Reunited with two 'old friends'

My favourite axe, Mike keeping me supplied with big blocks

'Gripples' to the rescue after fence flattened by Beech 

Surprised by two things today, firstly the weather was particularly fine and secondly the first task involved blocking and splitting, old style, in the nursery. Fortunately three things were to assist in producing a trailer load of wood: Simon was assisting Mike and I, Mike was blocking up some excellent seasoned wood { too large for the absent wood processor} into 'man size' blocks and I had my favourite axe to attack the wood with. In no time we had filled the trailer and so with little delay headed up to Lodge Park to tackle the aftermath of storm damaged Beech trees. The first task was to repair a stock fence crushed by a large beech branch. Enter the Monkey strainer and that old favourite of mine the 'mighty Gripple'.  A little fiddly especially since we had a limited supply of gripples but by lunch the stock fence was restored to working order and even better the two barbed wire strands re-tensioned & connected with the use of super sized gripples.

Lunch time was a little disappointing weatherwise but the Broadwater entertained with the usual water fowl complimented by an additional  pair of  mute swans, a pair of canada geese and a handsome Red Kite. The afternoon began back at Lodge park to tidy up a fallen beech and for Mike to carefully bring to earth a large beech branch hanging precariously higher up an adjacent tree. Before leaving this area of the park my attention was drawn to the Lodge Park 'barrow mound' which sadly and inspite of over four thousand years age still lacks a suitable name {all suggestions welcome}. Next stop from here was to exit the Lodge Park to head for the next damaged beech in the south west corner of the Park. Again we were faced with a sizeable clearance task but with a sting in the tale. An even larger beech branch was propped up by the main trunk and with one of its limbs hanging over a drystone wall. After attaching a rope to different parts of the offending limb Mike finally pulled the branch down to the ground using the 4x4 and more importantly without damaging the wall.  A good end to the day and here's hoping for a continuation of fine weather for next wednesday.

Looks like a positive outcome from Defra on future environmental management schemes NELMS. A timely comment from Mark Avery on the Badger culling following a particular bad BBC showing where a farmer and 'tame' vet illustrated the uphill struggle still facing this issue.

Taking 'Stock' and the 'swans song' ?

Belted Galloways sheltering on Rack Isle

The only 'swan' [pub in Bibury]  I saw today!

Managed to penetrate dense fog to arrive in one piece at Sherborne today. Mike was 'chained' to the office so I was to visit Bibury to check on the Belted Galloways on Rack Isle and to ensure the electric fence was in good order. Maddie came along for the ride and I managed to get to Bibury before the rush so managed to secure a parking place. Surprisingly, given its October, I was ambushed on my survey of the electric fence by a small army of enthusiastic Japanese tourists. Hopefully the NT won't be too damaged by an enforced 'photo session' down by Arlington Row, obviously they were going for character not beauty!  Soon completed a check of the fence {still charged}, ensured the water troughs were full and all Galloways were present and well. On my return journey back to Sherborne I was treated to my second viewing of the day of the much missed Red Kites, this was a close up view of a Red Kite taking advantage of a road kill of Pheasant. The morning was completed by a visit to number 61 Sherborne to mow its lawn in readiness for the new tenants arriving this weekend.

Lunchtime was to prove a shock for me as the swan family were absent from Sherborne brook, no card or call to let me know!, but hopefully they will return before the young cygnets go their separate ways. So at least the youngsters are flying now. I had to make do with 1 egret, 1 heron and 1 buzzard.

The afternoon was spent in the nursery where I was re-acquainted with splitting with Mike blocking with chainsaw. The wood wasn't the best and I wasn't  'match fit' but in spite of a couple of showers we managed to add a reasonable load to the wood store supplies. More is needed to meet what is an increasing demand for this local wood service. So quite a day with lots of variety and I'll certainly sleep well tonight.

Had to add as a late addition other fine blogs by Martin Harper on CAP {CAP2, CAP3}, it even puts Owen Patterson in a better light. If Patterson follows up his promises I would be only to happy to give him credit on this key issue.

On the Rack...

No not a ranger technique for driving us volunteers harder but a fine days work on Bibury's Rack Isle. Given the weather had taken a turn for the better this week, Martin seized the opportunity to visit the Isle for some 'sedge' clearing with the aid of course of the 'beast', see below. At last the water courses surrounding and cutting through the Isle had a healthy amount of water spite of another dry year. So at the end of the day it was satisfying to leave this non woodland environment looking really good. Apart from the usual duck population spotted a water vole so must be doing something right.

the 'beast'

Spot the ranger!,  initial smoke fortunately disappeared

Earlier in the week worked with Mike, with the help of another 'beast',  on blocking & splitting at Sherborne. Two more loads of wood for members of the local community who continue to be happy with this service. Given the weather was amazingly good had chance at my break to visit the Pleasure grounds where the snowdrops are in abundance and in one corner where early daffodils, crocus and aconites provided great colour. Finished the day off with a continuation of fence clearing down in the water meadows, still plenty to do here! 

Beast 2 Maddie,  Mike's dog attempting to 'help'

All in all a satisfying week capped off with my first sighting of not one but four short eared owls!!!!

Blocking but not NFL style

Ok so I didn't stack all of this and Mike didn't fell all this wood destined for fencing posts etc. But it was harvested by contractors directed by Mike and is on a slightly bigger scale to the 'thinning ' work I have worked with the Rangers on. Thinning serves a number of needs depending on the type of woodland in question. In this case a mixed 'plantation' woodland which provides useful revenue with the fast growing conifers 'nursing' the early growth of broadleaf such as oak, ash, beech.

Broadleaf woodland

So the above Broadleaf woodland is typically where smaller scale thinning by the Rangers take place and where I get involved in clearing the brash  and stacking the woodpiles ready for transport back to base. This work is key for encouraging growth of flora and healthier growth for the ash, sycamore, beech, oak etc remaining.

So in the busy time upto Christmas 2011 I and simon {also a volunteer with impeccable running credentials} were kept busy splitting the seasoned wood which Mike had kindly been 'blocking' {with chainsaw] from the dwindling seasoned woodpiles. In this instance on one damp day late afternoon Mike and I  loaded up the trailer with the split wood and delivered this last load to the local school. Simple enough but it did require good driving skills by Mike to manoeuvre  around the school yard to deposit the load. However this was not until I was surprisingly asked by the school secretary to move the headmaster's car as she thrust his keys into my hand, overlooking the damp/dirty state I was in at this point. Oh well but no complaints and a different sort of public engagement to anything I was expecting.

Anyway that's it for now but possible future posts ..:

• Location, location, location
• 39 steps...
• Who let the fire out
• If u go into the woods today...
• Wanted for crimes against....