Everything Else, or 'The Frog in the Trough’ and 'The Newt in the Chip’

The catch all heading Everything Else is daunting and includes everything from a sixty pound mature Roe deer to the microscopic, almost weightless creatures that we never even see. Then there is all the activity which goes on in the air and under the ground, most of which is unseen but vital to the well being of the land as a whole.

Some of the residents or visitors which have not received much attention include badger, fox (one of which spent a long time on top of a stone wall watching John as he approached), a heron visiting the small wetland pond, frogs and toads, a newt, stoats, grey squirrels (two traps have been bought!) moles and mice and all these before we consider the 400 species of insects which occupy an oak tree.

More than once we find ourselves overwhelmed by the complexity involved in trying to understand the relationships involved in an ecosystem. We concern ourselves with decisions all the time. Do we fell this tree? If so when? Do we create a pond or scrape here or somewhere else? What might thrive on the waste heaps from the mines? Are we being too fussy always trying to deal only with native species? Is this the right place for a nesting box?

Often something will just pop up unexpectedly: a frog in the ponies’ water trough, a newt nestling in a pile of wood chip, a clutch of caterpillars on nettles, a tight bunch of ladybirds huddling together for the winter among pine needles. Such moments seem like gifts and as well as the simple pleasure of the moment there is learning to be grasped. If we keep some nettles caterpillars will thrive, if we retain the thistles the autumn butterflies will be abundant.

To say there is much more work to be done to fully understand the biodiversity of Liddells would be an understatement. John read recently that scientists are beginning to wonder if trees communicate with each other, especially when threatened by a disease when it is thought they transfer a chemical signal from one tree to another so the recipient tree is forewarned and can prepare its defences.  Nature is far smarter than we give her credit for but what we try to do is help as best we can.

We end up bumbling along and take heart from ‘The Animals’,

We’re just souls whose intentions are good

Oh Lord, please don’t let us be misunderstood.