tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15884971994676241042024-02-06T20:32:07.291-08:00GibsideThe Conservation Team BlogHelen McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564151913677667373noreply@blogger.comBlogger209125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588497199467624104.post-53467793717163884202023-01-03T11:57:00.001-08:002023-01-03T12:56:29.638-08:002022 in Pictures<span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Since the last blog entry (February 2022) there have been many changes. The UK is on it's third Prime Minister and fourth Chancellor of the Exchequer, meanwhile the work at Gibside goes on.</span><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><b>March 2022</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9TLkA6uaGf1b2rQau8UTu1pD5hbceDETN_8-wYE7t4WKoWwrI3KI6x0PmWtw4kWU3pd-0kmNpdGjxyUw1cYptXKRHNw0rlsAXClHfR6ylwRN6kkyF13F0Rpi8Tg2TWVI2j-R-2p4xmGV7gEZN5nn70_2qIgj2834drh81hEo4AZ4qXKLdWxs-Sv21A/s4032/IMG_1836.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9TLkA6uaGf1b2rQau8UTu1pD5hbceDETN_8-wYE7t4WKoWwrI3KI6x0PmWtw4kWU3pd-0kmNpdGjxyUw1cYptXKRHNw0rlsAXClHfR6ylwRN6kkyF13F0Rpi8Tg2TWVI2j-R-2p4xmGV7gEZN5nn70_2qIgj2834drh81hEo4AZ4qXKLdWxs-Sv21A/w480-h640/IMG_1836.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjWovt4dNSOnH_6TqmpgyoYbg0xkVPWUwQK_TIHT4Os3EDkOUER8jv8oZk8-h6V_gu03ZJJtQvm9rNWHwi3-IYLRe-P7U8U6U3sy15Lwor2LkvCeIzD3BDX2qmSrSf6k-SSraER4d7jqUxY9Q82V-vbLS5mCBSgwD72PWdI94G0bkRV0bjBcTL4uSa1Q/s4032/IMG_1840.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjWovt4dNSOnH_6TqmpgyoYbg0xkVPWUwQK_TIHT4Os3EDkOUER8jv8oZk8-h6V_gu03ZJJtQvm9rNWHwi3-IYLRe-P7U8U6U3sy15Lwor2LkvCeIzD3BDX2qmSrSf6k-SSraER4d7jqUxY9Q82V-vbLS5mCBSgwD72PWdI94G0bkRV0bjBcTL4uSa1Q/w480-h640/IMG_1840.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Clearing up in Ice House Dene</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5ADpJhfUYXggenI4Q02vRq2mi14dlCSLrc-FdK0JFyY1gnYI5Ce-v5LXmIhdCmSt0xQucBKIRLjWxRDh069zhyi1E66kHc6VELSajwencuW0mzqqVsTeMU4IdxsrMzPQIBF-0QfTAjrebMKl807kkJNhLD717_8FZc_wWmOllfC4wxw4v0O0k9WZNw/s4032/IMG_1843.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5ADpJhfUYXggenI4Q02vRq2mi14dlCSLrc-FdK0JFyY1gnYI5Ce-v5LXmIhdCmSt0xQucBKIRLjWxRDh069zhyi1E66kHc6VELSajwencuW0mzqqVsTeMU4IdxsrMzPQIBF-0QfTAjrebMKl807kkJNhLD717_8FZc_wWmOllfC4wxw4v0O0k9WZNw/w480-h640/IMG_1843.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXSXTAp8cEsn2-DLUUk0aWTsbwCS3QdXNf00J6ZaI-p-TMIzS6eTb_R-U5uNOoHgy6Uxe-nKdOsnS_2cNU0YsIg_yTbieVWpcgZUeZKKAfopndFR-y21ek7Gn9Wx5AmJk7NlEgA4DYdwFEi-N1Kk7RqGAoY3ywGRWCyS0nHglzQKQkYU02GkYEgeCr9A/s4032/IMG_1844.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXSXTAp8cEsn2-DLUUk0aWTsbwCS3QdXNf00J6ZaI-p-TMIzS6eTb_R-U5uNOoHgy6Uxe-nKdOsnS_2cNU0YsIg_yTbieVWpcgZUeZKKAfopndFR-y21ek7Gn9Wx5AmJk7NlEgA4DYdwFEi-N1Kk7RqGAoY3ywGRWCyS0nHglzQKQkYU02GkYEgeCr9A/w480-h640/IMG_1844.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VuqdN0b_vkf2jWTFROIBlZXtovy_IJWGgkk_BGFPG974UCbqQPOImD921zRnRgyfvsVVsQKzhfTle9QyKONBg64Qt1XvFq8NzKGqCua9qAtsuB9-8JUUzs-14aZU2_EdGn6eqsYaF5qUsLJwRu9w37JrNo_juvBBP4RfXthy_Es_wXc1NWUMU0E2-w/s4032/IMG_2023.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VuqdN0b_vkf2jWTFROIBlZXtovy_IJWGgkk_BGFPG974UCbqQPOImD921zRnRgyfvsVVsQKzhfTle9QyKONBg64Qt1XvFq8NzKGqCua9qAtsuB9-8JUUzs-14aZU2_EdGn6eqsYaF5qUsLJwRu9w37JrNo_juvBBP4RfXthy_Es_wXc1NWUMU0E2-w/w400-h300/IMG_2023.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Clearing away after storm damage</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5U2C-s1zLepFuLv0qIY0vUiOHd_W5oTlYiUm7eAIqhUc-dHjHGyUcSNHKhIQHKHqlhPUbXkIqGUM44FHELNa1DIEzTmXKt4ZSZ5_Rgdp4aueNl7OLJoTi-gLk3rfPchR_LnlAfDwhEb0OuJkQoCVLt8fxhg5oZGZWdnD6IwvXetWiYWl_t8cpLW3E2Q/s4032/IMG_2022.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5U2C-s1zLepFuLv0qIY0vUiOHd_W5oTlYiUm7eAIqhUc-dHjHGyUcSNHKhIQHKHqlhPUbXkIqGUM44FHELNa1DIEzTmXKt4ZSZ5_Rgdp4aueNl7OLJoTi-gLk3rfPchR_LnlAfDwhEb0OuJkQoCVLt8fxhg5oZGZWdnD6IwvXetWiYWl_t8cpLW3E2Q/w480-h640/IMG_2022.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Leaves of Wood Sorrel<br /><br /></i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b>May 2022</b><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiKII88hnT1orwlTL82LIY_lgQHsDZK7Rji-nV6Vdw-yXincoly5PRclk5ygkiCpDX7OFPqJkUwocGHtCxC_NbOtz_77W_o6TXkzst0P7vD3c0OvsvPFkipboePZ0eOAEDahO-mWCkOmxK_RwMvw3JaofkypF_A-vaFRCq0Wn0HknK2cc2GyPGQ4fFOw/s4032/IMG_2027.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiKII88hnT1orwlTL82LIY_lgQHsDZK7Rji-nV6Vdw-yXincoly5PRclk5ygkiCpDX7OFPqJkUwocGHtCxC_NbOtz_77W_o6TXkzst0P7vD3c0OvsvPFkipboePZ0eOAEDahO-mWCkOmxK_RwMvw3JaofkypF_A-vaFRCq0Wn0HknK2cc2GyPGQ4fFOw/w480-h640/IMG_2027.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Fern</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFczi3tsvl5-kyY9-R_87kQvdF_28_YHSdSiMM3oAerMBI5N6MNF8P1XepVbGgxABBS7sgxmu4NGePJqhKHhPKAi47wt0JDbhbm6vkDUHrb8QwW-KcpMvFPprqKcRgiFJjpkAsMPZLy-hft0hHl0GlrDwer54nXlVQOIfwh9UwA3ZUWXMLhq3-70388A/s4032/IMG_2035.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFczi3tsvl5-kyY9-R_87kQvdF_28_YHSdSiMM3oAerMBI5N6MNF8P1XepVbGgxABBS7sgxmu4NGePJqhKHhPKAi47wt0JDbhbm6vkDUHrb8QwW-KcpMvFPprqKcRgiFJjpkAsMPZLy-hft0hHl0GlrDwer54nXlVQOIfwh9UwA3ZUWXMLhq3-70388A/w480-h640/IMG_2035.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Lycogala epidendrum on decaying wood</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9oFLYXcFUalpPq-FLXn0rMBsL0tYybbYLRYLPP77MFmKtffFHT2xEpDk5yebYF1inKiPc7PCsgWf6vY7UnzibBs6AZ78mdTmH1Jl9eldSLXzMpIXzb_0hxSIHQSxTxTMwUnMvBzG6axyhU7j1PURDy7qmCScd-SXiouPjEF0S6rnEM-GsvQHJAAQT6g/s4032/IMG_2036.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9oFLYXcFUalpPq-FLXn0rMBsL0tYybbYLRYLPP77MFmKtffFHT2xEpDk5yebYF1inKiPc7PCsgWf6vY7UnzibBs6AZ78mdTmH1Jl9eldSLXzMpIXzb_0hxSIHQSxTxTMwUnMvBzG6axyhU7j1PURDy7qmCScd-SXiouPjEF0S6rnEM-GsvQHJAAQT6g/w480-h640/IMG_2036.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBE5CysYqKc9DRvIiEzag4v_MS-gcurtI8ILulp7A7ka0G5FpiPXpHAzQ8du8RheU0MRzC-IKnIU0kqCCItBEs9kW_7IJQEQGCYrE4FQT9uflLT0xfG22Oqg7sR66u0MPNP6dE6fpEFxPOHmdD0pji5zfJB9ZGqtKBbB4VowJWfF3mIKgR4GbWOCE7w/s4032/IMG_2038.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBE5CysYqKc9DRvIiEzag4v_MS-gcurtI8ILulp7A7ka0G5FpiPXpHAzQ8du8RheU0MRzC-IKnIU0kqCCItBEs9kW_7IJQEQGCYrE4FQT9uflLT0xfG22Oqg7sR66u0MPNP6dE6fpEFxPOHmdD0pji5zfJB9ZGqtKBbB4VowJWfF3mIKgR4GbWOCE7w/w480-h640/IMG_2038.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Removing flowering heads from bracken</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd0MZdKCV41lvlyOpgZc76cGD7cK6t28PECTMpRpawkcbwdmdHWnBKaQoT8owPgFrKiZ6CUVkMXtp-qHVsCWC_AdAEwcO519iVylEQDxA_CF_Px_UI0slutCOX6X5qro_oBPDs1j3phVTGhaH_8SnQ6xiKZ0XtyPAiXYFZRVmxS-QgSNQcUdvvHhDyDg/s4032/IMG_2039.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd0MZdKCV41lvlyOpgZc76cGD7cK6t28PECTMpRpawkcbwdmdHWnBKaQoT8owPgFrKiZ6CUVkMXtp-qHVsCWC_AdAEwcO519iVylEQDxA_CF_Px_UI0slutCOX6X5qro_oBPDs1j3phVTGhaH_8SnQ6xiKZ0XtyPAiXYFZRVmxS-QgSNQcUdvvHhDyDg/w480-h640/IMG_2039.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Froghopper (Cercopis vulnerata)</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><b>July 2022</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIt6hAjoFlvKYk55wKdE4c14RiPfnebzdzwsqh4tsYFKuLlsLAb5OLoccS8YH7QgyzdPY6h9dLmemZ1gL1MjupZbztREUdVWzqGxdDdtRJmUlQoXrgi2UBDvYev_2pdJRJr_CXC520py-6uEjhe6xqpe0XjHYUqVeak9X_5q2VaYjein_86LeM2uNdA/s4032/IMG_2297.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIt6hAjoFlvKYk55wKdE4c14RiPfnebzdzwsqh4tsYFKuLlsLAb5OLoccS8YH7QgyzdPY6h9dLmemZ1gL1MjupZbztREUdVWzqGxdDdtRJmUlQoXrgi2UBDvYev_2pdJRJr_CXC520py-6uEjhe6xqpe0XjHYUqVeak9X_5q2VaYjein_86LeM2uNdA/w480-h640/IMG_2297.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Broad-leaved Helleborine</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM96p8NnSViDvnmOwzjP_P5VUsT7PfAyqr1Hvb8XIWLKY4QJNx7VEQVUpJdJkwiSe7YkndLlzEHlvP9B15fQDx13uFc2TtGUUk_QoyK-JzqmKMleZeDULshfw5WXIQxaA4sllwIj2LfO8DFON0TgWk1mn29IOVHANWq7_U476RlspOmPhqPffE4iz1sg/s4032/IMG_2302.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM96p8NnSViDvnmOwzjP_P5VUsT7PfAyqr1Hvb8XIWLKY4QJNx7VEQVUpJdJkwiSe7YkndLlzEHlvP9B15fQDx13uFc2TtGUUk_QoyK-JzqmKMleZeDULshfw5WXIQxaA4sllwIj2LfO8DFON0TgWk1mn29IOVHANWq7_U476RlspOmPhqPffE4iz1sg/w480-h640/IMG_2302.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn5_UmtXtNUib-hBjRgh7IYrYujnOAlPSo-jZnj54Wz51EtbWcDTQON8b0yHXwt7siCLpWJ5p4aM0FxGsMQh5Orf_bbtVYC86hqbflud1x60Efz-23K1O_NY_GX_3D0uCQYfhpi9fDbkl1H5VVY-fLVZ_AMG2-bgE4aaUFasqZp3cjmAQ8A6Xewk3paw/s4032/IMG_2306.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn5_UmtXtNUib-hBjRgh7IYrYujnOAlPSo-jZnj54Wz51EtbWcDTQON8b0yHXwt7siCLpWJ5p4aM0FxGsMQh5Orf_bbtVYC86hqbflud1x60Efz-23K1O_NY_GX_3D0uCQYfhpi9fDbkl1H5VVY-fLVZ_AMG2-bgE4aaUFasqZp3cjmAQ8A6Xewk3paw/w480-h640/IMG_2306.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Clearing field of docks and ragwort</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH1oGJnyfIJnOSf6xCIHPrn8a2idGGTO2du3CTZsDVPno7-YmxEh2phNIR1J_ZCNkfyDhsYX2DVUPhR2OZk34vmkVxtXJHlQ3AVXlYpRi-MMhwtvHThOKsoiRNyQaTelhNeThs9G_DPQCQqQoimFrVOZenu450f2nCeUKzx21wjkBQrfJyJVr5h0vMHw/s4032/IMG_2310.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH1oGJnyfIJnOSf6xCIHPrn8a2idGGTO2du3CTZsDVPno7-YmxEh2phNIR1J_ZCNkfyDhsYX2DVUPhR2OZk34vmkVxtXJHlQ3AVXlYpRi-MMhwtvHThOKsoiRNyQaTelhNeThs9G_DPQCQqQoimFrVOZenu450f2nCeUKzx21wjkBQrfJyJVr5h0vMHw/w480-h640/IMG_2310.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Yellow loosestrife</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTlaq45HVJGCJs6LJdZO4HL-zQES2ox67DO1YOtOA5Ej2xl8LwhU_ydxN87vcMH6XCNx2tCRzQo9LkZxDpt6v0Mq7ukelhUhrjFkCp9akirbLaFUc0PkrtverMkBPFaKV5yVHMDbgfcIBrteeDoFTuthMT-3vpq4VwcL17hzSuIK_QyLs81eGT8KmUgQ/s4032/IMG_2312.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTlaq45HVJGCJs6LJdZO4HL-zQES2ox67DO1YOtOA5Ej2xl8LwhU_ydxN87vcMH6XCNx2tCRzQo9LkZxDpt6v0Mq7ukelhUhrjFkCp9akirbLaFUc0PkrtverMkBPFaKV5yVHMDbgfcIBrteeDoFTuthMT-3vpq4VwcL17hzSuIK_QyLs81eGT8KmUgQ/w480-h640/IMG_2312.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>This Himalayan balsam sure grows tall!