tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69310530368060505532024-02-19T11:30:25.838-08:00oldcountrymattersellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04818140900169428356noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931053036806050553.post-17037704045326647212016-05-16T12:57:00.000-07:002016-05-16T12:57:24.541-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Two new Wildlife Walks coming up soon: the first comprised of the Malvern Wildlife group led by Peter Garner, at 2pm on Tuesday 24th May, here at Old Country Farm, WR13 5PS. We will likely wander through the orchards, just coming into blossom, and maybe hear Redstarts and even Lesser-Spots! Peter will also be considering plants and insects along with the birds of this place, so there will be plenty to marvel at before we return to the farmhouse for refreshments (free, but donations to charity appreciated).<br />
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Next, a morning walk around the farm on Saturday, June 4th, at 10.45 am, with Ledbury Naturalists and Worcester Wildlife Trust. By then, the meadow near the old sand pit should be nearly at its best, the only truly 'unimproved' flowering meadow on the farm. On the way we may pass beside the large lake remaining from the gravel pits, and maybe glimpse woodpeckers on 'our' side on the dense wet woodland left over from the original sand pit. I am hoping recent work done here cataloguing fungi in the orchard will be described too.<br />
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Please bring stout footwear or wellingtons for the walks, the ground is overgrown and uneven in places, with some steps. We do have parking areas but try to limit the number of cars if you can.<br />
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I look forward to seeing you all there!<br />
ellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04818140900169428356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931053036806050553.post-43482637820463231452015-05-04T10:37:00.001-07:002015-05-04T10:37:36.189-07:00Monday May 4th, 2015<br />
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News of <b>Wildlife walks</b> for this summer - on <b>Saturday 27th June</b> we are having another<br />
<b>'Baps and Bats' evening</b>, when David Lee will be leading us around the farm buildings and yards and helping us to identify flying bats with his machines. I look forward to hearing the amazingly addictive up and down sound made by lesser Horse-shoe bats! We'll meet an hour or so before that, probably around 9pm, for a barbequed snack cooked by Will, meat from Legges lovely shop of course. Food and event free but donations to local nature charity welcomed. Please bring a torch and warm clothing, also remember there may be gnats flying!<br />
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Before then there's another chance to meet <b>Ben MacDonald</b> (of the BBC One Programme) who'll be leading a walk through the orchards looking at his ongoing nest-box project and we'll be hearing about his earnest and dogged pursuit of the Lesser-spotted Woodpecker! (and other rare beauties). The walk will take place on <b>Sunday June 7th, at 2.30pm</b>. Bring rugged footwear as the grass is uneven. there will be refreshments (free like the walk) after Ben's walk.<br />
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Work has been ongoing in the orchards this winter, with many days spent removing mistletoe from apple trees, some of which have been saved by this action. There are many dead or dying apple trees, mostly relatively recent hybrids, which can't cope with the damp conditions, so we are beginning to replant with older varieties of pears. Unfortunately there are not enough working winters in the year!<br />
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Blossom is just coming up to full strength (cider apples are often late flowerers) but very few bees. We now have much-sprayed new cider orchards belonging to a neighbour on one boundary.<br />
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Redstarts are now here, swallows and cuckoo too, a reed-warbler by the sewage ponds, and a duck who nested beneath a rosemary bush outside my kitchen has already hatched her 5 ducklings and taken them off to the pond. Exciting spring days!ellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04818140900169428356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931053036806050553.post-82779924966056492972014-08-13T03:07:00.000-07:002014-08-13T03:07:15.903-07:00<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Going Batty in the Woodland!</b><br /><br />Anyone walking in our woods last Saturday night might have thought that filming was going on, of a macabre outdoor operating theatre; serious people with protective clothing and rubber gloves stood around, headlamps glowing, lighting up the tiny specimens which they passed between them, under the gaze of a group of awestruck bystanders. The experts handled their fragile captives efficiently and kindly, measuring dimensions, recording sex and physical attributes, and attatching minute identification tags. At first the only remarks to be heard were 'look at that nipple!' or 'this is a big one' and the shrill squeaks and, in one case, screams of the feistier specimens, snapping and showing their sharp teeth and idiosyncratic ears. This dramatic scenario was explained clearly and entertainingly by David Lee, whose tremendous enthusiasm and knowledge of the subject kept his audience rapt and amused for a good couple of hours. 