23rd April
The ponies came to take carrots from our hands.
26th April
Nest in Box 2 looks complete.
29th April
1 egg in Box 2! John J heard chiffchaff, willow warbler, yellow hammer and blackcap; pair of buzzards seen; activity in Box 9.
Ex-citing new residents - the arrival of the Exmoor ponies
Early April 2014 - beaks and troughs
1st April
Pussy Willow in Scrub below Top Grazing; Larch in flower in Pit Wood.
2nd April
Crab Apple moved from home to Orchard.
4th April
Brashing and strimming on Wrigley Walk in Top Strip. Juliet Roger from the Moorland Mousie Trust visited to discuss the possibility of her Exmoor ponies grazing the land. All parties in agreement, they arrive the week after next!
6th April
Wrigley Walk now cleared along its length. A sparrowhawk flew out of the quarry area, a peacock butterfly was on the gorse near the gate. We saw swallows on the corner by Crag House on our way home.
12th April
Fence on southern edge of Pit Wood repaired and hurdle into orchard.
13th April
Brashing along southern edge of Pit Wood; water trough cleaned; 2 bumble bees on top pasture; moss in Nest Box 2.
14th April
More brashing on southern edge of Pit Wood; bird boxes up in Pit Wood, verge and top strip; work on trough (much flooding!). Ladybirds everywhere, several bumblebees and peacock butterflies; hunting buzzard; Mel doing wildflower survey.
15th April
More work on water trough; more bird boxes in Pit Wood; Wrigley butterfly survey; work started to clear southern tip of western boundary fence. Deer ran out of Pit Wood, across Wetland up Crag, over Top Grazing and jumped into top plantation. Wood Sorrell at west end of Top Strip. Butterflies (peacock).
16th April
Wild Cherry blossom in plantation; trough finished; more work on western boundary fence (stapling complete); 5 bird boxes in top plantation.
18th April
Moss in bird box 8; more moss in number 2; chiffchaff seen and heard in Pit Wood.
Wood Sorrel emerging where brashing has let light in
Rainwater collection trough under construction (thanks Lynne & Richard for the photograph)
The leisurely position for fixing a bird box
Wild Cherry in blossom in the Top Strip
March 2014 - primrose premiere
3rd March
Mel came and helped John move a Damson tree from home to the orchard area.
10th-12th March
John builds a stile into the roadside plantation, close to the entrance gate and we start clearing in that corner to create a path inside the fence for Tim to use on his butterfly surveys (Wrigley Walk?!).
We plant Snowdrops round the cross base, Wild Garlic in the Pit Wood, 3 Speedwell plants in the wildflower meadow; hang 2 bird boxes in the scrub area and plant 2 Oak trees (from Keith and Rachel and Fran and Martin [Tynedale Community Choir]).
19th March
Wildflower survey number 3 - first Primroses are out in the Pit Wood.
21-22nd March
More work on 'Wrigley Walk'.
25th March
Path through the scrub area cleared.
26th March
Further work on Scrub path and 2 bags of Snowdrops from Fran and Martin planted on the land. 2 curlews flew over towards the south west corner.
29th March
Jane K plans a transect walk for a bumble bee survey. 3 Honesty plants introduced to Wildflower Meadow.
Preparing to replant the damson
Damson in it's new home
One of the oak saplings in the North-east Strip
Alder catkins
Kissing is in fashion when gorse is in flower
Pit Wood primroses
The first of what will be many stiles
Wild Garlic
February 2014 - birdboxes and snowdrops to mark Valentine's day
2nd February
Scarlet Elf-cap fungus identified.
6th February
Brashing complete in NE Strip.
7th February
Brashings removed; Snowdrops seen at last!
9th February
John made a stile into the NE Strip.
10th February
North East plantation boundary fence repaired.
14th February
We hang bird box number 1 for St Valentine's day and see the first of the Snowdrops we had planted last year.
19th February
20th February
Clare saw a treecreeper, female bullfinch and heard a song thrush in the NE Strip; snowdrops on the road verge either side of the entrance gate.
Scarlet Elf Cap Fungus
Snowdrops in the North-east Strip
Our Valentine's Day bird box
January 2014 - blogging about logging
2nd January
More clearing and logging.
3rd January
John started to clear SW corner of NE Strip for a high seat; clearing and logging.
5th January
Neil came and started repairs on the wall by the hunt jump; clearing and logging.
10th January
Mel completes the first of the wildflower surveys.
13th January
Fungus photos.
13th - 31st January
3 days per week working in the North East Strip
Taking stock of the problem
Rebuilding
Spot the join
Yellow Brain Fungus
Jelly Ear
Can anyone help identify this one?
Or this?
December 2013 - a busy month to end the year!
3rd December
We met Duncan Hutt and Mel from the Northumberland Wildlife Trust at Liddells. Duncan was interested in our idea of leaving the land to the NWT. He offered help and we talked about grazing options.