</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: medium;">November 2022</span></b><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPbA3-ApeevWV4GF0AOGFirUGUvlfCIGqSEfyeiMbTWbzC0DK9UzNPrpE4f-ZdBrSibgD7Kelds183DVmla4mduDPd5tYYxna_04Z7dGwVJi_lqy267tNYSZWJDQHIFFx9cJR1SlpIi5gM8fJeecqqrs-BEfdY9FLRzqZkk26sOVnZzti4BaiLECynXA/s4032/IMG_2790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPbA3-ApeevWV4GF0AOGFirUGUvlfCIGqSEfyeiMbTWbzC0DK9UzNPrpE4f-ZdBrSibgD7Kelds183DVmla4mduDPd5tYYxna_04Z7dGwVJi_lqy267tNYSZWJDQHIFFx9cJR1SlpIi5gM8fJeecqqrs-BEfdY9FLRzqZkk26sOVnZzti4BaiLECynXA/w480-h640/IMG_2790.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Blackening Waxcap</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rJJ0udCX8ds-XDnLpVN4T-P0LVFnTU9kRn7jg29giuXmkCP7rLo3yYG06TtAbmXevFR5DD5RKld8czmAMz2DRFUSsLhwkkEpQUmdSq9BLQXinG9p-WimPGl2iUZKgpv0xmfMOud7ePnRuVPvrFEGMV25UfIlDCTjVvC33IBQD2tT6E2KNrVq5WvG-A/s4032/IMG_2783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rJJ0udCX8ds-XDnLpVN4T-P0LVFnTU9kRn7jg29giuXmkCP7rLo3yYG06TtAbmXevFR5DD5RKld8czmAMz2DRFUSsLhwkkEpQUmdSq9BLQXinG9p-WimPGl2iUZKgpv0xmfMOud7ePnRuVPvrFEGMV25UfIlDCTjVvC33IBQD2tT6E2KNrVq5WvG-A/w480-h640/IMG_2783.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPKY7qOUaXHcxu5a3fgpYwzKas8mz396fWFAeTLGTGPRD0zzkdayw6G404Hom7zRkoplbnHOX7BzpPr7wiDEjaHfo-FCK_tK3Jr-tU_LVRL6GUtWKpFBHqgHntRc11acvvjPVcYss42q-KmtLXKBygnz1MCyKro82diNQrg0gaMjESzi4ttYFJQ2qTbw/s4032/IMG_2792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPKY7qOUaXHcxu5a3fgpYwzKas8mz396fWFAeTLGTGPRD0zzkdayw6G404Hom7zRkoplbnHOX7BzpPr7wiDEjaHfo-FCK_tK3Jr-tU_LVRL6GUtWKpFBHqgHntRc11acvvjPVcYss42q-KmtLXKBygnz1MCyKro82diNQrg0gaMjESzi4ttYFJQ2qTbw/w480-h640/IMG_2792.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Fly Agaric<br /><br /></i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhshbiRnHnABwjeYcQlLOKe-LqcGGrpzG88luAMcJYLhyipgEtp8vd22vgYsT0DxlUkMkRZxJUgv1o7HKlYlrLJj0m_grSfAUIyZxzvSQkdarQiVaLCPuhW-YwiBAPfAXqRyYZxzHt-HXBvfJ-5mLKW2UuHo4DHeb4-iGWWCvM5gPoyjxp39DCfS296w/s4032/IMG_2807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhshbiRnHnABwjeYcQlLOKe-LqcGGrpzG88luAMcJYLhyipgEtp8vd22vgYsT0DxlUkMkRZxJUgv1o7HKlYlrLJj0m_grSfAUIyZxzvSQkdarQiVaLCPuhW-YwiBAPfAXqRyYZxzHt-HXBvfJ-5mLKW2UuHo4DHeb4-iGWWCvM5gPoyjxp39DCfS296w/w480-h640/IMG_2807.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Rhodi Bashing</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-IfIKA8Tq548oYzRlOLlCDCdwel6UTEmmvE9AopO0-1Gfa00nlu6LuTFww5er2drFA1azd79rbklQN1NX2umqhkw77x53QStDC90gwl3sLpYhV_1MEjUUxJByCyH7nDya75zX5_DdYKTEycwiyLhUsx0lqa-a99gjsZCwQ_zw1DoiZl3WKs4LjtmsLg/s4032/IMG_2812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-IfIKA8Tq548oYzRlOLlCDCdwel6UTEmmvE9AopO0-1Gfa00nlu6LuTFww5er2drFA1azd79rbklQN1NX2umqhkw77x53QStDC90gwl3sLpYhV_1MEjUUxJByCyH7nDya75zX5_DdYKTEycwiyLhUsx0lqa-a99gjsZCwQ_zw1DoiZl3WKs4LjtmsLg/w480-h640/IMG_2812.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Burning the evidence</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Creating a glade in Snipes Dene</span></b><br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWPq1bxONUZmE5YnlfGGjuNzL1jqk9VK7HXKQMg2KJw6E6uSxAy9mTUy4nPx6BOIrqk8mL1kuAjP0Tbl_ZTZ6GWBhZowPOy4SknwNOPaMQ0KdP2YVeudbKL5p-spPbkN6iZ6KY2eWLoYkS6-qtXsbGKLsFZN0g2hXQznUeyNGloMmaUFVAAPxD7hxOg/s4032/IMG_2958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWPq1bxONUZmE5YnlfGGjuNzL1jqk9VK7HXKQMg2KJw6E6uSxAy9mTUy4nPx6BOIrqk8mL1kuAjP0Tbl_ZTZ6GWBhZowPOy4SknwNOPaMQ0KdP2YVeudbKL5p-spPbkN6iZ6KY2eWLoYkS6-qtXsbGKLsFZN0g2hXQznUeyNGloMmaUFVAAPxD7hxOg/w480-h640/IMG_2958.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>This silver birch has to go...<br /><br /></i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD3D5Vb6sYt_wlUY7GtMz_kmMNFbbqplotewauWLxVDmyAM9hQi4tnu8utXskEEa8mgE62kZF76rQEtZewx9NldsZv0G-TsyR_2MPR5SXO5nKRLUuHRaywiU1TL_iWpkZZ2UcUVby-xXZfDAHyFvhxMZNX7SvvMPfXWAD4nUBo-rFA9b9vGXhXbYLAkw/s4032/IMG_2961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD3D5Vb6sYt_wlUY7GtMz_kmMNFbbqplotewauWLxVDmyAM9hQi4tnu8utXskEEa8mgE62kZF76rQEtZewx9NldsZv0G-TsyR_2MPR5SXO5nKRLUuHRaywiU1TL_iWpkZZ2UcUVby-xXZfDAHyFvhxMZNX7SvvMPfXWAD4nUBo-rFA9b9vGXhXbYLAkw/w480-h640/IMG_2961.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>and this one</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg25C2AGAfvuyP95Rhp4hMt_jPS3i4W2awA8Kii3XqK8L0zIP3Frjep77jbVfp-Hj0U3xx6xsFCzH1Y5OXGmn43gNOUl8ktZOl3U6bGc_sa8okPkY1qPbS4M-r_yaborRqatxvWMjDS0hap-GUAqQ7EpUZO9-RZoWlFqwjsfAmJxUmeCCXLVI1KYGu3eA/s4032/IMG_2959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg25C2AGAfvuyP95Rhp4hMt_jPS3i4W2awA8Kii3XqK8L0zIP3Frjep77jbVfp-Hj0U3xx6xsFCzH1Y5OXGmn43gNOUl8ktZOl3U6bGc_sa8okPkY1qPbS4M-r_yaborRqatxvWMjDS0hap-GUAqQ7EpUZO9-RZoWlFqwjsfAmJxUmeCCXLVI1KYGu3eA/w480-h640/IMG_2959.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Ring barking</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsuUYjFW_Ro8nefprQX6ay3ZKwrcxT_qcOBVGR3iqWSeeLp35eFx4djVgZQsaP9-skWedKVu6iamFWwaXhR191sz1mMkxRJD_BupxusfZkGWsK3mT2pNbun_u25f47UfLXMhJ21n2LUy-4leKVs3z510l9yueAVnfD1oJ6G7bSuvXoGQaw9MFG8p_BcA/s4032/IMG_2970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsuUYjFW_Ro8nefprQX6ay3ZKwrcxT_qcOBVGR3iqWSeeLp35eFx4djVgZQsaP9-skWedKVu6iamFWwaXhR191sz1mMkxRJD_BupxusfZkGWsK3mT2pNbun_u25f47UfLXMhJ21n2LUy-4leKVs3z510l9yueAVnfD1oJ6G7bSuvXoGQaw9MFG8p_BcA/w480-h640/IMG_2970.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>The glade<br /><br /></i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMDH-V8QkaOat9IcFzRsXA-JGc8ONGEWEaA9H9uRspTNZae-Y3bnzaVgj7rzNWlMUrH5XwVmVc4_wy-2y5JgyJ3dXKz8PQ1FBCXPyVBl4tnwaQx7AWXxZo2niV0JaE-3oHsMfHbECUDB8JfbSGPOkUSHgS-cpi0Hw2gi1MGB7FYKVQjSlsI5iy-g8onQ/s4032/IMG_2969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMDH-V8QkaOat9IcFzRsXA-JGc8ONGEWEaA9H9uRspTNZae-Y3bnzaVgj7rzNWlMUrH5XwVmVc4_wy-2y5JgyJ3dXKz8PQ1FBCXPyVBl4tnwaQx7AWXxZo2niV0JaE-3oHsMfHbECUDB8JfbSGPOkUSHgS-cpi0Hw2gi1MGB7FYKVQjSlsI5iy-g8onQ/w480-h640/IMG_2969.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>A magnificent beech tree</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><br /><br /><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">December 2022</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMvqQ9kSFCw7XU0kQVd_BKa6wl1_p4tLw4sQkQbiXpgv4JiCKhH19WEXxrJrxEUENaaLWi8pA3GTKdeDj1G0LVB7yFLqhYekrZKUFViCu01iUyO0MUghvqvwlrxye0aw-4GIIJYGq5yyODvDYhuCm5j8NoKHSHqANeR1ozkLFl91IjgkKnj13Tq_7zw/s4032/IMG_3045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMvqQ9kSFCw7XU0kQVd_BKa6wl1_p4tLw4sQkQbiXpgv4JiCKhH19WEXxrJrxEUENaaLWi8pA3GTKdeDj1G0LVB7yFLqhYekrZKUFViCu01iUyO0MUghvqvwlrxye0aw-4GIIJYGq5yyODvDYhuCm5j8NoKHSHqANeR1ozkLFl91IjgkKnj13Tq_7zw/w480-h640/IMG_3045.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5smV-odHqUcq4JpR18X_nE9YEoPs_zKyPQmkOOEsW6-WWvcQRhPBcs6dpkw7lI-9OU6mpKwgpb1909qlxbdVrwaR0tS7ho_tgcK5honCaZP-HrCYsoiVdMO-gDzxocaL9zl2YqPsZ-tBHQ5LYSY7rW63flmhL_41tCNZGiRiCtG4fntO1fCQsPINdzQ/s4032/IMG_3047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5smV-odHqUcq4JpR18X_nE9YEoPs_zKyPQmkOOEsW6-WWvcQRhPBcs6dpkw7lI-9OU6mpKwgpb1909qlxbdVrwaR0tS7ho_tgcK5honCaZP-HrCYsoiVdMO-gDzxocaL9zl2YqPsZ-tBHQ5LYSY7rW63flmhL_41tCNZGiRiCtG4fntO1fCQsPINdzQ/w480-h640/IMG_3047.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Tg1KZIiTVEKyjQr8zQOLm9j623D01_cMRr-_mIvnHl-nknc0dDHSAluV2B9RMgLG5ZD4NioNvYxxNd8A955H9_TO3-y_bfGv_XNUaELoHh773chOCciE8s5qNR7m0HRd7ogS7nGViczpN28hHw6xB_0czonMWMrX_2R6CxJF2GPUJA2l2XX38hW87g/w480-h640/IMG_3066.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJfdVDxzZ4q5kYjgaPpm3rkCTKL6kCJl1hr50aR1dbdPI6hxrog06N0_W2D-oQnzs3LYc6Y4eASpo9ndJS-nTFRYKNqBGxibTo76jPVEZfQI-EjsZzGy-pa6a2tmzh2idM35y-Q_XQc89Y11CTfF19k79pxXanmaLJQXE8PBMgiy3qNlkXISIgFKXMeQ/s4032/IMG_3079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJfdVDxzZ4q5kYjgaPpm3rkCTKL6kCJl1hr50aR1dbdPI6hxrog06N0_W2D-oQnzs3LYc6Y4eASpo9ndJS-nTFRYKNqBGxibTo76jPVEZfQI-EjsZzGy-pa6a2tmzh2idM35y-Q_XQc89Y11CTfF19k79pxXanmaLJQXE8PBMgiy3qNlkXISIgFKXMeQ/w480-h640/IMG_3079.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNL_Pb4G2AdUe6VnTL-VcQ-f6KtMC9A_oktotzSBeG3tTexy2KfOViA9M9JooqJC2VjMTnxDtAuwiFX40VtwmCO7fT34cfM0I4p0RpEhnFvkisDt6P-wgfIfBi5iOBVimcb8aJEFN0YUrqwBha0eaEsOvvWktLSRCNnOm79vHAFrn35RikaB9d_8LZsQ/s4032/IMG_3084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNL_Pb4G2AdUe6VnTL-VcQ-f6KtMC9A_oktotzSBeG3tTexy2KfOViA9M9JooqJC2VjMTnxDtAuwiFX40VtwmCO7fT34cfM0I4p0RpEhnFvkisDt6P-wgfIfBi5iOBVimcb8aJEFN0YUrqwBha0eaEsOvvWktLSRCNnOm79vHAFrn35RikaB9d_8LZsQ/w640-h480/IMG_3084.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Some photographs of Gibside's Christmas Light Show.</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Best wishes to you all for 2023.</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Phil Coyne</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Phil Coynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01344249046943617558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588497199467624104.post-6577323345603182422022-02-20T08:24:00.001-08:002022-02-20T08:24:26.010-08:00More Havoc<p> </p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><b>February 2022</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The car thermometer read 11</span><sup style="font-family: Times, serif;">o</sup><span style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">C on leaving
home. On arrival at Gibside it had gone up a degree. Historically, the average
high for February around here is 7</span><sup style="font-family: Times, serif;">o</sup><span style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">C; the low is 1</span><sup style="font-family: Times, serif;">o</sup><span style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">C. For
a while now things haven’t been what they used to be, and today was seeing the
build up to yet another unseasonal storm. Dennis would be a good name for a
storm: Dennis the Menace. But this is Storm Dudley. The only Dudley I ever knew
was rather a timid man and a bit boring but, it should be said, nice with it.
