First of all a big thank you to those who have bought honey, hedgerow and rowanberry jellies from us. We were delighted that our produce proved so popular and have put the money towards digger hire, Alder and Wych Elm trees, and Sweet Chestnut seeds to pot up at home.
1st October
Have digger, will dig. John started to make more of the wet area at the base of the Crag, on the west boundary. This is an area in which the water comes and goes, which, habitat-wise , is as important as standing water. He also worked on levelling and extending the roadway in from the bottom gate. We are thrilled that even within 24 hours, we can see the large pond filling up. Our resident Pond Inspector has apparently been to examine the workings.
Opening the third area
Extended roadway. This is near the spoil heaps and you can see the spoil on the surface
It’s looking like a pond!
We trust that after assiduous study of the website, you all recognise these as Roe Deer tracks.
2nd October
Another day, another pond. Clare arrived as John was declaring the third pond, at the base of the Crag, finished. Clare saw it and thought, “Stepping stones would be nice.” He had added a large stone in the middle so it was his own fault. The first pond is definitely filling up.
More water than the day before
Pond No 3 - with soon-to-be stepping stone
All it needs is water
3rd October
Would you believe there is now a fourth pond on Liddells?! Nul ponds to quatre ponds in five days. John dug the rush out of a small pond we created about three years ago. As with the one at the bottom of the Crag, it may be one in which the water comes and goes. We also hope that with this amount of choice, frogs and newts will be able to coexist.
John used the digger’s remaining day to dig two sets of post holes - one for a gate that will open on to the path down to the Orchard; the second gate will be into the North-east Strip from the Meadow, and will enable the movement of pigs. Should we ever get them. On his way to dig these post holes, John found a magnificent mushroom on the Meadow, and thanks to pool-playing Lloyd who has lent us a comprehensive mushroom guide, we are confident we can eat it. If you don’t hear from us again, please would someone return the book to Lloyd.
Mining spoil is evident here
It’s a text book case
4th October
Paul is now confident with his hauling collar so today John and Eilidh decided to add more of his harness. William added moral support. Eilidh started by laying the harness on the ground and putting some apple pieces on it. With such an incentive, the rest was easy and John and Paul walked up and down the field. John jangled the chains occasionally to reacquaint Paul with the sounds of working.
We promise not to give you a daily pond levels update, however, since we had the first rain for days overnight and this morning we were quite excited to see how they had filled up. We were not disappointed.
Pond 1 The island is very nearly an island
Pond 2 The terracotta pieces right of centre are part of an old field drain, which augurs well for the pond
Pond 3 Go on John, you know you want to play on the stepping stones
And last but not least, though it is the smallest, let’s hear it for Pond 4
9th October
John, having fixed the panels between the roof and the walls, began painting the windows. We still have to finish levelling the site where the hut will go, and fence this off, however it’s lovely to see the hut facing the right way at last.
10th October
John started painting the body of the shepherd’s hut. One end finished.
Rather tasteful don’t you think, and not a Farrow & Ball paint chart in sight.
13th October
On our way to inspect the pond levels, we both heard and saw a large flock of fieldfares, about 40-50, moving from the Scrub towards the Pit Wood. These are likely to be winter visitors, come from breeding in Continental Europe and Scandinavia in the summer months. We were also delighted to see a hare on the Meadow, although it had run down into the south-west corner and couldn’t get out until we had moved closer and beyond the hurdle, and that agitated it somewhat. It eventually ran out of the Meadow and through the bottom gate.
14th October
John noticed that pond 1 is now full and surplus water running through the overflow pipe. It looks very impressive. John fixed gateposts into the holes by the Spoil Heaps and we both managed to get two coats of paint onto the other end of the shepherd’s hut.
Pond awaiting wildlife
Posts in and John has downed tools
The smeary look is the paint being absorbed and drying, not ineptitude on our part
18th October
First post in for the gateway out of the Meadow into the North-east Strip. Back of the shepherd’s hut painted.
