New arrivals to mark end of financial year!

Its arrived, Mike can't stop smiling

Wednesday marked the arrival of Sherborne's new tractor, not the best of weather but that didn't lessen the big smile on Mike's face. No work possible for me but a quick tour of the new workhorse and updates on upcoming work made my short stay worthwhile.

Cutting back new growth on willows on the river Eye

high water levels on the Eye but sunny skies

Its a Fungus amungas..

River banks shading cleared, water voles happy!

This morning was spent at Greystones where a good number of volunteers gathered,  before being led by Will down to the work area by the river Eye. The Wildlife 'new arrivals' were not quite on the scale of the NT but the new Silki saws and gloves were well received. The task was to remove new growth {mainly willow} casting shade over the River Eye with part of the team in the water and the rest operating from the relative safety of the river bank. This is one of the most worked stretches of the river Eye which highlights the need for sustained efforts to keep on top of the riverside management which benefits this water vole habitat.

Less we forget a Martin Harper guest blog on the Hen Harriers, in addition Ms Truss is continuing to do a fine job for this Government on the environment leading Defra to even more ineffectuality.

An early Spring Dip!

Will  close to an icy plunge

                                                        Exposed Water vole burrow in river bank

                                                             River Eye banks cleared

Tuesday was my first 2015 session with the Wildlife Trust at a sunny Greystones featuring a walk in the river Eye, fortunately in waders. The task was to cut back new growth of Willow along the banks of the Eye plus remove some substantial branches which spanned the river. This was a continuation of work done in previous years and would help promote the right kind of environment for the growing water vole population. The session was lead by Will and Richard with an unusually low number of volunteers {3 of us} to carry out the shrub clearance. Some care was required as the river levels were still high which meant there were stretches where the depth was too high even in waders. Fortunately no unplanned incidents took place and the work progressed well in the welcome sunny spring weather which attracted a fine looking buzzard flying low on the hunt for field voles or similar.

Kennels in Lodge Park's coach house grounds

Today at Sherborne,  on another fine spring day, the day was spent at Lodge Park and in particular in the coach house grounds.  The day was dominated by the felling of a number of squirrel damaged beech trees and the subsequent clearing of the associated brash. The usable wood was blocked by Mike and stored in the nearby outbuildings. Whilst the power tools were in use Ollie and Maddie were conveniently placed in the old kennels. They weren't too pleased with the imprisonment and on release made best use of their freedom which included hindering me as I built up a sizeable brash pile in the adjacent woodland. A busy day and part of the task to tidy up Lodge Park ready for its opening later this month.

Bridge over the river Eye!

River Eye with healthy flow and river banks clear here

Brash piles mounting and river edge now visible 

Fence and bank cleared so clear stretch to bridge downstream 

Plenty of willow to be dragged out of river Eye

Ollie wants his ball back and a good feed!

Winter finally making its mark with a hard frost on Tuesday morning making the journey to Greystone and the Wildlife trust more interesting. The task for today was clearing the banks of the river Eye upstream from the main bridge where we had previously positioned some Dipper boxes. Rampant willow had enveloped both sides of the river and in parts obscured parts of the fence line. So with the river running high and fast the team led by Will and John was split into those with waders  attacking the willow from the river whilst the rest of us sawed away from the relative dry of the river bank. Initially with some fine sleety rain falling it felt damp and cool but soon the weather cleared,  internal warmth increased and the brash piles grew fast. By the time I left, the fence line was clear and the river banks visible, a good effort all round.

Today was the 2014 November bat count at Sherborne , {last years total 161}, sadly Morris our Dark Knight couldn't make it but we did have Ant to help out. The Bat cave had 124 lesser horseshoes, the kennels 0, the bothy 3 and the cellar 11 giving a total of 138. Lower than last year but probably accounted for by the mild autumn and early winter weather.