Certainly not up to flattening a row of fifteen metre trees, though.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBlvDsF7TuUCCUEpNdi7rxUV9i4fhFOHt3Tk2mEBrSEEJ7KqcChJzF8QnIKT9fi5MPB1Mf5Tueh6uwuWjF-SR_GSHFGu4PhVZJU1UxebkbTpuvyAlvNBYYZ8RZmeOPnN-l_DY-10zn8QGoHUZ5dINoNtCa9Y86mQrfLyEzU6NnS_Qi3uDqHoWuqVHN3g=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBlvDsF7TuUCCUEpNdi7rxUV9i4fhFOHt3Tk2mEBrSEEJ7KqcChJzF8QnIKT9fi5MPB1Mf5Tueh6uwuWjF-SR_GSHFGu4PhVZJU1UxebkbTpuvyAlvNBYYZ8RZmeOPnN-l_DY-10zn8QGoHUZ5dINoNtCa9Y86mQrfLyEzU6NnS_Qi3uDqHoWuqVHN3g=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>The work begins</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhq8acULujLSmL9NZelxIo7k3pU8aVG34327MJqMRHT8hXL1-DLzXMYV1bRYapC6f9gXr_Js8Cg7XOlt4cXXdj7cc2Mu5rG-iHgnBYUiGRhdGE4NAdqmSi-xaSffa3Gt7z2lCCJyBbQrET2cS-JbnNv08vdSUUgpMbc3Ym1YFJ7SBc-P3-lhfyJZwtw4Q=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><i><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhq8acULujLSmL9NZelxIo7k3pU8aVG34327MJqMRHT8hXL1-DLzXMYV1bRYapC6f9gXr_Js8Cg7XOlt4cXXdj7cc2Mu5rG-iHgnBYUiGRhdGE4NAdqmSi-xaSffa3Gt7z2lCCJyBbQrET2cS-JbnNv08vdSUUgpMbc3Ym1YFJ7SBc-P3-lhfyJZwtw4Q=w400-h300" width="400" /></i></b></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>The extent of the carnage</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">We were above Snipes Dene where the Gibside estate borders a farm field clearing the damage done by Storms A, B and M. Well-practiced in destruction, the job of we volunteers was to lop off the side branches of fallen trees so that Rangers Steve and Dan could get in and hack up the trunks with chain saws and make a lot of noise. Fallen trees are often left where they fall except when presenting a danger or blocking a track or pathway. These trees had toppled into the neighbour’s field, so needed shifting.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfinZG12ZZ7a4REq5xJ6sxcVG8CLIBGVAsDTkZHHYIiyhkwj7I_u8b7GVxvZBHJvADVeF_uRktuko49KOaTwellvrRTB2mLaMU10FojXVuST-grf1cjuzgkHeK2UwMmFrKvfPBmKOAMJ7vb4OOyrchEBFCYmc5kfFIJUwZBzLq8XwL2hFuHj7O0PMnww=s2016" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfinZG12ZZ7a4REq5xJ6sxcVG8CLIBGVAsDTkZHHYIiyhkwj7I_u8b7GVxvZBHJvADVeF_uRktuko49KOaTwellvrRTB2mLaMU10FojXVuST-grf1cjuzgkHeK2UwMmFrKvfPBmKOAMJ7vb4OOyrchEBFCYmc5kfFIJUwZBzLq8XwL2hFuHj7O0PMnww=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizyRsqZfpVBAAQaoVdetQbMb-zqJD33JH6lKD_Xsi4Au-lzqoeemkzT8nIjxlc6VaXBHTG9EitPDWtEXqOCPCN3uvOkERgYgvvN1moBsXzS0A5ZFjQemX99xMoLZx9_4kB20BpegdVm7ydd2ow20-ygkXxaI5cbQbQvX1Ft2X5JfXYyewC8Nn5U66lUg=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizyRsqZfpVBAAQaoVdetQbMb-zqJD33JH6lKD_Xsi4Au-lzqoeemkzT8nIjxlc6VaXBHTG9EitPDWtEXqOCPCN3uvOkERgYgvvN1moBsXzS0A5ZFjQemX99xMoLZx9_4kB20BpegdVm7ydd2ow20-ygkXxaI5cbQbQvX1Ft2X5JfXYyewC8Nn5U66lUg=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGlT3-OcS0ax2Ht5GMT1s9XV42QWjWV2hHVcv1BrqrDDn81A7XVjZFobPKYI2BppEdzPxd5k4VFLV7ufcE_MBb1FAdlM7DFzUPqVTqrnEPFe7THdarsCN6oFUSelk62Zn77MASwo87eHxDNSkaIpg7XtvaGjXEfV_OeEpU7-2XCQ2dmvpOU43EJOR23A=s2016" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGlT3-OcS0ax2Ht5GMT1s9XV42QWjWV2hHVcv1BrqrDDn81A7XVjZFobPKYI2BppEdzPxd5k4VFLV7ufcE_MBb1FAdlM7DFzUPqVTqrnEPFe7THdarsCN6oFUSelk62Zn77MASwo87eHxDNSkaIpg7XtvaGjXEfV_OeEpU7-2XCQ2dmvpOU43EJOR23A=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Branches removed, celebrated with a rainbow</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: times;">We piled branches and brash to create a dead hedge along the fence line. Much of the wire fence had long since deteriorated or disappeared, but a line of fence posts remained to guide us. With logs from the chopped up trunk of one tree we built a log pile and took the opportunity to reminisce about our early days in the conservation team.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1EFYm0dYbHQNnQ0A2zscKWPTxNDQ8sa8fzmvq0hJhlx6CNIGsgFxF1zCo9LQkY9ULMNbCEK0uF4dDPjiq1lWI5fT104Tsu_jzZ9m5-CJZIf6EJ8J8HeubI84vzpP2PvwPViYTGUgyArgv4B2CzeNfVpNzuUCYFG0l2eSMa50Be_uSpXYjqHZZ4cDzKA=s2016" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1EFYm0dYbHQNnQ0A2zscKWPTxNDQ8sa8fzmvq0hJhlx6CNIGsgFxF1zCo9LQkY9ULMNbCEK0uF4dDPjiq1lWI5fT104Tsu_jzZ9m5-CJZIf6EJ8J8HeubI84vzpP2PvwPViYTGUgyArgv4B2CzeNfVpNzuUCYFG0l2eSMa50Be_uSpXYjqHZZ4cDzKA=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>A new logpile<br /></i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">There are deer tracks in a few places down through the sloping wood to the people track, but it’s otherwise not a good place for bio-diversity. The trees here are Corsican pine which, as the name suggests, are not native to the Derwent Valley. Single species, non-native woodland tends to be a bit sterile, but fringe woodland is invariably a good place for a little natural variety. The margin of the field falls sharply to the boundary, so is left uncultivated. Log piles and dead hedges are good for encouraging wildlife; woodland fringes are better.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4s305a0xwVnFWKlrdjHdoEqpaYveEE8vaZKBYqfQ5XDx_OWXnzYC5zjEfRI4IXe0tslr7LRYCi42dY7ziw_tLUwgYzTAYrxi-UCRTgVzAE91b4gQuh6fnTptLlmr1wSinkx8R6etnCXBpQRIIn2iJhXF4vmH00wrH7a1JoF9MAUiPO6H0CDX3IrrRGw=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4s305a0xwVnFWKlrdjHdoEqpaYveEE8vaZKBYqfQ5XDx_OWXnzYC5zjEfRI4IXe0tslr7LRYCi42dY7ziw_tLUwgYzTAYrxi-UCRTgVzAE91b4gQuh6fnTptLlmr1wSinkx8R6etnCXBpQRIIn2iJhXF4vmH00wrH7a1JoF9MAUiPO6H0CDX3IrrRGw=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUxPl54cFuyq_RObD5RT3boOTll48MKaturS41unKzi3wcb-kaIDssb7tsrXC4DlXxt-1DsoUVCBInzKo3DRi12lzjVU1q6jjgxE6WSemJNau5gO7j-N8Ln_EsoDLDA-deCLuNPsW5wbkeku3-4BwNMfAFQiq8xJY8O0bapbdm4Q61alWBILiN2CquNg=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUxPl54cFuyq_RObD5RT3boOTll48MKaturS41unKzi3wcb-kaIDssb7tsrXC4DlXxt-1DsoUVCBInzKo3DRi12lzjVU1q6jjgxE6WSemJNau5gO7j-N8Ln_EsoDLDA-deCLuNPsW5wbkeku3-4BwNMfAFQiq8xJY8O0bapbdm4Q61alWBILiN2CquNg=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Elsewhere - signs that Spring is on it's way</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><b style="font-family: times;">Steve Wootten & Phil Coyne</b></div><p></p>Phil Coynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01344249046943617558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588497199467624104.post-46799664179981989892022-02-07T12:22:00.000-08:002022-02-07T12:22:10.945-08:00A New Year Begins<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hedging<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>19<sup>th</sup> January 2022<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The “A-Team” was divided into 2 groups to begin today’s task
- hedging. Group 1 headed off to the Walled Garden to begin digging up hawthorn
bushes. These had been bought as whips 2 years ago, then the Covid-19 pandemic
hit and they were planted out in the Walled Garden as volunteering came to a
halt.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile Group 2 headed off to the edge of a field way
above the farm, the highest point on the Gibside Estate. The task here was to
dig holes alongside the fence in readiness for the hawthorn bushes when they
arrived.<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGMNrTE8ILhB2Q3Cndvfbixhi3uQJaeQdoeRDSgA8FD5wtBw3mmyNFPjgQwoO-ViaQFHEIM9NYgG8_IxqClYFMZ-qZIvWhdeizyFZHko0Idb7tiFKm4kzb6vxUZl3890p8rGJS779WH3uY--XVB0jyQM6uO9INME-x520lpUYp00PUxV2C4wSgVJ0Ew/s4032/IMG_1515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGMNrTE8ILhB2Q3Cndvfbixhi3uQJaeQdoeRDSgA8FD5wtBw3mmyNFPjgQwoO-ViaQFHEIM9NYgG8_IxqClYFMZ-qZIvWhdeizyFZHko0Idb7tiFKm4kzb6vxUZl3890p8rGJS779WH3uY--XVB0jyQM6uO9INME-x520lpUYp00PUxV2C4wSgVJ0Ew/w400-h300/IMG_1515.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The view across The Derwent Valley</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhYXJDpfrbyfpD-zDTA5_7PBtNmlMnxoCvNsdOM3bPKMSrFGSkWCNeGS4TuAGIrzUmiTGgHd0H7PbHLOPnCWI8WCsc-gOGxChK3PXG3_BCplwx_MfrBOOUmZwmfNIM0BT9Fyao-__MfbxS_RZtyCAgmTiRB4Q7Zwfb4jOiP4JfMI_Hb_XNliyEy1xktg/s4032/IMG_1516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhYXJDpfrbyfpD-zDTA5_7PBtNmlMnxoCvNsdOM3bPKMSrFGSkWCNeGS4TuAGIrzUmiTGgHd0H7PbHLOPnCWI8WCsc-gOGxChK3PXG3_BCplwx_MfrBOOUmZwmfNIM0BT9Fyao-__MfbxS_RZtyCAgmTiRB4Q7Zwfb4jOiP4JfMI_Hb_XNliyEy1xktg/w400-h300/IMG_1516.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>The Farm</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7AI07rXgwvTX3_p-qvPqZbBRjFzKN7Ux87DuUtewJLAuZRZbVCFPj-kvLWyG8EcZisdlpUD2tG3egpI6oEegg0Q5DUurkJIyPbkQqRCHVqOEHK8RJRyuaqmbos8REz6iaADLemDJbt7NzkKU06_skmF6Bdfrmd3h6AjWIGG23ZMZPvgSzpnCyPJfb4w/s4032/IMG_1513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7AI07rXgwvTX3_p-qvPqZbBRjFzKN7Ux87DuUtewJLAuZRZbVCFPj-kvLWyG8EcZisdlpUD2tG3egpI6oEegg0Q5DUurkJIyPbkQqRCHVqOEHK8RJRyuaqmbos8REz6iaADLemDJbt7NzkKU06_skmF6Bdfrmd3h6AjWIGG23ZMZPvgSzpnCyPJfb4w/w480-h640/IMG_1513.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>The fence and the ditch - the site for the hedge</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRADOrGruH6C0S5xtO6O1IYgGk-UMzokNoG-M9t2-kWs3WUGkiqvLn2Zy_Zqvr4JbdfTgb1EL81UIrZAzQj66W-O8uUIdx0xS6ZyuoaoB1HfOBcgIvpA_FXzSMfxwTIO5AWOL4ncZkRLThX3qCG-DAy4Z9KHH0vZtLjJhEL2RGpRQwSz8ZyjLFNxFysw/s4032/IMG_1512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRADOrGruH6C0S5xtO6O1IYgGk-UMzokNoG-M9t2-kWs3WUGkiqvLn2Zy_Zqvr4JbdfTgb1EL81UIrZAzQj66W-O8uUIdx0xS6ZyuoaoB1HfOBcgIvpA_FXzSMfxwTIO5AWOL4ncZkRLThX3qCG-DAy4Z9KHH0vZtLjJhEL2RGpRQwSz8ZyjLFNxFysw/w480-h640/IMG_1512.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Digging the holes in readiness for hedge planting.</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal">By mid-morning there were enough bushes to begin the planting
process. The bushes had grown well and had decent roots, and once planted they
were protected with a plastic cover to protect them from animals and the
elements.<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dnFTgGUDISpBCrfVELUhkd_6xD6Glh3SIVU1qJU6Kbk_RMVkH8-7GQJNSPO8QiFSqzJtHZYLnTJ0GYNkmYmk5bUYAlbyece6DcyFs5kXjb0msvifNaqp63DQhfeQtBQtnxmu9eEs0WmkkcK3rg0ejZmPsrAiLHcJAW0wUj77h0PRwzytwM2k-EwYvQ/s4032/IMG_1517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dnFTgGUDISpBCrfVELUhkd_6xD6Glh3SIVU1qJU6Kbk_RMVkH8-7GQJNSPO8QiFSqzJtHZYLnTJ0GYNkmYmk5bUYAlbyece6DcyFs5kXjb0msvifNaqp63DQhfeQtBQtnxmu9eEs0WmkkcK3rg0ejZmPsrAiLHcJAW0wUj77h0PRwzytwM2k-EwYvQ/w480-h640/IMG_1517.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>The end of a hard day's work</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">By the end of the day, we had planted about half a field’s
length of bushes in a double row. The remainder is to be planted at a later
date.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">After the
Storm<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>26<sup>th</sup> January 2022<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal">Storm Malik hit the North East on Saturday 19<sup>th</sup>
January causing considerable damage to many trees on the Gibside Estate and
elsewhere.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjiLW9P7v1_hFW2ItBCQKnAlo4lzjHXcUyPY2q5R1S6x8ZPfdlWKP_ggnbaLmZMfcP8bQLxbUdCkveYRAWCndHT5qhfle5GsE7rtjN2XbSqmCZCMlAUmFze90RouUFN6nyES2d27FusZNZU7Y9kttBSLR51S-YX0ae1aKBhtYoF-GNyf_eFPlRz1RfZQ/s4032/IMG_1527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjiLW9P7v1_hFW2ItBCQKnAlo4lzjHXcUyPY2q5R1S6x8ZPfdlWKP_ggnbaLmZMfcP8bQLxbUdCkveYRAWCndHT5qhfle5GsE7rtjN2XbSqmCZCMlAUmFze90RouUFN6nyES2d27FusZNZU7Y9kttBSLR51S-YX0ae1aKBhtYoF-GNyf_eFPlRz1RfZQ/w480-h640/IMG_1527.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj232Y0BBrOBopIAGo3m27JO218Kr6_hUF0QpsgEKxAcoPt3P-E0igC7nZ4pxTq005wj0OH2EXnaIBuQIYqBXMk-QvYxyQ8TYNE20TpPrABfdhQgnI906lwVYSod4t_LDBsuXLNJ6Od6RZ7KP_gh9F8HCsjhjvevMf8XlMOqK04pKRXsfJcDu5ebAglDA/s4032/IMG_1528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj232Y0BBrOBopIAGo3m27JO218Kr6_hUF0QpsgEKxAcoPt3P-E0igC7nZ4pxTq005wj0OH2EXnaIBuQIYqBXMk-QvYxyQ8TYNE20TpPrABfdhQgnI906lwVYSod4t_LDBsuXLNJ6Od6RZ7KP_gh9F8HCsjhjvevMf8XlMOqK04pKRXsfJcDu5ebAglDA/w480-h640/IMG_1528.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Damaged trees on The Avenue</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxlfNSTPIceBPm1WpZnDO5kX1hQSMyNPM0T_-gXtgCvSeknhGyVETfcvaZQloFwvGPWbuDrVJEDtp0CkmEBRrS5W6Ztnnq9JAzSonVVGPZP7c_R5gGzBrP4gZfU1fMmUDIEruFdYde5rKXzCIv0SXVj6Kfdbunc4MqqWwjNTCJdmKiWF_2ilTF84vSIA/s4032/IMG_1534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxlfNSTPIceBPm1WpZnDO5kX1hQSMyNPM0T_-gXtgCvSeknhGyVETfcvaZQloFwvGPWbuDrVJEDtp0CkmEBRrS5W6Ztnnq9JAzSonVVGPZP7c_R5gGzBrP4gZfU1fMmUDIEruFdYde5rKXzCIv0SXVj6Kfdbunc4MqqWwjNTCJdmKiWF_2ilTF84vSIA/w480-h640/IMG_1534.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>And on The Hollow Walk</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Our task was to remove branches from fallen pine trees just
past the Column. A bit of déjà vu here as we had done a similar job after Storm
Arwen, which hit the North east in November.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtucSLURPGR_5OpVEiiqgAIc6wrf4nFbvzY7o1CXpCS133944BLfMXW1PDNkFevDvVZcCL7pXVxGWhJXu4oPq8hAUHBLNaZGdnKhYmNtPNZYpEelisq-x-2V4pjjyMNp4KkjcejSXf2hV3hk0eQMCMizxbW4jebUIifCIeRAs51H_mosi7wrfnAy--w/s4032/IMG_1537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtucSLURPGR_5OpVEiiqgAIc6wrf4nFbvzY7o1CXpCS133944BLfMXW1PDNkFevDvVZcCL7pXVxGWhJXu4oPq8hAUHBLNaZGdnKhYmNtPNZYpEelisq-x-2V4pjjyMNp4KkjcejSXf2hV3hk0eQMCMizxbW4jebUIifCIeRAs51H_mosi7wrfnAy--w/w400-h300/IMG_1537.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFT111nR_oPQUeMcs_pKCigRU6pKNYPV5Ctn8TwfeO3u5hCVFwNzAsxf328_rwYWBTnXkjI6zkXfiIbxiv-C63Zl1cZUfYCxsVLdL41aWfvEuJL80gvNSJxVhcxJko3AERAE97SXJKXnKFMwszM99F1ROXbN3aET0Blk79GFWXSokgYsSUbsZlMGhyA/s4032/IMG_1538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFT111nR_oPQUeMcs_pKCigRU6pKNYPV5Ctn8TwfeO3u5hCVFwNzAsxf328_rwYWBTnXkjI6zkXfiIbxiv-C63Zl1cZUfYCxsVLdL41aWfvEuJL80gvNSJxVhcxJko3AERAE97SXJKXnKFMwszM99F1ROXbN3aET0Blk79GFWXSokgYsSUbsZlMGhyA/w480-h640/IMG_1538.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7KzFnpudE2RDoNJ_Wz0gEVAZ2UHFUFPr5DbeuMJMq96JlVY5K-BVwaV8Oc_YIG6gIKyzod618NT0R3KG9K6bNfTjXRp_FiRDtOuXZq9RCCr1aMHrYD88-iUJaxnCiPKBiqpIFFeySlwD70v733bf9u98kr1iEx5Ex3qkkRz1RNK4oHKcgNld8AogJkQ/s4032/IMG_1540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7KzFnpudE2RDoNJ_Wz0gEVAZ2UHFUFPr5DbeuMJMq96JlVY5K-BVwaV8Oc_YIG6gIKyzod618NT0R3KG9K6bNfTjXRp_FiRDtOuXZq9RCCr1aMHrYD88-iUJaxnCiPKBiqpIFFeySlwD70v733bf9u98kr1iEx5Ex3qkkRz1RNK4oHKcgNld8AogJkQ/w480-h640/IMG_1540.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNSHQg_XGIjNfaBsN1PM-TUkZiSS7PMvkUeWEypw6yI7ZEIlLAtqIu3iJ7wCfS8oeJNhlAIrhBwX_pCrDJLXFqQkkG3y55BDs03KNUhjq9getKbMMxfpPEjo1V_8we6-A-kr-jaY_9Vv7gCE2gDZob2ClZnvNZyUW3Ftix98qJ7VcDsz_i_Rce4Z_Wg/s4032/IMG_1543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNSHQg_XGIjNfaBsN1PM-TUkZiSS7PMvkUeWEypw6yI7ZEIlLAtqIu3iJ7wCfS8oeJNhlAIrhBwX_pCrDJLXFqQkkG3y55BDs03KNUhjq9getKbMMxfpPEjo1V_8we6-A-kr-jaY_9Vv7gCE2gDZob2ClZnvNZyUW3Ftix98qJ7VcDsz_i_Rce4Z_Wg/w400-h300/IMG_1543.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>More fallen trees near The Column</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgT60_O6Xd0vwkWSJgOPSp790yKKi10uIv0F7v4zF1vMTwpqY_BCmImv85u0h80Mqs0yxDu9TK5cfrfS_O6RtG_MB_5Tpo7I5qBiNtaWD58C-dJoGSUhjcUzGQ2cve8SscUHqw8M323_fJmP4g5GHQG82ltnfVNKeP9MbTIKDtkLsUi6cPN5EzCFEr2Q/s4032/IMG_1542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgT60_O6Xd0vwkWSJgOPSp790yKKi10uIv0F7v4zF1vMTwpqY_BCmImv85u0h80Mqs0yxDu9TK5cfrfS_O6RtG_MB_5Tpo7I5qBiNtaWD58C-dJoGSUhjcUzGQ2cve8SscUHqw8M323_fJmP4g5GHQG82ltnfVNKeP9MbTIKDtkLsUi6cPN5EzCFEr2Q/w480-h640/IMG_1542.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Ranger Steve gets to work with a chainsaw</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Side branches were removed and made into habitat piles thus