67 bats from our batboxes had been processed, comprising Bechsteins (with many breeding females),Pipistrelles, and, a first for us here, one large Noctule, who screeched and grumbled throughout, before shuffling grumpily back up his tree and then gracefully winging away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />A wonderful evening's walk and talk, evidence of the dedication of a very special group of people belonging to the Herefordshire Mammal Group.<br />Unfortunately heavy rain at 10pm meant that the Harp traps had to be taken down, so we don't know what else we might have discovered - but we plan to hold more such evening walks next year.</span><br />ellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04818140900169428356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931053036806050553.post-27334548355917698212014-08-04T06:29:00.002-07:002014-08-04T06:29:58.309-07:00News about a new Walk to be held here at Old Country Farm, led by<br />Denise Foster<br />Bat Co-ordinator, Herefordshire Mammal Group<br /><br />Old Country Wood is hosting a Bat Experience Evening being run by the Herefordshire Mammal Group (HMG) on Saturday 9th August (19.30 pm till late). Old Country Wood has a long term bat box scheme of 100 boxes scattered around the wood. These boxes are currently being used by one of the UK’s rarest bats, Bechstein’s Bats. A box check during the day will hopefully seek out one or two individuals for us to see in the hand in the evening. HMG will then be placing traps around the wood to catch other bat species, starting at sunset which is 20.45 hrs. This bat research is part of a Herefordshire Woodland Bat Project comparing deciduous woodlands with plantations to determine what species favour each type of woodland and to gauge the amount of bat activity within each wood. All bats caught will be identified and various biometrics taken for the project. This is a good opportunity to experience bats close up which is out of range for most people.<br /><br />This event is weather permitting.ellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04818140900169428356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931053036806050553.post-7368587310544392112014-06-17T10:48:00.003-07:002014-06-17T10:48:38.845-07:00<b>Next wildlife walk on Saturday June 28th at 2.30pm is 'The breeding habits of Bird of Traditional Orchards'.</b><br />
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This walk promises to be very interesting indeed and will be led by Ben MacDonald, who has been visiting these orchards for several years to observe and monitor our breeding birds. Ben is a natural history film-maker, working currently for the BBC's Natural History Unit, having recently worked on Springwatch, The One Show, and various other programmes. He is extremely excited about our spotted flycatcher population this year! Please come along for this walk and talk and find out more about the teeming wildlife in our orchards!<br />
Refreshments will be provided after the walk.ellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04818140900169428356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931053036806050553.post-91764842508785227692014-05-31T13:42:00.001-07:002014-05-31T13:42:27.055-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Gerald's fascinating talk on the botany of marginal areas recently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were well supplied with a plant list of 90
different plants, and succeeded in spotting a good many of these, including
'Town Hall Clock', Pignut, Wood-dock, Goldilocks, Mouse-ear Chickweed and Marsh
Orchid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gerald's erudite researches and
humorous style kept us all enthralled so that two hours passed very
quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many thanks also to the members
of Ledbury Naturalists and documenters from Bringsty Common for their
contributions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was quite magical
after all the recent cold and rainy weather to dawdle home<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>through the beautiful 'back meadow', a patch
of unspoilt grassland near the old sand-pit, a place thats full of wild-flowers
thanks in part to the current management regime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all now await Gerald's new book with some
impatience!</span>
<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The next walk is on Thursday evening, 5th June, 6.45 (its
going to be fine!) and will be looking at Moths and their habitat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is something not to be missed!</span></div>
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ellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04818140900169428356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931053036806050553.post-53812348757304014112014-05-14T13:47:00.001-07:002014-05-14T13:49:49.180-07:00The Farm Walks Programme for 2014<br />
