Seven up!

Some of this years cygnets on the Broadwater

Dad leading the family of 7

Last week was spent with the Wildlife trust on some good old Himalayan Balsam bashing on the river Coln at Whittington court, Andoversford and Owdeswell court. Last years efforts had proved effective in these locations apart from some isolated clumps. At the end of the session though we discovered at Owdeswell court a significant area of the invasive plant which would have to be dealt with in a later session.

Hottest day of the year for me at Sherborne wednesday and my first contact with this years Broadwater swan family.  The afternoon was spent on an unusual task of ditch creation, fortunately with Mike using the digger attachment to the tractor. James and I had the job of soil removal using the 4x4 + tipping trailer to deposit the one and half ton loads in a secluded area near Northfield barns.  Managed to squeeze in a quick visit to the Broadwater on one of the 'runs' to try and catch a glimpse of the resident mute swans. Fortunately the swan family were down at the Broadwater weir with seven healthy cygnets being guided by their parents {increase from 3 last year}.

More good news on the wildlife front at Sherborne with a Red kite pair rearing 3 young which should soon be fledging. Also in the Cleeve reserve area plenty of 'blues' to be seen along with some 'Duke of Burgandies' plus a rare sighting for me of a cuckoo!

A walk in the park...

Looking towards Sally Copse, Lodge Park

Bridge over the River Leach, Larket hill wood in background

2 friendly common blues in the 'meadow', front of 'grandstand'

It was to be a relaxing but interesting sunny morning at Sherborne on Wednesday.  It began with a bit of mowing at Ewe Pen where the young calves were looking good in the Bull paddock. Since Mike had arranged  to meet up with some AONB volunteers mid morning the mowing would have to be completed later. We met them at the rear of the Lodge parkland just off the Eastington road where Mike was take them on a pre- tour of Lodge Park. He guided us through this part of the surviving Bridgeman designed parkland {1726} working our way down to the river Leach at the Sally Copse end of the river valley. . As we walked through the empty pasture down to the river Leach there were good view of the avenues of lime trees {replacing the dead elms} which are slowly maturing plus of course the ancient oaks and beech dotted over the deer park leading to the Lodge Grandstand. . We were fortunate to see a brown hare crossing one of the stone bridges. We crossed over the same bridge and followed the river valley floor towards Larkethill copse appreciating this 'private' part of the landscape. After a short walk up the road outside Lodge Park, where 2-3 yellow hammers put in an appearance, we eventually ended up at the front of the Lodge Grandstand.  Nowadays it  looks over a meadow but was previously the mile long deer run where John Dutton lost a good deal of money gambling on the outcome of the deer coursing. It still surprises all that Dutton would establish the Bridgeman designed landscape at the rear of the Grandstand which is not the best vantage point to take in the views. We completed the tour by walking across the pasture adjacent to the Lodge copse back towards the river Leach. On the way we passed the Lodge 'long barrow' several thousand years old an interesting feature to complete this enjoyable informative tour.