enabling the rangers to cut up the trunks into logs with chainsaws. <o:p></o:p></p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDxXRbtAFJleJQwmIvFTYUHFk1Tr86bpFXnjSXwrGcyfQO1uVu6L5aWOY_qLc406XTc-8GpXEZn92nq2mTTnwUmTPw-bVX5uS41iYlsTWzHuOc-bmM4CvwYaSagCvhjduQxn5-5jvJqpGzO359bpmhCUc01-e-WBbNM8f2ZiPwcBiVLdMkm8D0bqfyQ/s4032/IMG_1545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDxXRbtAFJleJQwmIvFTYUHFk1Tr86bpFXnjSXwrGcyfQO1uVu6L5aWOY_qLc406XTc-8GpXEZn92nq2mTTnwUmTPw-bVX5uS41iYlsTWzHuOc-bmM4CvwYaSagCvhjduQxn5-5jvJqpGzO359bpmhCUc01-e-WBbNM8f2ZiPwcBiVLdMkm8D0bqfyQ/w480-h640/IMG_1545.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Many of the side branches have been removed. <br />Now awaiting the chainsaw treatment.</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b>Phil Coyne</b></p>Phil Coynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01344249046943617558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588497199467624104.post-49516013948211796862021-11-14T09:35:00.000-08:002021-11-14T09:35:01.221-08:00We're back<p><b><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Autumn 2021</span></b></p><p> The global Covid-19 pandemic put a temporary halt to our regular Wednesday volunteering sessions at Gibside, but now we're back. </p><p> Some of the projects the "A-Team" have been involved in are documented below.</p><p><b>Dam building in West Wood</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4zO2VXu5hgUwJHGbLnhyphenhyphenxkl4SuVGS5sloxBD8qytYaZ2t-72a9Di6GopIlS_827SgZwTs2jGgVgJduZpEEMSYOanG229y53JN8cTu-nGUKVBlw8ICCqonGV7_PslbcFt8jNsMyEge05MA/s2016/IMG_1023.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4zO2VXu5hgUwJHGbLnhyphenhyphenxkl4SuVGS5sloxBD8qytYaZ2t-72a9Di6GopIlS_827SgZwTs2jGgVgJduZpEEMSYOanG229y53JN8cTu-nGUKVBlw8ICCqonGV7_PslbcFt8jNsMyEge05MA/w480-h640/IMG_1023.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnivqtyQe094tvVtQgEbzP3v-GbjHyhTn_52MDk29nkU20OHN_-mUxCFBj-scRip1ZV0fXLOPBsSA8m7mqusYQ2lelI19XEkuvAi85wVmmFcvacpRY6xfefQEIRddBUWiGLtnzvrSjL4Da/s2016/IMG_1025.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnivqtyQe094tvVtQgEbzP3v-GbjHyhTn_52MDk29nkU20OHN_-mUxCFBj-scRip1ZV0fXLOPBsSA8m7mqusYQ2lelI19XEkuvAi85wVmmFcvacpRY6xfefQEIRddBUWiGLtnzvrSjL4Da/w480-h640/IMG_1025.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTN_EhA__EpPAvSzrHsNYmd9VWleQqFrHYg4UtmATNFnBfVA7CiGl6C5_tjGz6vt9AINVPzAkW2kbkZuclxg7VsLn997QNlRDGXZGL7S2q2Cy8Fr5Q1SZShn2M9DjsndpCb0irDnEqGPM_/s2016/IMG_1034.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTN_EhA__EpPAvSzrHsNYmd9VWleQqFrHYg4UtmATNFnBfVA7CiGl6C5_tjGz6vt9AINVPzAkW2kbkZuclxg7VsLn997QNlRDGXZGL7S2q2Cy8Fr5Q1SZShn2M9DjsndpCb0irDnEqGPM_/w480-h640/IMG_1034.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMq3ys9INQxZLU7fSkvILdIBGM0Shk8WmGOvmBiNqkAYrztfqZiB7S8TSTu7t17cookRLzV1IISM3D-tQZOWoexQ7xSZoRZ1BQOQnZwh5YP2SFwGAjirjL3XNTB1qT5hM-fPlX4Bcj0RfB/s2016/IMG_1036.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMq3ys9INQxZLU7fSkvILdIBGM0Shk8WmGOvmBiNqkAYrztfqZiB7S8TSTu7t17cookRLzV1IISM3D-tQZOWoexQ7xSZoRZ1BQOQnZwh5YP2SFwGAjirjL3XNTB1qT5hM-fPlX4Bcj0RfB/w475-h323/IMG_1036.JPG" width="475" /></a></div></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Clearing Beech Saplings - Snipes Dene</span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US">It was about ten years ago that much of Snipes
Dene was clear felled. There was some replanting with native trees early on but
mainly, for the next couple of years, it stood bare. Apart, that is, from the
hundreds of thousands of Western Hemlock saplings that sprung up everywhere. Spread out in a line across the
hillside, the Wednesday team (and other people)
combed the valley, yanking out seedlings and more substantial plants as
we went. We did that repeatedly and, if memory serves correctly, quite enjoyed
it. Destruction is our thing you see: conservation through pulling things up
and chopping things down.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US"> </span>After a slow start, natural regeneration had
more than done its bit. Now, some years later, we are back there again sawing
down trees and pulling up saplings in order to enlarge a clearing we had cut
from the dense birch woodland that had moved in. Creating clearings encourages
a wider variety of habitats and, in turn, a wider variety of flora and fauna.</p></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIquaTSSUh9f_0ZWb16neJevOsc_3iY5-W0_XwIw363MCOf3M6SytavVv8tHxWvUTT1dbtUuJGSc5XpQpp5L4fYZKj82M9nX_OP17wVtOA86pGSKzuVd3ixoSfSPI4T3leT4b68SbQcWn3/s2016/IMG_1312.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIquaTSSUh9f_0ZWb16neJevOsc_3iY5-W0_XwIw363MCOf3M6SytavVv8tHxWvUTT1dbtUuJGSc5XpQpp5L4fYZKj82M9nX_OP17wVtOA86pGSKzuVd3ixoSfSPI4T3leT4b68SbQcWn3/w480-h640/IMG_1312.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>A typical beech sapling</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kFM_mDMqiocJUbVbuuWYUq3is34B9NOPhTfATxqYBVt1NP-HMBXZPa9RaSn-gbQLaVpSW4ZT-jNMtwu89SgigDklFiKBPnvuVYA5AtsfCiev2HMFw2qV1V7tBHy0sP2-MHNylhlfyokN/s2016/IMG_1305.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kFM_mDMqiocJUbVbuuWYUq3is34B9NOPhTfATxqYBVt1NP-HMBXZPa9RaSn-gbQLaVpSW4ZT-jNMtwu89SgigDklFiKBPnvuVYA5AtsfCiev2HMFw2qV1V7tBHy0sP2-MHNylhlfyokN/w480-h640/IMG_1305.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Wild bilberry on floor of wood</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmAq8_RJ82VZ3ObMqAyKHzrkIviMFysE4YCYn-OOyB_EOgdxbQsuDyhan5P9o3g6WSoS1b5U0Ndcq7Y9jUeBQpvZbRkfqMkzDDWz9CpDUVkEDa1mcRavCFbPYtJVA6pjkfdKk6rv5cHqH/s2016/IMG_1306.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmAq8_RJ82VZ3ObMqAyKHzrkIviMFysE4YCYn-OOyB_EOgdxbQsuDyhan5P9o3g6WSoS1b5U0Ndcq7Y9jUeBQpvZbRkfqMkzDDWz9CpDUVkEDa1mcRavCFbPYtJVA6pjkfdKk6rv5cHqH/w480-h640/IMG_1306.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Hard Fern</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMrQfqHTIm078H15LoA4PtwzDx9-Wl4YyPVfocy3J_OCP1hhdUpqcS5BQRtmNtvOUAuNsb62CZ9z2F2lqnfy0MwK0TE1gUt5VcHYGDYdF4-BzsmyNIQGzXcXQnTogMzNWQ9dUO04_LneD/s2016/IMG_1310.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMrQfqHTIm078H15LoA4PtwzDx9-Wl4YyPVfocy3J_OCP1hhdUpqcS5BQRtmNtvOUAuNsb62CZ9z2F2lqnfy0MwK0TE1gUt5VcHYGDYdF4-BzsmyNIQGzXcXQnTogMzNWQ9dUO04_LneD/w480-h640/IMG_1310.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Bark-ringing of a large beech tree</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>After bark-ringing of a tree, the tree will gradually die to create a standing dead wood which will provide valuable habitat for various insects and nesting birds.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Creating a glade in Snipes Dene</span></b></div><div><br /></div>Part of Snipes Dene has become overgrown with silver birch. A glade has been created by felling some of the birch trees, this provides an open area and will encourage different flora to flourish.<div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvboq8YvO_La4p_WSc0Sys568ZVxeGt0zMin5WJHuPdZ3WnuvpDeY5zzzkD4gjED2YUnzTneUtu4uNdUVRdc9SQ3Ny8tf8hFBLEDNx4uwYq2GedGWJoB6YIRQyR8fqByLBHTxouZWaMMQ/s2048/IMG_1328.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvboq8YvO_La4p_WSc0Sys568ZVxeGt0zMin5WJHuPdZ3WnuvpDeY5zzzkD4gjED2YUnzTneUtu4uNdUVRdc9SQ3Ny8tf8hFBLEDNx4uwYq2GedGWJoB6YIRQyR8fqByLBHTxouZWaMMQ/w480-h640/IMG_1328.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Volunteers hard at work</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHEay4qMJANRS2yBzDfkq2-WYkQG9cmYxV0e5BV98prPbiM7pdcL1AuxL50hFo7xYXLpZCJ14FHGrefehk3cv17BiFN7Y7cDJKmf6QRvymLcpWV0FG6u3SXJQjx6kx_7VdZiuwXOx8xGi/s4032/IMG_1329.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHEay4qMJANRS2yBzDfkq2-WYkQG9cmYxV0e5BV98prPbiM7pdcL1AuxL50hFo7xYXLpZCJ14FHGrefehk3cv17BiFN7Y7cDJKmf6QRvymLcpWV0FG6u3SXJQjx6kx_7VdZiuwXOx8xGi/w480-h640/IMG_1329.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_Eo66gqdNcRyXmM7MRb6qWCJUyrCvHFYG7F9pbOzfTvMddLCn4Wa9ZGfFlqdmZNbqyKSTM86XiosXGMboqpCeiCvipJ-uOIhAy6VATx5kyMGAemS5VeUdeb6w813e-L0EaYr89KsqC35/s2016/IMG_1338.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_Eo66gqdNcRyXmM7MRb6qWCJUyrCvHFYG7F9pbOzfTvMddLCn4Wa9ZGfFlqdmZNbqyKSTM86XiosXGMboqpCeiCvipJ-uOIhAy6VATx5kyMGAemS5VeUdeb6w813e-L0EaYr89KsqC35/w480-h640/IMG_1338.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>A well earned rest</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxK9mhUdFpdHKJ5WakTM2nE6-Qqin7ULBJPzjRfYdmF-CXQeW9su_QzDgwd8wE40RDSr2RfFOmxqBY_jxxL6VnfErzojiZ_YRtHq4H01IunZIVGQHhaHZEh0m6N7fXajeRGFZJsu06ePxV/s2016/IMG_1318.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxK9mhUdFpdHKJ5WakTM2nE6-Qqin7ULBJPzjRfYdmF-CXQeW9su_QzDgwd8wE40RDSr2RfFOmxqBY_jxxL6VnfErzojiZ_YRtHq4H01IunZIVGQHhaHZEh0m6N7fXajeRGFZJsu06ePxV/w400-h300/IMG_1318.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>White coral slime mould</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmXsyVQIDMn-ycvMW39OxTmlytNPNK8CyamgGnbYVR6byZ8NPsiZRRpTdHj_Ckb78AuUwYkk5VNmsqec5jnsJDl7hxPdhum8l3mjt0p7dPjdtIZyq-hR2rMWEnTnThSZJNzWbynGLAKQ0/s2016/IMG_1325.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmXsyVQIDMn-ycvMW39OxTmlytNPNK8CyamgGnbYVR6byZ8NPsiZRRpTdHj_Ckb78AuUwYkk5VNmsqec5jnsJDl7hxPdhum8l3mjt0p7dPjdtIZyq-hR2rMWEnTnThSZJNzWbynGLAKQ0/w480-h640/IMG_1325.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Trametes versicolor</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Leaf clearing</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>A recurrent task every autumn.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzvfqYy4HgQzlEyTo108y1GYoQ9TmrsWj5PjUjyeAYcYjbMc7K86tx86Q1HCFLhmti_Xbq3vR9qyiQ1zIZDzGjFI92pj8i2th_3rlIgcmAuZNDBmmjkZ-gCmpOwJjPOcYkPGyBlKWTaZu/s2016/IMG_1355.JPG"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzvfqYy4HgQzlEyTo108y1GYoQ9TmrsWj5PjUjyeAYcYjbMc7K86tx86Q1HCFLhmti_Xbq3vR9qyiQ1zIZDzGjFI92pj8i2th_3rlIgcmAuZNDBmmjkZ-gCmpOwJjPOcYkPGyBlKWTaZu/w480-h640/IMG_1355.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8qtATEOXfK7BiTY4wrc3oqQPkH3FJRVWbTzIMZ_zK-3uM4RehAzHf8U6yU_0I99C3x9RPhkPFbXtEf8KBXxXw9o6zKPVut3o4SD3Unup_dRtCfxADzTtzyiuAdjrwiL6RRZiQXWv31ap/s2016/IMG_1351.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8qtATEOXfK7BiTY4wrc3oqQPkH3FJRVWbTzIMZ_zK-3uM4RehAzHf8U6yU_0I99C3x9RPhkPFbXtEf8KBXxXw9o6zKPVut3o4SD3Unup_dRtCfxADzTtzyiuAdjrwiL6RRZiQXWv31ap/w480-h640/IMG_1351.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Clearing leaves from a drainage ditch</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQrrvmm9zCaRghJ6D9EXSEJSMgn3-s81MM0nq7fLKm-jFfkvoW2fis3MUyEUUaLaVLT0WrtbRB14afwMxdUGd7w7gYmzZA1c6fS9aNSKRAWhCJJgGotm3O5xflsgmc-PRAwiFgOd21afRG/s4032/IMG_1345.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQrrvmm9zCaRghJ6D9EXSEJSMgn3-s81MM0nq7fLKm-jFfkvoW2fis3MUyEUUaLaVLT0WrtbRB14afwMxdUGd7w7gYmzZA1c6fS9aNSKRAWhCJJgGotm3O5xflsgmc-PRAwiFgOd21afRG/w480-h640/IMG_1345.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>One cleared drainage ditch</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwYDo9hTOUc8D-6ew1YHWLEQeY8qTvFY-I_fiJeoeztwcD9JgF8deZlXjRH_395apgb2SqjRtfDVvo9eME75obW7JrQ_tDGez3BbDsVAE5o3ZigeWhMRYtJX0a2tvJ_nMvl-GiEeFVpj1/s2048/Gibside_0003.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1364" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwYDo9hTOUc8D-6ew1YHWLEQeY8qTvFY-I_fiJeoeztwcD9JgF8deZlXjRH_395apgb2SqjRtfDVvo9eME75obW7JrQ_tDGez3BbDsVAE5o3ZigeWhMRYtJX0a2tvJ_nMvl-GiEeFVpj1/w400-h266/Gibside_0003.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Leaf blowing in Market Square ...</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpN6KcFHQNgbMG3WM7Nl8AsTxLb6eeUrWRLpjPISyGjVoa0Nxaq81EBCx-M-KCX5Z_UKPi5uJiJZFY02tMC7TDvEtb7nONiFjxl2FUtwH8rAWPH4Z4BniODZDQbCZoubQqCHWPN5u5tn-/s2048/Gibside_0012.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1364" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpN6KcFHQNgbMG3WM7Nl8AsTxLb6eeUrWRLpjPISyGjVoa0Nxaq81EBCx-M-KCX5Z_UKPi5uJiJZFY02tMC7TDvEtb7nONiFjxl2FUtwH8rAWPH4Z4BniODZDQbCZoubQqCHWPN5u5tn-/w400-h266/Gibside_0012.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>... and after</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">More tree felling - creating a wildlife corridor</span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div>Again a visit to Snipes Dene felling silver birch in a line down into the dene. This will create a corridor for wildlife but also be an aid to removing larger trees (should this ever be necessary) back up the sides of the dene where they can be dragged up by horse.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirFO4cvt0XZxfY1E6eWQE-1ofhjgx8pm7duRwsKNYJ_BGgHqUtRElR2D7dwbeAUXDvBnkDw0qpuHDtC73AUautMy2theDYWczfUHh7t00zsVhlYPfqrhR4kx5jzGFO_rsvChkvgkCq9jiD/s2048/Gibside_0010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1364" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirFO4cvt0XZxfY1E6eWQE-1ofhjgx8pm7duRwsKNYJ_BGgHqUtRElR2D7dwbeAUXDvBnkDw0qpuHDtC73AUautMy2theDYWczfUHh7t00zsVhlYPfqrhR4kx5jzGFO_rsvChkvgkCq9jiD/w426-h640/Gibside_0010.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>The wildlife corridor<br /><br /></i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLziRKxBMOtKL5sv6LWvFxEEQy4ppow4N11jbufxPnvMu4vMgTjDOaG2cg-Qu0g91u2a-pAHowrFF0WkqGdQLmsAkze_-_bZQ6k-GqLvuwJ4jF6aKaNVaXhXpsGN43_30GkjWLiTShoBvi/s2048/Gibside_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1364" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLziRKxBMOtKL5sv6LWvFxEEQy4ppow4N11jbufxPnvMu4vMgTjDOaG2cg-Qu0g91u2a-pAHowrFF0WkqGdQLmsAkze_-_bZQ6k-GqLvuwJ4jF6aKaNVaXhXpsGN43_30GkjWLiTShoBvi/w426-h640/Gibside_0007.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Daldinia sp. on old tree trunk</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>To be continued ...</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Steve Wootten & Phil Coyne</span></b></div><div><br /></div>Phil Coynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01344249046943617558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588497199467624104.post-57728465406272210062020-07-29T08:39:00.004-07:002020-07-29T09:16:01.573-07:00A busman’s holiday in pictures<b>July 2020 (2)</b><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCklXkwcEp4Qh3j4lqQ0VHEuunLlbonZUiahZj_aqRsNpoFNiio1PKFUdhk2UxYnRUwjHlgV_oiA6vTBnYEmeVDZIZsNI0n4UpIfCERgOSaUvPJOZPnrkoMALniV9zu6MS5e_ipvxb32fK/s1600/Gang+of+four.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCklXkwcEp4Qh3j4lqQ0VHEuunLlbonZUiahZj_aqRsNpoFNiio1PKFUdhk2UxYnRUwjHlgV_oiA6vTBnYEmeVDZIZsNI0n4UpIfCERgOSaUvPJOZPnrkoMALniV9zu6MS5e_ipvxb32fK/w500-h333/Gang+of+four.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>The gang of four</i></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Over
recent months volunteer work has been suspended and is only now getting going
again, but remains very limited. Unable to work, four of us have been meeting
up on Wednesday mornings for a Gibside wander and opportunity to reminisce.