<br />
Gerald Dawe begins this season's walks programme with 'Botany on the edge', a look at edges, hedges and margins. I look forward to another helping of Gerald's entertaining humour and knowledge. The walk is to be held on Saturday 31st May at 2.30pm, with refreshments to follow .<br />
<br />
Peter Garner and Tony Simpson will present 'Moths and other Insects and their associated plants' on Thursday June 5th at 6.45pm, a new topic for us when hopefully the evening will provide plenty of airborne examples to examine.<br />
<br />
Ben MacDonald, our frequently visiting ornithologist, is to give a walk and talk on the weekend of June 28-29, in which I have no doubt he will speak about his work in our traditional orchards monitoring and observing woodpeckers and other birds, providing them with nest-boxes and subsequently filming them. Exact time of this event to be announced.<br />
<br />
In early July we will be holding another 'Bat evening', when we will tour the farm buildings an neighbouring fields with our friendly experts and their machines which translate the bats' calls.<br />
This is a popular event and I can testify that the amazing sound of the Lesser Horseshoe Bat in particular is quite addictive! Will's barbequed sausages are also rather nice!<br />
<br />
On 9th August we shall be hosting a day organised by Dave Lee and Denise Foster explaining their work monitoring Bats, to which the public is invited. This is a rare chance to see not only some interesting mammals and their habitat but to learn from some very dedicated and knowledgeable people. The details will be put up on the blog in due course.ellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04818140900169428356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931053036806050553.post-43270033748969091112014-04-07T02:23:00.001-07:002014-04-13T13:15:40.772-07:00Spring 2014<cite class="_Vc">
</cite>
<br />
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.35cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Its been a strange winter here on the farm - we spent much of
the Autumn working on our large traditional apple trees, many of
which needed urgent pruning, not only to deal with fallen branches
and to improve their shape but to remove the enormous growths of
Mistletoe which have taken over as the winters become warmer and
wetter. Its even harder work than we remembered! involving straining
one's eyes in the winter gloom to identify which branch to cut,
stretching up as far as possible while balancing the telescopic saws,
trying to stop the debris and sawdust going straight into your eyes,
and avoiding the heavy growths as they crash to the ground! Then the
gathering up and dragging to bonfire sites at suitable places in the
orchards... The plan was to carry on after Xmas but the weather soon
saw to that! So we only did about half the necessary work, and
missed having the bonfires altogether. However, many birds (dunnock,
blackbirds, robins) are very grateful, building early nests in the
huge heaps of cuttings! So, no bonfires now until autumn. </span>
</div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.35cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The
twisted, springy apple branches and fleshy mistletoe are not suitable
for chipping - but fallen willows are, and we have laid down a good
area of home-made chippings around the Studio as a thick mulch to
suppress weeds and provide a nice floor for the picnic area.</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.35cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Sadly
we lost another huge old oak tree in the gales, as well as many older
apple trees. Alot of tidying up and replanting to do!</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.35cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The
fence in the orchard behind the Lighthouse had to be replaced, and
this time we opted for a cleft chestnut paling fence to divide the
grazed orchard from a woodland edge, and were delighted to find it
being made by coppice workers locally just outside Bromyard. It was
no more expensive than anything I could find online, very strong, and
should last a long while. Best of all, it is flexible and so looks
beautiful in its setting. If you need nice home-grown and made
fencing, look at <a href="http://www.sayitwithwood.co.uk/" target="_blank">Say It With Wood</a>. </span><cite class="_Vc"> </cite></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.35cm;">
<cite class="_Vc"><br /></cite></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-STYJ5B-iKWtSw7tJmC3fMwLppbh0nPVm9rd1xDGwn_260sSXUHSMOAoPKo-yUThE1LWPp3uXl7TSxQ27SIR_RFpnIxZUXoZRvWJlE-6jIKjoSbqLvgqLMjR9oHz0tRVchJ5Urrw4722f/s1600/IMG_1769+resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-STYJ5B-iKWtSw7tJmC3fMwLppbh0nPVm9rd1xDGwn_260sSXUHSMOAoPKo-yUThE1LWPp3uXl7TSxQ27SIR_RFpnIxZUXoZRvWJlE-6jIKjoSbqLvgqLMjR9oHz0tRVchJ5Urrw4722f/s1600/IMG_1769+resized.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.35cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.35cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Meanwhile