We planted 2 patches of Pheasant's Eye Narcissus either side of the crossbase, 3 clumps in the verge and some inside the boundary wall north of the gate and by the beeches.
4th December
40 Fritillaria planted in lower east meadow - our chosen site for wildflowers (we had originally thought of developing the area above the crag, but Duncan's visit prompted a rethink).
Clump of Narcissus Felindre (Poeticus Daffodil) on bank approaching Bird Cherry tree. 2 clumps by the Bird Cherry.
6th December
50 Snowdrops and 16 Narcissi in the woodland. John saw ladybirds appearing to hibernate in a Scots Pine, south edge of Pit Wood.
18th December
Ian Everard from the Forestry Commission visited the land with us and advised on making subcompartments/grant applications. He was encouraging and offered help with forms.
20th December
We cut out own Christmas tree and one for Jane B.
26th December
Boxing Day - 2 hours freeing trees from plastic tubes in NE Strip.
27th December
More tree freeing/logging/clearing
28th December
Brashing/logging/clearing; bags of rubbish to dump; logs stacked in shed on Top Grazing; Freelander stuck in mud overnight!
29th December
After more unsuccessful attempts on John's part to free the Land Rover, he went off to get help. Determined not to be beaten, Clare managed to drive it out just as Derek arrived with a tractor. So proud!
Brashing/logging/clearing - more logs stacked; trailer mended; common earthball fungus identified east of path under wires.
John and chain saw - a familiar sight
The North-east Strip looking more open after brashing and thinning
The spoils of tree-freeing
30th December
Office work on planning/forms etc.
31st December
Diary update.
November 2013 -first meeting with the Forestry Commission
6th November
We decided on a site for fruit trees and for a high seat.
13th November
We went to meet James S who has worked with the Forestry Commission and had offered to give us advice.
20th November
We met James at Liddells; we saw a woodcock and a jay. He had prepared a set of notes for us to consider.
September - October 2013
30th September - 3rd October
John, Andy, Neil, Robbie, Kate and Clare dismantled the shelter.
23rd October
Another beautiful rainbow. This time we remembered to take a photograph!
Land-warming Party and Naming
29th September
Michaelmas Day - our land-warming party. Penny had written a song for us dedicated to the land. We named the land Liddells after Clare's maternal grandmother's family, who lived in the Tyne Valley centuries ago. There are more photos here.
Hal on the phone to Mathilda so she could be there too
Enjoying the glow
September 2013 - Party preparations
3rd September
We planted two clumps of Meadow Cranesbill and a Pink Campion.
4th September
Clare saw the hare. We took still and moving pictures of the land.
10th September
Beech branches overhanging the road had been cut and had to be moved.
15th September
We built the bonfire for the party. Kate and Andy came for blackberries. There was a spectacular rainbow to the north, over Heavenfield.
14th September
Clare collected fruits and made hedgerow jelly. This is the recipe I use.
17th and 15th September
John, Neil and Andy build the shelter for the party. See Celebrations for photos.
21st September
We made a path down to the tree planting site (the Bird Cherry tree Mathilda bought us as a wedding gift)
28th September
We saw a kestrel
29th September
We saw a large dragonfly
August 2013 - Becoming landowners
7th August
16.50: We are landowners! I walked to the land and John drove and we sat and raised a glass to investing in life.
13th August
Party-planning! We've identified a site for the bonfire and for the shelter. We've also considered the possibility of applying to turn the hunt jump into a gateway. Great raspberries!
15th August
John went up with Mel and they saw a roe doe at the spring end of the Pit Wood and a sparrowhawk.
2 sightings of a hare on the meadow.
26th August
A new gatepost installed and the gate rehung.
What a prospect...
Pre-purchase - March-July 2013
Prior to the sale of the land, the previous owner generously allowed us access, and we began documenting our visits.
17th March
We planted 100 English Bluebells on the land.
20th March
John discovered that there is an Ancient Monument on the land: Medieval cross base, 400m south east of Crag House. List Entry: 1008424.
The base of the wayside cross is incorporated into the dry stone wall situated on the top of the east-west ridge. It is believed to be on the Medieval Pilgrim route from Hexham Abbey to the Church of St Oswalds at Heavenfield.
1st April
We planted Snowdrops that we had taken from our garden.
Sunday 21st April
New growth from a dead Elm trunk on the west side of the Pit Wood. Primroses on the south facing bank of the spring gully. Saw Bullfinches - 2 pairs in the Pit Wood.
20th May
We discover that completion hasn't happened as planned because of a legal technicality.
20th June
John saw a hare on the Top Grazing.
24th July
Mike has applied to the Land Registry and been given Absolute Title to the land inside the gateway.
30th July
We have exchanged contracts. Completion to take place Wednesday 7th August.