That largely dwells on things we’ve destroyed –rhododendron, western hemlock
and Himalayan balsam – and some more positive activities, such as planting
hundreds of trees, nurturing heather and encouraging grass snakes to settle
down and have a family. And we’ve had time to take a closer look at Gibside’s
wildlife. Here are some of our photographs:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh94M8NKyDN0o0H4qrxjabFdYm8_yfPXq9WRhEBttKHO6zZpD7S4b3sF_AIWp9cg1l4JmmMmWXoCncN5IYnSE5O3kuHYNTr45iT4lm0Zy0QjPvS_KGeG-ufdfxQZz2OgVZdkNOoCPmuafVM/s1600/Dipper.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh94M8NKyDN0o0H4qrxjabFdYm8_yfPXq9WRhEBttKHO6zZpD7S4b3sF_AIWp9cg1l4JmmMmWXoCncN5IYnSE5O3kuHYNTr45iT4lm0Zy0QjPvS_KGeG-ufdfxQZz2OgVZdkNOoCPmuafVM/w500-h333/Dipper.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Dipper on River Derwent</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2KvmWQelPAF0Lypigo1LgYWkLc15G0Vivju_8PFQfq289GVVXkR8lCL52PeumnHRJ8PcGose2Kx2KMsaqSrh4756mk4M1fvr1VAaQUvSyRgvFSgVl1zjw5xcAHMfgwG_ngYJLH9pt-7n/s1600/Leopard+slug.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2KvmWQelPAF0Lypigo1LgYWkLc15G0Vivju_8PFQfq289GVVXkR8lCL52PeumnHRJ8PcGose2Kx2KMsaqSrh4756mk4M1fvr1VAaQUvSyRgvFSgVl1zjw5xcAHMfgwG_ngYJLH9pt-7n/w500-h333/Leopard+slug.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Leopard slug</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtc5qxUflRB7qukKwfY1WmFEXrHcjPJPapaWxGIgq4alN-kPlmtunN7fHLw89BJCB_iL1Xgpgc9tTRW54krn6DjLn6fZsrFV8Ea7nARo5raPa0B_wZpVia7JWbMN8FopSHs339_H1rTCK0/s1600/Five-spot+Burnet+Moth.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtc5qxUflRB7qukKwfY1WmFEXrHcjPJPapaWxGIgq4alN-kPlmtunN7fHLw89BJCB_iL1Xgpgc9tTRW54krn6DjLn6fZsrFV8Ea7nARo5raPa0B_wZpVia7JWbMN8FopSHs339_H1rTCK0/w500-h333/Five-spot+Burnet+Moth.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">Five-spot Burnet moth</span></i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4C74q01QlC8f0pbR6E_cC9bp_K1o1XpPlKXrrCcBYAbk5Yq-JowJ5dg8HGM5dJBexEtU57Opcb48iyDgEaZz2aEC1M1JUzPHsV3x9mai04a_3cxb0Jv7ATdn1jesHsUVqsdmKgm-uVbHx/s1600/Hoverfly+%2528Volucella+pellucens%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4C74q01QlC8f0pbR6E_cC9bp_K1o1XpPlKXrrCcBYAbk5Yq-JowJ5dg8HGM5dJBexEtU57Opcb48iyDgEaZz2aEC1M1JUzPHsV3x9mai04a_3cxb0Jv7ATdn1jesHsUVqsdmKgm-uVbHx/w500-h333/Hoverfly+%2528Volucella+pellucens%2529.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">A Hoverfly - Volucella pellucens </span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSdPyRrVTMj4Zdil927QJSU-vfz_ku8IbTnXKg4534t4-fBHK9t9vPsFoLV7slfBCVN5HxRiwfPpHG6m0G0icL__5vsHmmxcMVZ9Jjs6wXmbBRwxJtJp-0jzf4uHe9WVme7vGWrqrbrjTH/s1600/Hoverfly+%2528Volucella+zonaria%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSdPyRrVTMj4Zdil927QJSU-vfz_ku8IbTnXKg4534t4-fBHK9t9vPsFoLV7slfBCVN5HxRiwfPpHG6m0G0icL__5vsHmmxcMVZ9Jjs6wXmbBRwxJtJp-0jzf4uHe9WVme7vGWrqrbrjTH/w500-h333/Hoverfly+%2528Volucella+zonaria%2529.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">A Hoverfly - Volucella zonaria</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcy2DEIxxuqGNDgXGg-hXLrjj8Fi4ysFM8RSMv_gZBm1R-DUNThS0Qgh1-hSpN3R-c3yG2D7p6MLM4eHO5i6E4qif7JXAViMlOe11uc9hgYs30kEvNmcOtJlvvt8j8nX8jNokfstwl5XEg/s1600/Hoverfly%2528Chrysotoxum+cautum+-female%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcy2DEIxxuqGNDgXGg-hXLrjj8Fi4ysFM8RSMv_gZBm1R-DUNThS0Qgh1-hSpN3R-c3yG2D7p6MLM4eHO5i6E4qif7JXAViMlOe11uc9hgYs30kEvNmcOtJlvvt8j8nX8jNokfstwl5XEg/w500-h333/Hoverfly%2528Chrysotoxum+cautum+-female%2529.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">A Hoverfly - Cryosoxum cautum, having a drink</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJ7GkZngKYd4ugiBrP6f_gi9MwMzRb1WY6wMtjBjLxgD0qGPIclQcsPx3jcSia-3CY-c4lR4Rvv8ieohGpdaYfQHeae-TUDoLcxzOaRZVMUWxBZCMherKaR_26xRfvcfJ3H2_LG99IEnn/s1600/Pyramidal+orchid.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJ7GkZngKYd4ugiBrP6f_gi9MwMzRb1WY6wMtjBjLxgD0qGPIclQcsPx3jcSia-3CY-c4lR4Rvv8ieohGpdaYfQHeae-TUDoLcxzOaRZVMUWxBZCMherKaR_26xRfvcfJ3H2_LG99IEnn/s640/Pyramidal+orchid.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Pyramidal orchid - the first recorded sighting at Gibside</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiayYzSQlMsNnyX9hAVksXQ3xN9JNgKpp15PIH_q681kB7jAr6GSfe_ZJ4fLojGLFhBR0ZjqQTWz5EczrMvP_gf3WdlF1siL7oqLOvPR6fZ1yfCXmLeysJgShXp0mqlRo2296SpxGOs2cWQ/s1600/Relaxing.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiayYzSQlMsNnyX9hAVksXQ3xN9JNgKpp15PIH_q681kB7jAr6GSfe_ZJ4fLojGLFhBR0ZjqQTWz5EczrMvP_gf3WdlF1siL7oqLOvPR6fZ1yfCXmLeysJgShXp0mqlRo2296SpxGOs2cWQ/w500-h333/Relaxing.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Time for a relaxing coffee break</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCzqujB9u_KmPoEQXjIvPKrfWU1-DLpbZz6W8rzZwAesQbSjO5DtPxfSeyOQvd_ZTXF-g2Lv7TxtRww9Saywj5-q2n6FkvlSzuFYS16msrS9Ja76JH0aUBxUDf68_FTSkB-lYIkSzJj0D/s1200/Himalayan+balsam.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><i><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCzqujB9u_KmPoEQXjIvPKrfWU1-DLpbZz6W8rzZwAesQbSjO5DtPxfSeyOQvd_ZTXF-g2Lv7TxtRww9Saywj5-q2n6FkvlSzuFYS16msrS9Ja76JH0aUBxUDf68_FTSkB-lYIkSzJj0D/w500-h333/Himalayan+balsam.jpg" width="500" /></i></b></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b>Oh dear! - It's Himalayan balsam</b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">Steve Wootten & Phil Coyne</span></b></span></div>
Phil Coynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01344249046943617558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588497199467624104.post-79570430810537202502020-07-06T12:52:00.000-07:002020-07-06T12:52:48.746-07:00A perfect day<span style="line-height: 115%;"><font face="times"><b>July 2020</b></font></span><div><span style="line-height: 115%;"><font face="times" size="5"><b><br /></b></font></span></div><div><span style="line-height: 115%;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There was nothing to be seen on the nest, though the
nest itself was worth studying through binoculars. It’s big. We guessed they
would have flown by now, but the young are given to popping home from time to
time before setting off to make a life for themselves. Mary saw it first – an
adult Red Kite perched twenty feet or so up a shattered tree stump. We stood
perfectly still. And for a while the kite sat perfectly still, before swooping
down not thirty yards in front of us, settled in nearby trees then rose to join
another above. Both birds circled briefly then disappeared. We see a lot of red
kites around the estate, but the closeness – the colours, the wings, and the
huge size – stunned us. Those of us with cameras didn’t have the wit or the
presence of mind to use them. Watching such magnificence, it’s easy to picture
the kite gracefully rising with some struggling mammal grasped in its talons. They
sometimes do things like that. Red kites will take small mammals, worms and
insects, and even quite large birds, but primarily they are carrion feeders –
competition for the crows that we so often see harrying them.<o:p></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyHnGZCpe8UH0-mHm3qPpxgXeSWViZC4-VCnYUMWWTCzA87X9FO9R0SB1b8Q40jpkWz_3kCa_a-qyM59p0DzXjHwzZRtc4Hfb9WviIj3UE4Mik5PdzFTdgBHtu0jyOykYAQXLRy9K5RpTj/s1200/red+Kite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyHnGZCpe8UH0-mHm3qPpxgXeSWViZC4-VCnYUMWWTCzA87X9FO9R0SB1b8Q40jpkWz_3kCa_a-qyM59p0DzXjHwzZRtc4Hfb9WviIj3UE4Mik5PdzFTdgBHtu0jyOykYAQXLRy9K5RpTj/w416-h625/red+Kite.jpg" title="Red kite" width="416" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Red kite</b></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It was a dull, damp day, yet a perfect one. Leap Mill
Burn flowed dark under its canopy of trees. We paused at a waterfall where dippers
often nest but, unsurprisingly, we saw none. Flowers though were many.
