1st October
The lone doe has appeared on the trail camera again. John’s long term stalking buddy Mike thinks she might be last year’s kid. That would explain her following her mother and hanging around near the new family. And maybe her rather forlorn expression.
2nd October
While Clare tackled what she has now decided is a five year plan working on the south boundary wall, John worked on trailer refurbishment.
Clare is less than convinced that John has thought through the implications of his repairs.
Better, though still room for improvement
He worked it out in the end
4th October
The sheep have eaten off the Top Grazing and been moved to a neighbour’s field. They will return to eat off the Meadow in a few days.
8th October
Clare knew that her birthday would be incomplete without a trip to Liddells. Just before leaving after a leisurely stroll round, she and John saw a hare sitting out in the afternoon sunshine by the beehives. Clare was certain it was a birthday gift from the land.
9th October
Clare planted wildflower plugs grown from Juno’s third birthday seed packet round the Shepherd’s hut. While lunching in the hide, Clare expressed concern that the Marsh Tits hadn’t been seen for several weeks. Minutes later two appeared on the feeders, as did a Redpoll. It’s as if they had heard.
10th October
The sheep returned to graze on the Meadow. Clare sowed Yellow Rattle seeds round the Shepherd’s hut.
11th October
Clare planted more plugs donated by friends. John did some maintenance on the larches in the West Verge. Long-tailed tits visited the feeders for the first time since early summer. Three Redwings flew into the Hawthorn in front of the hide. Although climate change means that seasons are less well defined, there is still a noticeable shift in seasonal patterns. For the birds, winter is on the way. They are also beginning to take more food from the feeders.
The trail camera revealed another first for Liddells - two badgers appeared going through the Scrub.
While Clare was sowing Yellow Rattle seeds in the outside verge where she has been removing nettle and bramble, a woman stopped to say that she had seen a red squirrel in the drive of the neighbouring house just a few days earlier. This is only a few hundred yards from Liddells.
12th October
John had a lightbulb moment this morning. He had booked a chipper for two days in order to tackle the brash piles. For once, the weather forecast was correct and the rain Biblical. Shortly before it was time to collect the chipper, John suggested that he could cancel the hire. In a state of some wonderment, Clare agreed that this was indeed a choice they could make. Hire cancelled. John and Clare walked around in a bit of a daze all day. And dry. This could be life-changing.
The sheep have obviously decided there is insufficient food left on the Meadow so some have gone looking for pastures new.
It is always a delight to see evidence of hares. Clare and John hope this one is leaping for an equivalent joy.
13th October
Farmer John came to take the sheep off.
Hal, John and Clare worked on moving more logs and bringing brash up from the Pit Wood ready for chipping when the weather is suitable. Hal was rewarded for his efforts by seeing a hare on the Top Grazing.
15th October
John and Clare called on Mel’s help for hauling the brash. Clare reckoned that by the time it is spread on paths as chip or on the garden as mulch, it will all have been moved six times and some seven. There is an adage that firewood warms us three times - in cutting, in splitting and stacking and in burning. The brash could be responsible for quite a rise in temperature.
Clare sowed the remaining Yellow Rattle seeds in the west end of the Top Grazing in the hope that the prevailing wind will contribute to the spread of the plant.
The trail camera captured images that are sure to delight.
A small portion of the brash after its journey over the fence
16th October
The bales were taken off the Top Grazing. John P sent a photograph of what happened next.
Delicious!
20th October
Footage from the trail camera is helping to offset the hard work involved in moving the brash.
24th October
Clare and John are definitely hearing more blackbirds on Liddells now. The trail camera has captured some in the Scrub together with a small flock of foraging Redwings. Towards the end of the footage you can see the identifying stripe over the eye of the Redwing in the bottom left corner of the scene. The Tawny Owl is also looking for food in the Scrub.
26th October
Well, the weather forecast was for rain, however, undeterred, John, Clare and Mel tackled the brash. Clare, seeing the mountainous piles that lay waiting, was concerned that John had only booked the chipper for one day. John and Clare began at 9am and finished one group of mounds by the time Mel arrived at 10.30. John, obviously thinking the work was not hard enough, went and fetched three more trailer loads of brash from the North-east Strip. Two hours later a lunch break was allowed. Readers can draw their own conclusions as to who authorised this. The weather changed shortly after lunch and rain began of the kind that had brought about the cancellation of the chipper earlier in the month. John, Clare and Mel pretended not to notice and by 2pm no brash remained - anywhere on Liddells. Clare was astonished and very relieved, however the land had not joined in the weather denial; Clare got her car stuck in the mud and had to call on John and Mel’s pushing services to leave the site. A slight dampener on the chipping triumph.
John starting off
Tier 1- the lowest level of chip; no restrictions on movement
Tier 2 - to be applied to central and western sections of the Top Strip path; may be transported in bag or barrow; may be taken home to be used as mulch …
Tier 3 - the highest level of chip; this can only be used in the Top Strip carried in bags or on barrows and can only mix with chip from other chip bubbles
27th-31st October
Recovery from chipping exertions.