dormouse and bat monitoring has continued through the winter and the
Herefordshire Mammal Group is planning three special days here this
summer, one of which is open to the public. If you'ld like to come
along and learn more about the small mammals being studied here, and
about how the scheme works, the date is August 9th, and it will be
free, with refreshments. <b>More details</b> will be posted on this blog in
due course. You'll also find details of <b>upcoming walks</b> in Botany, Insects, Woodpeckers and Bats!</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.35cm;">
<cite class="_Vc"><br /></cite></div>
ellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04818140900169428356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931053036806050553.post-32878902751147039962013-08-01T04:50:00.000-07:002013-08-01T04:50:06.599-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZkDFUmKAmMrDfDV9rziDPA4HdgkQFCTLzjkWneFXCTJkCWksCkovIEAFeKJM1T5KTLKGiIrH_DgolT32wCDC0J_X096oZnbOYi5i2B1ByIHAWKoeW7D_t59a3Vj8lehgz9FBtyJC2cWc/s1600/IMG_1291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZkDFUmKAmMrDfDV9rziDPA4HdgkQFCTLzjkWneFXCTJkCWksCkovIEAFeKJM1T5KTLKGiIrH_DgolT32wCDC0J_X096oZnbOYi5i2B1ByIHAWKoeW7D_t59a3Vj8lehgz9FBtyJC2cWc/s320/IMG_1291.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.35cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">There
was good attendance for Peter Garner's Wildlife Walk last month, when
we ambled around the old sand pit and adjacent meadows, looking at
the more unusual plants to be found on these sandier fields (most of
the farm is heavy clay), before ending up in the farm kitchen for
refreshments as usual. We found 'Townhall Clock' and also a large
patch of Helleborines in the shady woodland in the old pit area.
Many small toads (tiny, just developed from their tadpole phase) were
observed, one tiny frog!, butterflies of course, although it was
evening, and we heard a blackcap singing well. I am very grateful to
Peter who has such a detailed knowledge of this area of the farm.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.35cm;">
<br /><br />
</div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.35cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Since
then it has been hot - I've been concerned about the trees and damper
areas and was pleased to get some rain at last. A Spotted Flycatcher
is nesting on my house and I am living peaceably alongside wasp and
hornet nests. Just to observe the wasp nest being constructed and
organised is awe-inspiring. Young birds are still turning up to the
bird table for soaked bread (home-made!) and other left-overs, in
particular Robins, Blue-tits, and Hedge-sparrows. A family of tawny
owls regularly uses my bedroom balcony rail for their night-time
parties and I heard a badger down below in the garden the other
night. The wild areas in my garden are a huge success, with birds,
bees and butterflies as well as amphibians and even a stoat making
use of them. Each year they are cut back down in spring, to grow
again such plants as thistle, dock, teazel, vetch, moon-daisy,
convolvulus, willow-herb, wild rose, etc. We've added some feverfew,
foxgloves and buddleia too. Its so easy! beautiful in flower, and
rewarding to watch, even in the winter when the goldfinches and
others feast on the seeds. The areas are about 15 foot across and
surrounded by short grass which can be easily mown, and offset from
each other so creatures can cross from one area to another in peace.
I rather enjoy hiding in there myself!</span></div>
ellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04818140900169428356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931053036806050553.post-85663127550983128922013-05-29T12:23:00.000-07:002013-05-30T10:06:30.218-07:00Walking on the Wild Side<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.35cm;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_qEyA3WU6SmcJ__QY1UToVZgAo_KnGwEbj3T5C85tAG1G5RdyXuTnO_gR6jAliDi1fgTxMxpcJGKu6ojIPCbZT90Irgi7Q1hdZ7_AcFxDJZKp2cBKYIhv0Ti4My_YcAojWC2sZcOGKf3y/s1600/IMG_0951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_qEyA3WU6SmcJ__QY1UToVZgAo_KnGwEbj3T5C85tAG1G5RdyXuTnO_gR6jAliDi1fgTxMxpcJGKu6ojIPCbZT90Irgi7Q1hdZ7_AcFxDJZKp2cBKYIhv0Ti4My_YcAojWC2sZcOGKf3y/s320/IMG_0951.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">Good
weather for last Sunday's Wild Plant Walk, (attended by a small but
enthusiastic group), when <b>Gerald Dawe</b> discoursed expertly and
amusingly on the habits and history of our wild plants. We found
many plants which were indicators of ancient woodland, and of course
the rare 'Goldilocks' and 'Town Hall Clock' and also 'Pignut'. Even
an insignificant short grass or patch of moss is interesting when you
look at it closely and consider its staggeringly long history. Since
then the weather has remained cold and wet and this morning I was
amazed by the sight of a Spotted Flycatcher on the bird table choking
down the tit food! We have several pairs of these lovely little
birds here this summer, haunting the old buildings and the orchards
in their quest for insects. Clearly they are having a hard time this