Post in and logs for stacking. The tree stump will be taken down to nearer ground level at some point
“Here’s Johnny!” (thanks to Jane E for this photo)
Hard to know from where to photograph this, however you get the picture
19th October
Shepherd’s hut painting done! Clare spent a happy few minutes watching a Goldcrest in the Pit Wood. It was hopping about in an Elder and so close that getting a camera out would probably have frightened it away. It could either be resident or a migrant from Scandinavia - timing would be right for that; also exhausted migrants are typically less afraid of humans, which might account for Clare being able to be so close. Apparently early ornithologists could not believe that such a tiny bird could fly across the North Sea unaided and therefore thought the birds must ride on the backs of other birds such as Woodcock or Short-eared Owls. This gave rise to the old country name of Woodcock Pilot.
20th October
Eilidh, John and Tom all worked together to put Paul in his harness again and, with William’s faithful companionship (or William spotting the opportunity to nibble at some fresh grass) they walked down the log hauling route onto the Wetland. While there Paul inspected the new ponds. He was anxious however did not bolt, so we reckoned the expedition was a success.
22nd October
John started creating an platform for the shepherd’s hut, making a wooden frame and with the intention of covering it with membrane and chip.
23rd October
Platform complete and hut in position (with Chris Bates’ help)!
From this….. (with thanks to Lesley for this reminder of the very start of the positioning process)
…via this…
…and this…
…to this! And very fine it looks too. Glazing and interior next on the to-do list.
25th October
We’ve been seeing more grey squirrel activity recently, particularly on a couple of oaks at the north end of the Pit Wood. John had his suspicions about this and discovered that the Tawny Owl box is in use, though not as we had hoped. He’s redoubled his squirrel control with some effect. We are going to do whatever we can to keep the site free for red squirrels, which apparently have recently returned to Gosforth Park Nature Reserve after a ten year absence. They are hanging on in the area in small pockets (not of clothing) as a result of diligent work by many volunteers.
The squirrel squatters’ larder
24th - 29th October
With no pressing work at the moment, we’ve been taking more time to walk round and enjoy Liddells. We both read an article about over-wintering Redwings on the 26th and lo and behold, while John was checking for squirrel activity the next morning, Clare saw a flock of about 20 Redwings feeding on hawthorn berries near the Orchard. They must have read the article too. We read that they will often feed on windfall apples so we have left some from our garden and placed the trail camera to see if we can record any feeding activity. We saw lots of Nuthatches and a Treecreeper that same day, as well as many of the more common woodland and hedgerow birds.
30th October
Unfortunately the trail camera was angled above the apples, however it did capture a young roe buck several times. We have included one clip which shows the deer’s agility as it leaves the Orchard for the Pit Wood.
After much debate, measuring, considering and reconsidering, we have finally decided on the size, shape and extent of the area that will be fenced off round the shepherd’s hut. It has proved a surprisingly difficult task working out with which of the markers to align the fencing. We are pleased with our decision, and you can see the beginning of the work below.
Clare went up to document this development and walking round was delighted that there were large mixed flocks of Redwings and Fieldfares just about everywhere; she saw a flock of at least 8 Bullfinches in the Pit Wood and then another group of 3 near the Crag; there is a marked increase in the numbers of Blackbirds around, so the winter visitors have arrived from Scandinavia; she also saw a Marsh Tit in the Pit Wood, which is the first time one has been seen since the Spring. We assumed they had moved on, however it seems possible that they have stayed after all. Clare is endeavouring to add the song and call to the small list of birdsongs she can recognise. Kate and Andy have been enjoying walking their dog on Liddells recently and have seen a hare both times, once on the Wetland and once on the Crag.
Looking west …
…and from the north-west.
31st October
More ticks on the shepherd’s hut to-do list - John collected the glazing bars and glass for the windows. We have also chosen the flooring. It’s exciting to be considering the interior at last.