RSPB here.