season. The apple blossom itself is very late, and a number of
fruit trees look ill, I think the very wet winters have done them no
good. Worse still, last week, in the gales, I heard a terrible
rending sound and went outside to discover a huge oak tree,
apparently healthy and in leaf, had wrenched itself out of the ground
and lay across the farm track, fortunately damaging little and
hurting nobody! Looking at the roots, we could see they had become
rotten, and I speculate that might have happened from compaction
around the roots as in the 50's and 60's heavy lorries passed along
that track every day to and from the gravel pits. The trunk is huge,
an awe-inspiring sight, and sorting it out will be an interesting
exercise for Will!</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.35cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The
<b>next</b> <b>Farm Walk</b> will be led by <b>Peter Garner</b>, who
has 'naturalised' in these parts for many years, and is entitled 'An
Evening Nature Walk', on<b> Thursday, July 4th, at 7pm</b>, with
refreshments at the end. I'm particularly looking forward to hearing
what Peter has to say about the various habitats to be found here and
their importance for certain species.</span></div>
ellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04818140900169428356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931053036806050553.post-4402373343326397202013-05-13T07:44:00.000-07:002013-05-13T07:55:12.713-07:00From Frogs to Flowers in a few short hops!<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.35cm;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmBSFJwUn1kUiWDI4zO5zuKwkGW47U_2cJvWLOrrF8W0TQg2anLaZFv4GG_lcC3Or78Kn719v-KVZhBOFFh7ASb8jG69hMgvJetkYy0KPZ4NlEDsJ3SdjJGWMVBFX9v6JVq_N2Wt5Qlo0/s1600/IMG_5602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmBSFJwUn1kUiWDI4zO5zuKwkGW47U_2cJvWLOrrF8W0TQg2anLaZFv4GG_lcC3Or78Kn719v-KVZhBOFFh7ASb8jG69hMgvJetkYy0KPZ4NlEDsJ3SdjJGWMVBFX9v6JVq_N2Wt5Qlo0/s320/IMG_5602.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">Nigel
Hand's Pond Walk here attracted a good number of people, all keenly
interested in how to make and manage ponds for wildlife. We took in
three ponds of different types on the farm, some of which need to be
given more light, or to have some of their sludge cleared out, so
there's more vegetation for the newts. Nigel had kindly brought a
good selection of creep-crawlies to aid identification. We also heard
some Blackcaps singing well and a lesser-Spot Woodpecker drumming
away.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.35cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Next
event is on <b>Sunday May 26th at 2.30 pm</b>, when Gerald Dawe will lead a
walk looking at the botany of the farm. Gerald, who lectures on the
subject at Malvern Hills College has led a walk here last year and I
know the walk will be both informative and amusing. Home-made cake
and coffee/tea will be supplied.</span></div>
ellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04818140900169428356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931053036806050553.post-33539471636330524562013-03-03T11:40:00.000-08:002013-03-03T11:40:02.699-08:002013<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">Looking ahead to spring 2013, we have a walk planned on May 5th
led by Nigel Hand, looking at reptiles and invertebrates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nigel, a true expert on the subject, has led
a walk here before, and is Project Officer of the Herefordshire Nature Trust’s Ponds
and Newts Heritage Network Project, which is holding a <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pond training day here at the farm<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>earlier this spring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am hoping the weather will warm up so we
can see plenty of wriggly and slithery creatures! and enjoy learning about
their habitats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The walk starts here at
the farm at 11am.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">There will also be another botany walk this year led by Gerald
Dawes, author and most entertaining lecturer at Malvern Hills College
on local botany, to be held later in May.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Details to be announced.</span></div>
ellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04818140900169428356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931053036806050553.post-81170549502818839922012-07-11T03:09:00.001-07:002012-07-11T03:09:49.490-07:00Heavy rain, cold, and Wimbledon semi-final all conspired to make our bat event on 6th July a very small one! However the barbeque was enjoyed and we were fortunate enough to hear and see lesser Horseshoe bats in the farm buildings, as well as Pipistrelles and others ( including possibly Serotine?) coasting about near the pond and over the tracks linking the buildings. The following day I heard that 34 Bechstein bats had been counted by the woodland monitors, and at the weekend, new guests to the B&B were thrilled to watch the spotted flycatchers bringing food to their nest, and, because it was so cold and I’d put out seed again, also saw woodpeckers, nuthatch and others on the feeders. Now we have yet more swarming bees, who have decided to live under some eave tiles on the granary roof. Numbers have appeared in the house, seeming confused and out of sorts, and I wonder if they have been affected by insecticide locally, as it has been proved to upset their homing sense (if it doesn’t kill them altogether). How I wish that people when buying their food and drinks would make the connection and insist on crops grown without these sprays – but perhaps our own intellectual faculties are similarly affected, or is it just laziness?