Clear autumn light

October 2018

Down by the river a flock of mistle thrushes landed high in an autumnal tree, lit by the bright morning sun. Sharp shadows chequered the Avenue, and Mike – usually back working with the rest of the team by mid-October – gave the grass yet another last cut. It was the start of an exquisite day of blue skies, warm air, little wind, and a clear light to raise our spirits and enrich the view. Just as well really; we were off to the West Wood to clear more brash.

Mike mows The Avenue

Some years ago, a stand of commercial timber was harvested by the Forestry Commission. We replanted the area with hazel, and will plant hazel again in the immediate adjoining area which we are currently clearing. There are good reasons for the choice of hazel: it’s a native species; it can be coppiced, providing dense growth for birds and a supply of nuts for small mammals. Another reason is that it doesn’t grow very tall, so won’t interfere with the overhead powerlines that cross the estate at this narrow point.

A tangled mess

Cleared patch, adjoining hazel in top left corner. 

Untangling the debris of the felled trees – interwoven branches, twigs and substantial logs – appears, so far, only to have disturbed one field vole, quite a few ladybirds and innumerable spiders. In the afternoon sunshine, though, young spiders made good use of our lines of stacked brash by climbing to the top and ballooning away on threads of gossamer to start life somewhere new.

Autumn also brings lots of fungi to the surface. Here are just a few recent finds:

Glistening inkcaps

Shaggy inkcaps

Puffballs

Puffballs - puffing

Jelly ear

Russula sp.

Pholiota sp.

Fly agaric

Fungal cascade

Sulphur tuft

Terry – often pictured and mentioned in our blog with his wife, Mary – turned eighty this week. When not heaving logs around in West Wood, Terry occupies himself by wardening his parish church, going on forty mile bike rides with his mates, walking in the countryside with Mary, playing the cornet, and doing family stuff. And he makes us laugh. Happy Birthday, Terry.

Mary & Terry

Steve Wootten & Phil Coyne