Foxgloves, red campion, yellow pimpernel and hedge woundwort framed by
pendulous sedge and hard fern.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRS1F-ul4k75UnjcTVtEWSQscAw7QBH0VUi749TpoNEM9iUiYtBP9O8rX2hFmLF8hWOWoEr1oRstYMN53EE-5gU3LYhJChm9TxbSZeTUfx_CK4-aNTtLj7IL28Ro6JyL8DBRcXe83XMcvi/s1200/Yellow+pimpernel+%2528Lysimachia+nemorum%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRS1F-ul4k75UnjcTVtEWSQscAw7QBH0VUi749TpoNEM9iUiYtBP9O8rX2hFmLF8hWOWoEr1oRstYMN53EE-5gU3LYhJChm9TxbSZeTUfx_CK4-aNTtLj7IL28Ro6JyL8DBRcXe83XMcvi/w500-h333/Yellow+pimpernel+%2528Lysimachia+nemorum%2529.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Yellow pimpernel</b></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPpW-FPAxZcyYCga9m5JSWB4mXm_iLe3cNcNNrvbYZu4VNuuAknnfh8e2UMcdIW9oifK8qMkqkra38vrMKtV3D8oRADMmgf7FQtyiOKAKcUUZgjxIgkGaa6f2YAQnF99JdznFfqqG908X/s1200/Hard+Fern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPpW-FPAxZcyYCga9m5JSWB4mXm_iLe3cNcNNrvbYZu4VNuuAknnfh8e2UMcdIW9oifK8qMkqkra38vrMKtV3D8oRADMmgf7FQtyiOKAKcUUZgjxIgkGaa6f2YAQnF99JdznFfqqG908X/w500-h333/Hard+Fern.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Hard fern</b></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBAPqDN1iUiTNtkLrn7PLqslVmF17FvEIvWW3FBWGpnJBVvKIeOZNKJMBIF6eSmVM1NGY4zApNIerweJb3KL3jH3MaafTtDFUpZuSWOJiiY74fkigLJGGDYCUmxQZax8_PKcc0PdVGrvR/s1200/Red+campion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="837" data-original-width="1200" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBAPqDN1iUiTNtkLrn7PLqslVmF17FvEIvWW3FBWGpnJBVvKIeOZNKJMBIF6eSmVM1NGY4zApNIerweJb3KL3jH3MaafTtDFUpZuSWOJiiY74fkigLJGGDYCUmxQZax8_PKcc0PdVGrvR/w500-h349/Red+campion.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Red campion</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table> <o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Both sides of the track here are pockmarked with what
were probably coal diggings. Bell pits were a common means of mining before the
advent of shaft and drift mines. There is a drift mine entrance by the burn
well below the track at its highest point and a hollow way connecting them – a
vestige of the route used to transport the extracted coal. Today the way is
blocked by a barrier of sentinel foxgloves, brash and saplings quick to
colonise the unused path.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhstmpRxxvK5MRNOsOlsl9BfB5LoIFUeq4n2IKKChQeDpgN6RWSvJ5V6zC-TLnfwuBZx-Zepjdj3jIi_U83gGRocCE23YZpCv-OtG1HdsaPgCJtFqjAa0iV2S2GBdeB_Nfmzfz_Y2iMkfa-/s1200/New+planting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhstmpRxxvK5MRNOsOlsl9BfB5LoIFUeq4n2IKKChQeDpgN6RWSvJ5V6zC-TLnfwuBZx-Zepjdj3jIi_U83gGRocCE23YZpCv-OtG1HdsaPgCJtFqjAa0iV2S2GBdeB_Nfmzfz_Y2iMkfa-/w500-h333/New+planting.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>New tree planting is doing well</b></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">At the junction of the track with the upper West Wood track is a bench,
and beside the bench an exquisite sculpture of a hare carved in wood. It’s at its
best in the rain. We don’t get to see many hares, but they are here. The estate
is at its narrowest further along the track, with fields in view on either side
– a good location. It’s the only place we have ever seen them.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj80k_ZJCBQugE-Hgc2iXl-Jop5N6j7oCN_Wn7kLC-XeIWZWf6MYoc2PuVPtYXthBv0Fj6mM5PNxH35unHUGk1xVdtVRXMXGJ05sxCOIEbVn7vuw6MhaLF6sMkZdWmdigVa9C70Ehv2k86m/s1200/Hare+sculpture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj80k_ZJCBQugE-Hgc2iXl-Jop5N6j7oCN_Wn7kLC-XeIWZWf6MYoc2PuVPtYXthBv0Fj6mM5PNxH35unHUGk1xVdtVRXMXGJ05sxCOIEbVn7vuw6MhaLF6sMkZdWmdigVa9C70Ehv2k86m/w500-h333/Hare+sculpture.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Hare sculpture</b></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1UYhM-MiZfGQOsg8OllXe_Ot4jDjy6JBXcump6zPFBySoMJBGxWC-2kHoF-D3iD00mh2FkbrUnaPiVLfdG1qPoaEFvB_6JSXV9GcRe7I6AU4D7HNRggB6u02kERuV1Pd9L5fqtciPuPz8/s1200/riglet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1UYhM-MiZfGQOsg8OllXe_Ot4jDjy6JBXcump6zPFBySoMJBGxWC-2kHoF-D3iD00mh2FkbrUnaPiVLfdG1qPoaEFvB_6JSXV9GcRe7I6AU4D7HNRggB6u02kERuV1Pd9L5fqtciPuPz8/w500-h333/riglet.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Ringlet butterfly on hedge woundwort leaf</b></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH1bR71rJQjTY6P5KUxkdxiTQUj4QfjdtplecNPyJRYTWwQusZtrj2j3bHLd_Kc31IbEBDx0wqo4Zm3p-68tNd9ELoa_BjGyTpJ59O6FiO1wzmLF1G3cEcU-bQA1uWDiMh9hjbzT2mnbg5/s1200/Wood+sage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH1bR71rJQjTY6P5KUxkdxiTQUj4QfjdtplecNPyJRYTWwQusZtrj2j3bHLd_Kc31IbEBDx0wqo4Zm3p-68tNd9ELoa_BjGyTpJ59O6FiO1wzmLF1G3cEcU-bQA1uWDiMh9hjbzT2mnbg5/w500-h333/Wood+sage.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Wood sage</b></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7pn6ySdOMBzQ2aBbX9Q8fRtUFIRHijXgqAkHq07J4d-xi8JMrw7GDhtQhe-bWplpxQcH8e0xwqT9HnXsCgDuExvMATf2DJhteTuKYkCQOAWtvyeEktGWqGJ25DOH9NvNUHnDUXZFcuc_D/s1200/Mist+and+rain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7pn6ySdOMBzQ2aBbX9Q8fRtUFIRHijXgqAkHq07J4d-xi8JMrw7GDhtQhe-bWplpxQcH8e0xwqT9HnXsCgDuExvMATf2DJhteTuKYkCQOAWtvyeEktGWqGJ25DOH9NvNUHnDUXZFcuc_D/w500-h333/Mist+and+rain.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Then came the mist and the rain</b></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">Our progress was more tortoise than hare. We ate our
sandwiches out of the rain under the shelter of a cedar beside the
betony-fringed Octagon Pond, entertained by a little grebe, a family of coots
and a procession of baby mallard. Downhill, at the Lily Pond, the lilies were
in flower - the perfect shape of the lotus: a perfect day.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_kwLEuiRH4mH143eA6tS8eJb_AUMMa9B4S7aKQqtUtZQ3W2SWjfLlZBFZpRhZgovdEPyrrFzWIJwxYEzpnLEeMxpAT7H2XV8zaf0J74pY9wWJ7-lhs3LmrPL2FSijQDy8zYphZasv-DNI/s1200/Meadow+grasshopper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_kwLEuiRH4mH143eA6tS8eJb_AUMMa9B4S7aKQqtUtZQ3W2SWjfLlZBFZpRhZgovdEPyrrFzWIJwxYEzpnLEeMxpAT7H2XV8zaf0J74pY9wWJ7-lhs3LmrPL2FSijQDy8zYphZasv-DNI/w416-h625/Meadow+grasshopper.jpg" width="416" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Meadow grasshopper</b></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-jlD4rxswY3X5xXliKXEErUgxDMTbnQXg3zjm8Vnqnzr__BX6oBEROeWmO4cqwm5flN2bTf4OxYDbS6YzyJcHN5w-a9K5DqraDioQ6dQRp6McAVjN7rVI3f_SF14jv-szuqTWZ3LC0qo/s1200/Betony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-jlD4rxswY3X5xXliKXEErUgxDMTbnQXg3zjm8Vnqnzr__BX6oBEROeWmO4cqwm5flN2bTf4OxYDbS6YzyJcHN5w-a9K5DqraDioQ6dQRp6McAVjN7rVI3f_SF14jv-szuqTWZ3LC0qo/w500-h333/Betony.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Betony edging The Octagon Pond</b></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWUJ0n4Tn29YvN8_gvQJSPES6py8LeUBsrhYzOomoYgzoFc6RZ1punXBfDXzuQIhbsLVEUx8YYPZh0MvUWbM1Chf7gV3YfgBfV_HkmwgUXh55P12lEkcu46viBjyDXPRhA2G2uaa7kqAXN/s1200/Coot+with+young.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWUJ0n4Tn29YvN8_gvQJSPES6py8LeUBsrhYzOomoYgzoFc6RZ1punXBfDXzuQIhbsLVEUx8YYPZh0MvUWbM1Chf7gV3YfgBfV_HkmwgUXh55P12lEkcu46viBjyDXPRhA2G2uaa7kqAXN/w500-h333/Coot+with+young.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Adult and baby coot</b></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYiWCck_1sybAI3w8r3NllHIXbqCNuA18O7pfcBo1CTdZDPOwdhHwSqRpiRQbGGRtPjhiivwX32QEC7-7Q6f8aZ19YBAqAcYnmBRgEDfZwCSC1rhcv5RT8xPQUtQkG7uY7mfFhByjeAHO/s1200/Ducklings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYiWCck_1sybAI3w8r3NllHIXbqCNuA18O7pfcBo1CTdZDPOwdhHwSqRpiRQbGGRtPjhiivwX32QEC7-7Q6f8aZ19YBAqAcYnmBRgEDfZwCSC1rhcv5RT8xPQUtQkG7uY7mfFhByjeAHO/w500-h333/Ducklings.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Mallard ducklings out for a stroll</b></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3UhHcWAqZNB3uYeOWy4JkwUbQcJc_04Z_oWssHmG56ugf71wees4kyZ3sPrtuKJVZzNwcwvIKWEtsHafZ5sacWXXCBgri8IM0jNKGEnhDZ_Brbw0YNvxMEVwpCR5RoesvYltU6pMxBLA/s1200/Lilies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3UhHcWAqZNB3uYeOWy4JkwUbQcJc_04Z_oWssHmG56ugf71wees4kyZ3sPrtuKJVZzNwcwvIKWEtsHafZ5sacWXXCBgri8IM0jNKGEnhDZ_Brbw0YNvxMEVwpCR5RoesvYltU6pMxBLA/w500-h333/Lilies.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Emerging Water lilies</b></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><b>Steve Wootten & Phil Coyne</b></div><font face="times" size="5"><b></b></font></span></div>Phil Coynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01344249046943617558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588497199467624104.post-57576529971197338902020-06-27T08:35:00.000-07:002020-06-27T08:35:20.121-07:00Regeneration<b><span style="font-size: large;">June 2020</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As the National Trust continues with its phased
reopening, we made a second visit. Although work for we volunteers still isn’t
an option, we nevertheless went on a Wednesday. Terry and Mary from our Wednesday
team had gone for the same reason. After fourteen years, it’s habitual. It had
been a long time, so there was some catching up and general nattering to be
done as we processed down Ice House Dene, along the riverside and to the head
of Snipes Dene. Opportunities to reminisce about jobs done and exclaim about
what had changed were many. We’d been absent for little more than three months.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVu5t1xrammykICMaKgqJgP5KMIGWkP2o99Bv7R66sLs1V1Lx5tEBclVbICSdBTxvhheEJ2r0ZcgdILxK8RBKuT-YG8ftJkb8SUY2KgTP5KN3geZFegkBYGmGemGo8NvedrwDlJJcEfx01/s1600/Apples+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVu5t1xrammykICMaKgqJgP5KMIGWkP2o99Bv7R66sLs1V1Lx5tEBclVbICSdBTxvhheEJ2r0ZcgdILxK8RBKuT-YG8ftJkb8SUY2KgTP5KN3geZFegkBYGmGemGo8NvedrwDlJJcEfx01/s400/Apples+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>Apples in the Walled Garden</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6Shw6qyrA5mxDE1g88MaYnXXlkQaKbeGPUU4VXOswqDjDa7OA3ds_DFHSKRrb6glGK8ZEPGlLYXE1FkrX_akiSE4Xi-Sbu99qLy5lJ6z0YehV9iE4D4XC5gxfzppYkdBhD0pDXKLT2Nr/s1600/Poppies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6Shw6qyrA5mxDE1g88MaYnXXlkQaKbeGPUU4VXOswqDjDa7OA3ds_DFHSKRrb6glGK8ZEPGlLYXE1FkrX_akiSE4Xi-Sbu99qLy5lJ6z0YehV9iE4D4XC5gxfzppYkdBhD0pDXKLT2Nr/s400/Poppies.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Poppies</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVOe5ysK1veKyoduqI0Hr5dFv_Hs48GGnXutHlkFNSuHMNK0rzY0Uaiy6YAT1DhpEbAGadPhb4o8Vf10IRViaT3fc5VWsoviBq_5Ug4GwuzBHKKmBq31lAs4ql0-erRcwSEtoMtiuw9e-/s1600/seed+head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVOe5ysK1veKyoduqI0Hr5dFv_Hs48GGnXutHlkFNSuHMNK0rzY0Uaiy6YAT1DhpEbAGadPhb4o8Vf10IRViaT3fc5VWsoviBq_5Ug4GwuzBHKKmBq31lAs4ql0-erRcwSEtoMtiuw9e-/s400/seed+head.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>Poppy seed head</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBggRWoC8EU3j9uu2uIebjH1D_tNNj5F9E8n5QpQZwLyfmYnsv_ZAfX1jl8Xa3NwXJDsk-s2ubRaIOZkl4NFmM9smy-7DIUKKizbHfpatzCdmnVq6Ieq3l8OR6AL-BXPbutRL5hPmoBgWI/s1600/Footpath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBggRWoC8EU3j9uu2uIebjH1D_tNNj5F9E8n5QpQZwLyfmYnsv_ZAfX1jl8Xa3NwXJDsk-s2ubRaIOZkl4NFmM9smy-7DIUKKizbHfpatzCdmnVq6Ieq3l8OR6AL-BXPbutRL5hPmoBgWI/s400/Footpath.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Path along riverside</span></b></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgMTRpgrcds9bb-78zhJnz4a1sBx7ERCFUD0LhFPpHOkXwSjQMXgJIwkyhFWZELIoY19PxnTqmfswR0BkPqofrtNEksTEH8RGKzLCiFuhA_Im77S5XYsfDPiDSIC-pgT1N0ELRQSdKtAL4/s1600/Terry+%2526+Mary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgMTRpgrcds9bb-78zhJnz4a1sBx7ERCFUD0LhFPpHOkXwSjQMXgJIwkyhFWZELIoY19PxnTqmfswR0BkPqofrtNEksTEH8RGKzLCiFuhA_Im77S5XYsfDPiDSIC-pgT1N0ELRQSdKtAL4/s400/Terry+%2526+Mary.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Terry & Mary in "civvies"</span></b></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Thigh deep, a solitary fly fisherman stood in the
river. We’ve rarely seen any sizable fish in the Derwent, but the resident otters
must be eating something, so maybe he was in with a chance we thought. Indeed,
two hundred metres downstream fish were jumping. That suggested a coffee stop
and a snack. We occasionally acknowledged the splash with a glance and a lifting
of the head. Maybe we should have taken a greater interest, but fish – we have
to admit - are something else we know little about. Anyway, we had talking to
do – catching up talking, not fish catching talking. The giant leaves of butterbur
got a mention in passing. It’s good to see it there in its place by the river.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtrQb48Qlbk8IHUtVUcNzPI3a3QXjidtDw6sv7_3EJMliHAWcjpuP5DDBNKexut29ncj3N7uvJLZpax9oAmiXSMEwXhDPRwWmgrorB-OLvw4FdAMbJLpJv-zS6UrsHx34ZFwcgzxQdWB7/s1600/Butterbur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtrQb48Qlbk8IHUtVUcNzPI3a3QXjidtDw6sv7_3EJMliHAWcjpuP5DDBNKexut29ncj3N7uvJLZpax9oAmiXSMEwXhDPRwWmgrorB-OLvw4FdAMbJLpJv-zS6UrsHx34ZFwcgzxQdWB7/s400/Butterbur.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Butterbur leaves</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Ow2rqztifKuttDfv7UuZOlzVMBqqHTbyWY_UpzaQ_SypvSv4-gMmm-XAGnSRfVcLRU7uI3ytm6-sjdihSGCjyQEGXPjMeQBsOC0ahhiOMbBXAC91ImVrGVeYmVVfRuPAPwhA4Cgk04P1/s1600/Angler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Ow2rqztifKuttDfv7UuZOlzVMBqqHTbyWY_UpzaQ_SypvSv4-gMmm-XAGnSRfVcLRU7uI3ytm6-sjdihSGCjyQEGXPjMeQBsOC0ahhiOMbBXAC91ImVrGVeYmVVfRuPAPwhA4Cgk04P1/s400/Angler.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Fisherman </span></b></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For some reason butterbur is one of those things that
always brings pleasure – like the sighting of roe deer or red kite or
moschatel. And it’s not even good looking. A new growth of Himalayan balsam got
a passing curse. Attractive as it is, it’s a pest and one we ordinarily devote
a great deal of time trying to eliminate. Not this year though: it looks set to
have a successful season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TpGFqiiK-Jyshq4u1A0p8hgsmMigg_FRc3YYYPAv22T7ATY5OaHtrrjzkk-qVf-1XTgWRbtLWrNdTUzgmlYiiXgF7mlo2b6jO0aSFbS1OmRJAacCZHxQNJYkmJmmEQJFX0jq_3gzc__L/s1600/Himalayan+balsam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TpGFqiiK-Jyshq4u1A0p8hgsmMigg_FRc3YYYPAv22T7ATY5OaHtrrjzkk-qVf-1XTgWRbtLWrNdTUzgmlYiiXgF7mlo2b6jO0aSFbS1OmRJAacCZHxQNJYkmJmmEQJFX0jq_3gzc__L/s400/Himalayan+balsam.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Himalayan balsam - not yet in flower</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg_daRbtpUOL4lRg6t2LGei-jrSueEsNYfPsUmrXIBprNoMQi1X6HywCJQU1WUZQW2znfMUZYs0Gqm_8sWtMs2mU4FA0oqwFYc1Xtz5xoeKXUAlIsgmpAeJCWybvgQP63gVPOYWoNl1z5k/s1600/Ferns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg_daRbtpUOL4lRg6t2LGei-jrSueEsNYfPsUmrXIBprNoMQi1X6HywCJQU1WUZQW2znfMUZYs0Gqm_8sWtMs2mU4FA0oqwFYc1Xtz5xoeKXUAlIsgmpAeJCWybvgQP63gVPOYWoNl1z5k/s400/Ferns.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Ferns</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNw4nBPmZZkJKa8VO9MSaT53PsmpqMO-hkzwB3HCQvpwGwQbZx1IzabbAuW-fVEBK9g6DtU9B9JINoMSbWvvgZOvxlhrxgEstfCeau_-9vlfiggPhfN_ot_CXaWMiFIO8mbUdPE0DViLv/s1600/Horsetails.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNw4nBPmZZkJKa8VO9MSaT53PsmpqMO-hkzwB3HCQvpwGwQbZx1IzabbAuW-fVEBK9g6DtU9B9JINoMSbWvvgZOvxlhrxgEstfCeau_-9vlfiggPhfN_ot_CXaWMiFIO8mbUdPE0DViLv/s400/Horsetails.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Horsetails</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lunch was scheduled for the bench at the top of Snipes
Dene. Clearly the socially distanced five of us weren’t going to fit on it, but
it acted as a waymark – always useful when walking up hill. We used to find red