<br /><br />Further walks are planned, possibly another bat walk later in the summer when it is warmer (?), and in the winter we are looking forward to an interesting and educational morning learning how to prune traditional orchard trees with a view to wildlife, landscape, and productivity, led by Janet Lomas. I hope to then have the time over the winter months to apply these lessons, though there is plenty of other HLS work to do to hedges and ponds. The Higher Level Stewardship Scheme (HLS) is demanding and the weather can play havoc with our plans! We do our best. The new pond we made this spring is already full of ‘wiggly things’ and several hedges have been protected by new fence lines. With the help of the AONB we have also planted hedge trees, oaks, and disease-resistant elms which will help maintain important features of the traditional landscape for future generations.ellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04818140900169428356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931053036806050553.post-21099327418658412672012-06-11T09:51:00.000-07:002012-06-11T09:51:10.395-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span id="goog_1000008529"></span><span id="goog_1000008530"></span>ellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04818140900169428356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931053036806050553.post-15400051162779771462012-06-11T08:32:00.000-07:002012-06-11T08:32:22.868-07:00<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Lovely weather for our walk with Janet Lomas on 9<sup>th</sup>
June, looking at management of old trees and hedges, and we all enjoyed the
afternoon even though very few people turned up!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suspect most were battling with their own
gardens on the first fine day for a while… Janet’s interesting talk was
constantly interrupted by the drumming of the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker – he
who was so elusive on the Orchard Bird Walk! I learnt a lot about pruning and
the best shapes for budded trees and we all became more aware of the
fascinating paradox of how man-made England’s rural landscape is, and yet how
incredibly complex and subtle the connections are in the web of natural life
that supports it. We must acknowledge this in our readiness to accept we are on
a constantly ascending spiral of knowledge. (Well, I hope so!)</div>
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The next event is a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bat
and Barbeque Evening, on Friday 6<sup>th</sup> July</b>, starting at 8.30 pm
until after dark (bats stay up late!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ste West will be leading this with the expert help of David Lee, and we will be able to identify plenty of
bats on some clever machines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The event
is Free, although a donation would be welcome in respect of the barbeque food.</div>
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Recent monitoring of bats here has revealed<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the continued presence of Bechstein bats (see
picture), as well as dormice who keep turning up in the boxes!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More dormouse monitoring in the old Sandpit
has just begun – it will be exciting to see if any live there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Sandpit is an interesting area, worked
for sand and gravel in the 50’s/60’s,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>which now presents several large, shallow pools in a deep hollow,
shrouded by willows of all persuasions, alders and rushes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dragonflies are notable here and we hope to
attract some funding to coppice some areas to allow more light in. On the
recent Botany walk we found ‘Goldilocks’ and ‘Townhall Clock’, two less common
species of plant, as we filed along the footpath along its perimiter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To the North the surrounding grassland is
very unspoilt and species-rich, necessitating a special management regime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank goodness for helpful cows!!</div>
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But as well as being thankful for cows, I must record here my gratitude and appreciation of all those who contribute to this special place, observing and monitoring ( and wobbling up and down ladders in wet prickly woods all day is a labour of love!), sharing knowledge and skills, and just tirelessly turning to and getting down to the jobs that need doing. Thankyou all very much, everyone - I'm sure you all know who you are (well I should hope so otherwise how can you tell bats apart!) and I'm so pleased that we are gradually building up a better picture of what lives here and how we can care for it. And I very much appreciate the interest and enthusiasm of our visitors, holiday people and locals too.</div>
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To end - yesterday evening my son and I spent a few hours helping a local friend collect two swarms of bees here - much more exciting than watching the match!!!</div>ellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04818140900169428356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931053036806050553.post-21329985727450231052012-05-24T12:12:00.001-07:002012-05-24T12:12:50.561-07:00Last weekends walks were hugely successful despite low temperatures - hard to remember now we're enjoying summer warmth! On our Bird walk we not only heard lots of birds, thanks to Simon Barker, (who is soon to publish the reults of his studies of Orchard Birds), but found evidence of the Noble Chafer Beetle, and tucked into Legges' famous local sausages for breakfast. And on the Botany Walk we were all immensely entertained by Gerald Dawes, by the description of the chemical properties belonging to various plants (including some rare ones) and the statistics describing their 'movements', ending up in the farm kitchen consuming coffee and cake and discussing nearly every subject under the sun! Next walk is about the management of orchard trees and hedges, led by Janet Lomas, on June 9th at 2.30pm. There will be a cuppa and home-made cake afterwards.<br />
Now I'm back to B&B and letting the Lighthouse - we have our usual interesting mix of tenants and guests : orchestral players (playing at the Three Choirs festival), internatonal furniture makers and woodworkers (doing a course near here with Gudrun Leitz in the woods), an American professor pioneering radical new surgical techniques, puppeteers, cider makers, and people just 'in passing' up and down the country. In between whiles I slink out to the veg garden and water my seedlings or do some much needed weeding! The cuckoo is singing well and our younger swallows have now joined us, somewhat later than their parents, though I don't think they are old enough to nest this year. All the various roses here are about to flower: Cecil Brunner, a tiny noisette rose which is at least 50 years old, as is 'Gloire de Dijon', 'Breath of Life', planted by a former partner of mine, on the farmhouse walls, and 'Graham Thomas','Malvern Hills', and 'Pegasus' up at the Lighthouse, where they fulfil a dual purpose of shielding the interior from overhead rays from the sun, with 'Grace' and 'Lady Emma Hamilton' as shrub roses, providing shelter from the road. How I enjoy the seasons!ellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04818140900169428356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931053036806050553.post-82707451401394311462012-05-03T07:44:00.002-07:002012-05-03T07:44:39.890-07:00Heavy rain caused our Bird Walk led by Simon Barker to be postponed to <b>Saturday, May 19th, at 8am</b> (with breakfast afterwards). Its a treat worth waiting for. The following day we have a new topic: Botany, led by Gerald Dawes, which I am also really looking forward to, as I know less about plants than birds, despite having grown up with two plantspeople! Gerald knows a great deal about our local botany, and has also written persuasively about the role of the plant world in 'green places' in our own lives and health from an holistic, yet scientific, viewpoint. Come and learn about our plant life here on <b>Sunday 20th May at 11 am</b>!ellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04818140900169428356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931053036806050553.post-25283990420123430182012-04-28T10:07:00.000-07:002012-04-28T10:07:30.719-07:0028th April, 2012<br />
<br />
Getting ready for our first Farm Walk of the year<span style="background-color: #93c47d;"></span>, tomorrow morning : 'Discovering the Birds of Traditional Orchards', led by Simon Barker, who works for the National Trust and has visited these orchards often. The weather is not good and it looks as though the whole thing may have to be called off! This is a great shame as several people have been very kind in helping me to publicise these walks, and there looked to be a good turnout. We were to have learnt about redstarts, woodpeckers (including the smaller spotted), blackcaps, garden warblers and nightingales.<br />
These walks are held as a result of us joining the Higher Level Stewardship Scheme, which gives us a basic payment towards hosting them and allows the public to get a better idea of what it does and what we do here. There is to be a walk on the Botany of the farm on 20th May, 11 am, led by Gerald Dawe, and another on caring for hedges and orchards on 9th June, led by Janet Lomas. Later in the year there will be our usual Bat evening, with barbeque, which is always enjoyable.ellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04818140900169428356noreply@blogger.com0