bartsia here, but not today. Maybe it was a bit too early; maybe it had finally
succumbed to the mowing of the track edge. The National Trust favours neatness
even in the wild.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Snipes Dene today is densely wooded. A few years back
– 2011 to 2013 our survey records show - we made regular visits to monitor
regeneration following removal of the Forestry Commission’s commercial timber
crop. In the first season we recorded only thirty-one species, and few of those
were present in any number – with the exception of seedlings and saplings of
the felled western hemlock which was doing its best to recolonise. Over those
years, and a few that followed, it was defeated by lines of rangers and
volunteers moving across the hillsides like forensic search teams pulling the interloper
out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With a little extra tree planting to help speed
diversity, Snipes Dene has returned to native woodland, and now looks more like
its designated status of a Site of Special Scientific Interest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXtetXNikDx5Ij72QCu8dlsJC3TePnjRa6lULKtsx6UPTi06Df9wyssQWpnF5YYnx2Oj9Imzc0zL9na3C0-TNpeUygN4gIMG9TbTSL9Q9ekitx6_vrLPMB9NgpvXosZEi71k85_4o0WnwP/s1600/Snipes+dene+overgrown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXtetXNikDx5Ij72QCu8dlsJC3TePnjRa6lULKtsx6UPTi06Df9wyssQWpnF5YYnx2Oj9Imzc0zL9na3C0-TNpeUygN4gIMG9TbTSL9Q9ekitx6_vrLPMB9NgpvXosZEi71k85_4o0WnwP/s400/Snipes+dene+overgrown.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Snipes Dene, now a dense woodland</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4RgvgrTe78HX4oXe9HTeTbi5Z-0HokqxNVHb1RrDKNWm45m5ZGxJ_nyV1ZkO1b5eA8jmCz89cAgXwioBR7boULJAa-KT_iXSbtzaW5rhbNNQkgXH3ohpiBdos6cZyIrbpDluQZwkEjqf/s1600/Hedge+woundwort.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4RgvgrTe78HX4oXe9HTeTbi5Z-0HokqxNVHb1RrDKNWm45m5ZGxJ_nyV1ZkO1b5eA8jmCz89cAgXwioBR7boULJAa-KT_iXSbtzaW5rhbNNQkgXH3ohpiBdos6cZyIrbpDluQZwkEjqf/s400/Hedge+woundwort.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Hedge woundwort</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-jIUJ-Z5IuWxNKtfPb1Rw5ytf8XYfQfnj7mOrjI10Pv5IC4UDgsfGqD3hPR-YrYTHNxOdtMRlMKafnd8aNurNHTPQH2XdeWaZ2watkrtm6Zhmdj0Horu4zxT5xU5WilWSQso9WKEDL6O/s1600/Hedge+woundwort2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-jIUJ-Z5IuWxNKtfPb1Rw5ytf8XYfQfnj7mOrjI10Pv5IC4UDgsfGqD3hPR-YrYTHNxOdtMRlMKafnd8aNurNHTPQH2XdeWaZ2watkrtm6Zhmdj0Horu4zxT5xU5WilWSQso9WKEDL6O/s640/Hedge+woundwort2.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Hedge woundwort</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSMmrKQkL5bHf31RCiOVMFKWI2f4dkLq79F0F1EObXtLsYwtQURvGSFLAfs1-5YzXji2n21eXqsjSB7W9rKIXd1qKzeIYAzax93i7FAcafgnqOfJ_zv0RBLnSH0NXJ28X14BL22jeX_Sp/s1600/orchid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSMmrKQkL5bHf31RCiOVMFKWI2f4dkLq79F0F1EObXtLsYwtQURvGSFLAfs1-5YzXji2n21eXqsjSB7W9rKIXd1qKzeIYAzax93i7FAcafgnqOfJ_zv0RBLnSH0NXJ28X14BL22jeX_Sp/s640/orchid.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Common spotted orchid</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOZLQ05YpZmnrh3dVfdDPXn-QImAX123vYcuhal5xulLlOARKu0SCtrIL3sdH29tNrH6I7jKEDKTYzgRRrPYUkGkmu_N9erMy-gwoWDWf7Y_jzTL1wXU_phvwIm-IHNTwXnLaCVtOLpkE/s1600/G.speedwell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOZLQ05YpZmnrh3dVfdDPXn-QImAX123vYcuhal5xulLlOARKu0SCtrIL3sdH29tNrH6I7jKEDKTYzgRRrPYUkGkmu_N9erMy-gwoWDWf7Y_jzTL1wXU_phvwIm-IHNTwXnLaCVtOLpkE/s400/G.speedwell.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Germander speedwell</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Back in 2011, foxgloves were a significant and
pleasing feature of early Snipes Dene regeneration, and there they are again in
great number over in that part of West Wood laid waste by more recent felling. So
that’s promising.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvauM30xZEtp3P_mBnVq0AesqcI0UHP8yUyYmm5m26mzwn4y6rh0lAZ3Fa_UPdFDbaICYU61-GamDICySr4QvvXGLMUxOzqKCxJqwMIwlU3PQ1W8C9ixD15dcKltW0KUteCwFhjx1ucPHi/s1600/Bugles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvauM30xZEtp3P_mBnVq0AesqcI0UHP8yUyYmm5m26mzwn4y6rh0lAZ3Fa_UPdFDbaICYU61-GamDICySr4QvvXGLMUxOzqKCxJqwMIwlU3PQ1W8C9ixD15dcKltW0KUteCwFhjx1ucPHi/s640/Bugles.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Bugles</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLnVM7rXXiz_157j1fZt4mXe9ONDMR3xnhhhfqa-hWJiC4e8232bG13_A8FhM93eVyPhNf8Jhcqd-teKUICOKKrM72HYIs8xRmRGWeaDMC3nMIpkCWk4xqf9mD6Jbiu0Oms-wmsAsIl5ah/s1600/Foxglove+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLnVM7rXXiz_157j1fZt4mXe9ONDMR3xnhhhfqa-hWJiC4e8232bG13_A8FhM93eVyPhNf8Jhcqd-teKUICOKKrM72HYIs8xRmRGWeaDMC3nMIpkCWk4xqf9mD6Jbiu0Oms-wmsAsIl5ah/s640/Foxglove+1.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Foxglove</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJ_b07sW7FkSefy5LLdfkPM6bU3akc2ESc0B39bFr1U9qy5Ir45rENCV8IdLav21IFEeH4Y_r8apx-Hpow7rUB9mh3YfUDsMNP_rzqWE_mH2KRMHhBFSZIEreSqndSN92KNh68jiuPKZ0/s1600/Foxgloves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJ_b07sW7FkSefy5LLdfkPM6bU3akc2ESc0B39bFr1U9qy5Ir45rENCV8IdLav21IFEeH4Y_r8apx-Hpow7rUB9mh3YfUDsMNP_rzqWE_mH2KRMHhBFSZIEreSqndSN92KNh68jiuPKZ0/s400/Foxgloves.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Foxgloves in West Woods</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotHJYBImjXfTrWoqNbnq9KWpEkgVvrvHztpez0SvU8VyYUMi3cIv_HNU65zNuZqfkwkRSigv7TSQEciwaV7_cWAN_uISMp_BHx4DsuZj_GRBshH1P7qPnE6TPTip1wK2r-qqWZJRfrH67/s1600/Helleborine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotHJYBImjXfTrWoqNbnq9KWpEkgVvrvHztpez0SvU8VyYUMi3cIv_HNU65zNuZqfkwkRSigv7TSQEciwaV7_cWAN_uISMp_BHx4DsuZj_GRBshH1P7qPnE6TPTip1wK2r-qqWZJRfrH67/s400/Helleborine.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Helleborines</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRd-644zUcaje8uSC7Vn7khbDkU29O_uEDwHR4wiiy1Qt34mqFMrdEIsxLCGpJ4tG0KKWm88WxRIyysk3xuw5W3YX7zToIPh38lQitsclNBZy9_KQ6X570f54aQjap6KgjGaGm2su5Ig4/s1600/Warning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRd-644zUcaje8uSC7Vn7khbDkU29O_uEDwHR4wiiy1Qt34mqFMrdEIsxLCGpJ4tG0KKWm88WxRIyysk3xuw5W3YX7zToIPh38lQitsclNBZy9_KQ6X570f54aQjap6KgjGaGm2su5Ig4/s400/Warning.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">We can't get back to work yet!</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Steve Wootten & Phil Coyne</b></span></div>
Phil Coynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01344249046943617558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588497199467624104.post-2324218630581889452020-06-07T03:29:00.001-07:002020-06-07T03:29:03.906-07:00Enjoy the moment<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b>June 2020</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A smallish bee visited a number of cracks and crevices
in the crumbling mortar of the backyard wall, seemingly having forgotten where
it lived. Every so often, though, it popped into a hole, disappeared for a
while, popped back out and started the performance all over again. It was
probably a mining bee or a mason bee collecting nesting material. For those of
us for whom the insect world is largely a mystery, the guide books are of
little or no help – often pointing out that there are another thirty species
remarkably like this one. For a more definitive identification, count the hairs
on its legs.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A recent things-to-do-in-lockdown email from the
Natural History Society of Northumbria suggested taking a closer look at white
tailed bumble bees. It turns out that it is not a single species but at least
three. And, to further the confusion, buff tailed bumble bee workers have white
tails. Best use DNA testing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Best,
perhaps, just to take pleasure in watching that little bee search around the
crumbling backyard brickwork midst the ivy-leaved toadflax and something that
might be creeping bellflower but probably isn’t.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8gm9UNPU9kFFuVZ_75Tq1rBGJa_bfT8LFrKxUA1P11Pqjg52VkPHJEPYSbmYXKttVbNoefBdyASU8Q0McTHCyPcxykEqXG8vNw1I6hE0rjONuJAcMQAn1ZvwqKJqu7J7wZAo-L2319WM-/s1600/Ivy+leaved+toadflax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8gm9UNPU9kFFuVZ_75Tq1rBGJa_bfT8LFrKxUA1P11Pqjg52VkPHJEPYSbmYXKttVbNoefBdyASU8Q0McTHCyPcxykEqXG8vNw1I6hE0rjONuJAcMQAn1ZvwqKJqu7J7wZAo-L2319WM-/s400/Ivy+leaved+toadflax.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Ivy-leaved toadflax</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Covid-19 and the lockdown have kept visitors,
volunteers and most staff out of Gibside (and other places) for eleven or
twelve weeks. Last Wednesday, though, began a phased reopening. After as many
weeks of wall-to-wall sunshine, it rained. But that didn’t matter. The place
looked wonderful. Walking up Leap Mill Burn, the woodland canopy appeared as if
underlit by the vibrant green ferns of the understorey. On Octagon Pond, a coot
sat on a prominent nest, its elevation exaggerated by its reflection in the
water. A little grebe came and went on the pond surface. Everywhere looked
lush. The walled garden felt like a deserted village, but still had order and
colour, and apples were forming on the trees. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Areas of usually mown grass by the old hall
and the orangery, unvisited and neglected, were glowing with meadow flowers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_3PFNmwEZU8WDuOHwNRn6r6q9n2fTNUreHLcMEfJGenuYds_MdoXs2EIfoZXWZpYzos-nFIZVB9pfkklVj6873ihWBi14LGoxlcG6f2PHr6n3gFsMn8lysL2E9LaUJnZyK4CEWjeB4aK/s1600/P1030629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_3PFNmwEZU8WDuOHwNRn6r6q9n2fTNUreHLcMEfJGenuYds_MdoXs2EIfoZXWZpYzos-nFIZVB9pfkklVj6873ihWBi14LGoxlcG6f2PHr6n3gFsMn8lysL2E9LaUJnZyK4CEWjeB4aK/s400/P1030629.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Woodland canopy</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnmIntAZxt5iuGT1nWxjS1XW97C40qeV5JJIlg0MwSSNAUV6wVOs-cKJAQ06i_yAJV3xFDkX9gHcHoj9XUIaRJz2U_7CRzu46tLGuxogbsC4vm_IGdmmxeIUgb3TaUvFU-chWPvpDG8xP0/s1600/Coot+on+nest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnmIntAZxt5iuGT1nWxjS1XW97C40qeV5JJIlg0MwSSNAUV6wVOs-cKJAQ06i_yAJV3xFDkX9gHcHoj9XUIaRJz2U_7CRzu46tLGuxogbsC4vm_IGdmmxeIUgb3TaUvFU-chWPvpDG8xP0/s400/Coot+on+nest.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Coot on nest</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBklDVdggQtAREs5RTLVzO4tLl10KO0xnuuYBPYnwHaJjKCL63HZAqvnA5qNGXFrFGQf7cytEaqkIwYF__689GWhnLvlmvMFcEC_bec4SYTpECoY_gPheIxyuM33OnipF3ZhM09HMi2llY/s1600/Little+Grebe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBklDVdggQtAREs5RTLVzO4tLl10KO0xnuuYBPYnwHaJjKCL63HZAqvnA5qNGXFrFGQf7cytEaqkIwYF__689GWhnLvlmvMFcEC_bec4SYTpECoY_gPheIxyuM33OnipF3ZhM09HMi2llY/s400/Little+Grebe.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Little grebe</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoAClIOtlJNQYUMr3xWwjpgUAOLudTc0lqYEscyP0DcUgYUWxOnRz9f5VzhIkSn2wkTMDqVVc2yU8ny5cjAWVQ53LdxvJmbTiyjNIDCntZDqwX-kKUWi2OBvKLfdQko5LBwNawI_wmXnc4/s1600/Orangery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoAClIOtlJNQYUMr3xWwjpgUAOLudTc0lqYEscyP0DcUgYUWxOnRz9f5VzhIkSn2wkTMDqVVc2yU8ny5cjAWVQ53LdxvJmbTiyjNIDCntZDqwX-kKUWi2OBvKLfdQko5LBwNawI_wmXnc4/s400/Orangery.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Orangery</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNd9NVNX9B3UOlXMSNN9KRviVujHemes5LpV9njSnVA_UPT5ixXizNwwvR-5mhN3zLtkuYjGJi4_3Tt88keWETCGzWt0GEFZTcCvCa0WcK9iBVJVfuJWBdUQYlhn98uHxqKiwlXX3F_eV/s1600/P1030658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNd9NVNX9B3UOlXMSNN9KRviVujHemes5LpV9njSnVA_UPT5ixXizNwwvR-5mhN3zLtkuYjGJi4_3Tt88keWETCGzWt0GEFZTcCvCa0WcK9iBVJVfuJWBdUQYlhn98uHxqKiwlXX3F_eV/s400/P1030658.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijg3KW3YUroAZhSr5UPfcmb3oNOLnBPcrobFu45zGM1MQO5S-eQC3Sx3EHK5kCrMxl2BgPPx15fSF1Khgh9MHdbphfs6uz7VIVplD_aL0YDgopGvK7nOnmZmbpzI7JOxrUPKIm1tn0Ta0P/s1600/Wild+walled+garden2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijg3KW3YUroAZhSr5UPfcmb3oNOLnBPcrobFu45zGM1MQO5S-eQC3Sx3EHK5kCrMxl2BgPPx15fSF1Khgh9MHdbphfs6uz7VIVplD_aL0YDgopGvK7nOnmZmbpzI7JOxrUPKIm1tn0Ta0P/s400/Wild+walled+garden2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdJC2SCqUypqxObRPrFiXh8Vcgf7FsCtynkP0zIJUjMCOygL1xr5ikeTqTFTCAGCfB1Ln4uxPUO-iREXSAggqDhKjJdBP6OxXIy2V_BLIyRaT5cLs2RMjedrgdE4xRj-tLsFU3qniMgOb/s1600/Wild+walled+garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdJC2SCqUypqxObRPrFiXh8Vcgf7FsCtynkP0zIJUjMCOygL1xr5ikeTqTFTCAGCfB1Ln4uxPUO-iREXSAggqDhKjJdBP6OxXIy2V_BLIyRaT5cLs2RMjedrgdE4xRj-tLsFU3qniMgOb/s400/Wild+walled+garden.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">The wilder Walled Garden</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRkupsuFfwXNqBJ6LY66AEXrROkz6n-YLgFjQbMACJvKZCy14zEJGwr96SyXthPy5hQmppm8LCpp9vVlj-TiwLVkA9iTdi67SttKDD68zHj17til6UWRoQRgH6xwAyDpgFNzJMPyOJbtFp/s1600/Avenue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRkupsuFfwXNqBJ6LY66AEXrROkz6n-YLgFjQbMACJvKZCy14zEJGwr96SyXthPy5hQmppm8LCpp9vVlj-TiwLVkA9iTdi67SttKDD68zHj17til6UWRoQRgH6xwAyDpgFNzJMPyOJbtFp/s400/Avenue.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">The Avenue - that grass needs a "haircut"</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On an ordinary working day, it has been our way to
take out a note book and record the plants and other wildlife. Clearly, there
were lots of yellow rattle and buttercups, but we made no attempt to look
closer – content to be still amongst the beauty of it all. You can pursue the
detail or just feel free to enjoy the moment.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYzv8nVO262UQIRCHHZdjQlPiMJXR9U2cgVgOtDgxAU3AlAWp09OMZ47troNMK8oM35yNkgZaNpvXXzVA9Bgo67IG-n3fajNofXfnaLDNNcPb2rE94nc8Pv4Qgee2OXwxrc8qMmH9PK-YG/s1600/Yellow+rattle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYzv8nVO262UQIRCHHZdjQlPiMJXR9U2cgVgOtDgxAU3AlAWp09OMZ47troNMK8oM35yNkgZaNpvXXzVA9Bgo67IG-n3fajNofXfnaLDNNcPb2rE94nc8Pv4Qgee2OXwxrc8qMmH9PK-YG/s400/Yellow+rattle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLnVHSPLK29d71dxz7bV-SKXmVSXniQXQ_yCFnwnb_RO8Z-iYDQNtMFC74nQ2S8MRakVRLUvlVxnnVKnPAfBR9PmoyHYMFEXz1hucsHISnOJ3TQh8k0CHdApe6psIhQbW8iA0xlSpHdbfi/s1600/Yellow+rattle2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLnVHSPLK29d71dxz7bV-SKXmVSXniQXQ_yCFnwnb_RO8Z-iYDQNtMFC74nQ2S8MRakVRLUvlVxnnVKnPAfBR9PmoyHYMFEXz1hucsHISnOJ3TQh8k0CHdApe6psIhQbW8iA0xlSpHdbfi/s400/Yellow+rattle2.jpg" width="400" /></i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Yellow rattle</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<i></i><b></b><br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>Steve Wootten & Phil Coyne</b></div>
Phil Coynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01344249046943617558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588497199467624104.post-51077506600071463432020-05-17T11:04:00.003-07:002020-05-18T01:36:09.743-07:00City dwellers remember<br />
<h2>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Gibside
Blog May 2020</span></span></h2>
<br />
As city dwelling goes, we two are pretty well-placed for
greenery with the Park and the Town Moor. And wandering the tree-lined streets
of posh-Gosforth is good too, though house envy can be a bit of a struggle. Jesmond
Dene is within walking distance, and there other green gems to be rediscovered
and explored. Old cemeteries are a favourite - peaceful, beautiful wildlife
havens.<br />
<br />
As well as being long-serving members of the Gibside
Rangers’ Wednesday Volunteer Team, we two also work in our local park where,
along with one other amateur naturalist, we look after the Wildlife Area.
Currently, of course, all volunteer work has stopped – though there is a little
bit of guerrilla nature conservation going on. We can, though, visit the park
and our Wildlife Area as members of the public. Whilst mostly that is a great
pleasure, it is also frustrating not to be able to provide the care and
attention needed – especially at this time of year.<br />
<br />
Gosforth Central Park is a public park popular with
dog walkers (and their dogs), children, the occasional vandal and the rest
of the local population, so we have to strike a balance between managing
the area for wildlife and for public access and enjoyment. That creates its own
problems. The pond and its immediate surroundings are fenced – dog-proofed and
child-proofed, and pretty much safe from big people as well. The rest of the
Wildlife Area is open to roam and, without the grass cutting to define paths
and protective sticks and string to protect vulnerable vegetation, it is being
trampled over and biked on. And pandemic lockdown has brought an increase in
footfall. Newly seeded patches have come to nothing for want of rain, and the
water level in the pond is worryingly low. But that’s nature for you. The Wildlife
Area has a disappointingly meagre population of invertebrates. For example, it
seems odd that we have no ants. We would like to do something to remedy that,
but not this year, it seems.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQr9p1wFDBfvlL8Dp2cwZIT57JEn641VamHi8RV01kBWV-NvZZHCJsREueO1MSJPe0gTqBYduCYawPCBvWawCLLqpWZF7EqxrKMJ2IJXTho3qFZgmnmqKCblm2FV93RJkpK52hzDZ4bJyt/s1600/Town+Moor.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQr9p1wFDBfvlL8Dp2cwZIT57JEn641VamHi8RV01kBWV-NvZZHCJsREueO1MSJPe0gTqBYduCYawPCBvWawCLLqpWZF7EqxrKMJ2IJXTho3qFZgmnmqKCblm2FV93RJkpK52hzDZ4bJyt/s400/Town+Moor.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">The Town Moor Newcastle</span></i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRVB40wz2Tv4Q3tvpkKGUnw5j5y7VnkOsEFFKzBiggLAPYQ0iCpXnVZhajCDrrwJE8lcJF4WaNBJoqGYNJc2gNTQJusth9lJw4NFDkDBtrE73h7TNG1tpD_fYvh0ap-CdiQbzq8BqlUVN/s1600/Dukes+moor+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRVB40wz2Tv4Q3tvpkKGUnw5j5y7VnkOsEFFKzBiggLAPYQ0iCpXnVZhajCDrrwJE8lcJF4WaNBJoqGYNJc2gNTQJusth9lJw4NFDkDBtrE73h7TNG1tpD_fYvh0ap-CdiQbzq8BqlUVN/s400/Dukes+moor+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Cows on Dukes Moor, Newcastle</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i></i><b></b><b></b><i></i><i></i><b></b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiN2sKyaLsqpMxKU3gIHE9MiX1YI_W2xunPv8628-KOjXFkuN5pnWG_H8thQpXOB-l-RrV4EarSP5a0pTr4g5fvfbB8KEDFCoHjAHJGJbV4s2VrPMIdxACAAiubsBrv9Y1-TGRZwpYjlRQ/s1600/Rhoddies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiN2sKyaLsqpMxKU3gIHE9MiX1YI_W2xunPv8628-KOjXFkuN5pnWG_H8thQpXOB-l-RrV4EarSP5a0pTr4g5fvfbB8KEDFCoHjAHJGJbV4s2VrPMIdxACAAiubsBrv9Y1-TGRZwpYjlRQ/s400/Rhoddies.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Dreaded rhododendrons in Leases Park, Newcastle</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: blue; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Behind the closed gates of the Gibside Estate things are
very different. Undisturbed by visitors, wildlife is thriving. We do miss our
privileged days there. The Rangers do their bit to keep us in touch with
nature, but it’s not the same. To remind us of what we are missing, we’ve been
looking back at some of our earlier blog entries for the months of April and
May. You can read them for yourself, of course, but here are some extracts and
some pictures.</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"></span><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"></span><span style="color: blue;"></span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #365f91; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gibside Blog 29 April 2015: April</span></b><br />
<br />
Dog’s mercury, though abundant in our woodlands and one of
the earliest plants to flower, can go largely unnoticed. Its flowers are small,
green and have no petals. As a herald of spring, it doesn’t make much of an
impression, but it’s soon joined by other, more impressive, flowers carpeting
the woodland floor – golden saxifrage, wood anemone, wood sorrel and ramsons.
Elsewhere primrose, lesser celandine, coltsfoot, and dandelion make a fine
show.<br />
<br />
The oddly delicate moschatel has its five flowers set at
right-angles to each other – like clock faces with an extra one on top.
Previously recorded along the riverside path and in the woods at the northern
end of Ladyhaugh, it has this spring appeared in a swathe near the Lily Pond.
It’s small and beautiful but, being almost entirely green, is easily
over-looked.<br />
It’s April, and the animal world is preparing for the new
season. Frogs have long since spawned, and tadpoles have started to emerge from
their gelatinous mess; numerous toads tangle in the ponds, seeking mates;
peacock and small tortoiseshell butterflies have started their wanderings; and
common carder bumblebees glide the woodland fringes; chiffchaffs seem to be
everywhere.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Vf5KOAmZGT2x0ywqduw8hYcS8JKoskEQHsAj-kH_l2qh73-QkfZKDo5CAAxAytXNIpYdKpyq3Y2Q8YqCwFDjvDjVJmRcHn2y0cdcm0TLRpC2fobPhGDNk260D9EEYtROP-WniQpKkxpX/s1600/Dog%2527s+Mercury.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #ff3f00; font-size: 14.46px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Vf5KOAmZGT2x0ywqduw8hYcS8JKoskEQHsAj-kH_l2qh73-QkfZKDo5CAAxAytXNIpYdKpyq3Y2Q8YqCwFDjvDjVJmRcHn2y0cdcm0TLRpC2fobPhGDNk260D9EEYtROP-WniQpKkxpX/s400/Dog%2527s+Mercury.jpg" style="background: none; border-image: none; border: medium; box-shadow: 0px 0px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
<i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Dog's mercury</span></b></i></div>
<div>
<i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgianWR4x3Ptcwo6HdTyYJrJjlTFbvxRGuivKzOckZqj9bWzYvJgXiOD-AT0SK_lr48CFgftaVyy7Wz_yDNlswhmT4B1sGL8pEURUCcrwRY3tonITG_8lCwEetSD_Sik4oqsnworAuXTdMX/s1600/Wood+anemones+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #ff3f00; font-size: 14.46px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgianWR4x3Ptcwo6HdTyYJrJjlTFbvxRGuivKzOckZqj9bWzYvJgXiOD-AT0SK_lr48CFgftaVyy7Wz_yDNlswhmT4B1sGL8pEURUCcrwRY3tonITG_8lCwEetSD_Sik4oqsnworAuXTdMX/s400/Wood+anemones+2.jpg" style="background: none; border-image: none; border: medium; box-shadow: 0px 0px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">Wood anemone</span></i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw4vPT0z67gb9kuQ57xpR94GCtAek-2FODG43FQNUQo0cXY1zO1zuAt99vbP4Dck8SwmkncLRlb2Ao8s5ogztYb79Y4gWerLsjGzwLalHWy_EaZuYRI5EqnNSFn7qtQC928g6iw_8UfLRt/s1600/Gibside_0023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #ff3f00; font-size: 14.46px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw4vPT0z67gb9kuQ57xpR94GCtAek-2FODG43FQNUQo0cXY1zO1zuAt99vbP4Dck8SwmkncLRlb2Ao8s5ogztYb79Y4gWerLsjGzwLalHWy_EaZuYRI5EqnNSFn7qtQC928g6iw_8UfLRt/s400/Gibside_0023.jpg" style="background: none; border-image: none; border: medium; box-shadow: 0px 0px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Moschatel</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><i></i><b></b><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 24.0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together; page-break-after: avoid;">
<b><span style="color: #365f91; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gibside Blog: 27 April 2016: Spring gets going</span></b></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Hidden away in the new birch growth in the West Wood, Terry
and Steve sought out a large and rather well-constructed log pile. Phil took
Terry’s picture standing beside it. This had been the very first job for the
Wednesday Conservation Team – nearly ten years ago now. We sized it up, admired
its construction, exchanged memories of the day, and tried to remember who had
been there with us. Phil looked on politely – neither bored nor in wonder; he’s
only been coming here for eight years.<br />
<br />
We were in the West Wood, mapping a grass snake site. That
is plotting the position of a heap of rotting vegetation which is there to
encourage snakes to lay their eggs in a place where we can find them, and
noting the position of pieces of corrugated iron sheet which are intended to
provide a good warming-up spot for our cold-blooded reptiles. Each sheet is
numbered to help us record what we find on it, or under it, during our weekly
observations. There are eight such sites around the estate.<br />
<br />
A few weeks ago, Ranger Liam helped us set up one of the
sites on Warrenhaugh by carting some bales of straw in a vehicle referred to as
the ‘Mule’. Going downhill was fine but, job done, the creature couldn’t cope
with the wet, stony slope. We pushed it – and Liam - backwards seven-eighths of
the way up the hill before admitting defeat, and summoning a Land Rover to tow
it the rest of the way. Liam was rightly embarrassed, and would rather people
didn’t know about it.<br />
<br />
As spring gets going, it’s time for us to abandon our winter
labours, and leave nature in peace. From now through to October we will be
taking leisurely strolls with binoculars and note book, sandwiches and flask,
recording flora and fauna for the Trust’s database. We might even see a grass
snake.<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMhq3d9EAI7NOk8cnBIYH87hEVsSOlIfodBSV7-xLbTMC1gwQSaE7Ehp3vrhDquJ6cNiVW_MukEIqyUXlUMuK9lfbOMfVYaWUQT6Z_AqTZko5vF2GlVquLotEhkMYkxN3iZ-Y0oU519ST/s1600/Terry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #ff3f00; font-size: 14.46px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMhq3d9EAI7NOk8cnBIYH87hEVsSOlIfodBSV7-xLbTMC1gwQSaE7Ehp3vrhDquJ6cNiVW_MukEIqyUXlUMuK9lfbOMfVYaWUQT6Z_AqTZko5vF2GlVquLotEhkMYkxN3iZ-Y0oU519ST/s400/Terry.jpg" style="background: none; border-image: none; border: medium; box-shadow: 0px 0px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Terry stands nest to the log pile</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwrpiz1mGCo1s6y2xYmirLx1sGgFZ1Qrv1W2j59hb8LS9-uwyAdndQfMskn0fLchk35J87SJT18HdF3gxBZifeyb7-g1Fj1tVMbSX2cdtrWNuq13z3RuqWuUrdoyL-15ilT0MIP2_CdgO/s1600/Nest+pile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #ff3f00; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.46px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwrpiz1mGCo1s6y2xYmirLx1sGgFZ1Qrv1W2j59hb8LS9-uwyAdndQfMskn0fLchk35J87SJT18HdF3gxBZifeyb7-g1Fj1tVMbSX2cdtrWNuq13z3RuqWuUrdoyL-15ilT0MIP2_CdgO/s400/Nest+pile.jpg" style="background: none; border-image: none; border: medium; box-shadow: 0px 0px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">West woods nest heap</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><i></i><b></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8ZwrKVgc2jUfm8PDw0Z8TYJpL2IKyUNQkYQ2LwpQ98QpcPxjarohM-Jox10f4mtlnm1H5L9pY9LtTXNlC9kWnOWRiZz2VWskgNRGXz6O_oAd-psjuZNE75VqGaO_ii2vaTuBwHO3SIFf/s1600/West+Wood+Site.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #ff3f00; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.46px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8ZwrKVgc2jUfm8PDw0Z8TYJpL2IKyUNQkYQ2LwpQ98QpcPxjarohM-Jox10f4mtlnm1H5L9pY9LtTXNlC9kWnOWRiZz2VWskgNRGXz6O_oAd-psjuZNE75VqGaO_ii2vaTuBwHO3SIFf/s400/West+Wood+Site.jpg" style="background: none; border-image: none; border: medium; box-shadow: 0px 0px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">The West Woods grass snake site</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<b><span style="color: #365f91; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gibside Blog 4 May 2016: A new start</span></b></div>
<br />
Through to mid-morning it was still cool enough to wear our
fleece jackets; by lunchtime the temperature had risen to sixteen or seventeen
degrees. This year, that counts as hot. We had a few small jobs to get done,
but this was the day to return to our summer job of collecting wildlife data
around Gibside Estate. What we see, we note. We transfer our notes to a
spreadsheet which we add into the Rangers’ data, and all that gets fed into the
National Trust databank. It’s a useful task we’re told, but, in truth, we do it
because we like to.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In a few weeks, Ladyhaugh will be coloured with
meadow flowers. Today we noted a few. Cowslips dominate, along with the odd
patch of primrose and a scattering of lesser celandine and dandelion. The
margins of the meadow are less showy, but display more variety with a few
bluebells, greater stitchwort, garlic mustard, wood anemone, and daisies of
course. At the rough, north end, we sought out butterbur - now fading beside
the river, and found a patch of ground ivy that we had not noted in previous
years. An orange tipped butterfly fluttered by; a welcome start to a new
season.<br />
<br />
</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yRRmv8AxO5MKskzu3aOUoCuOqwGJUg3TcKAEN-B0cCyo5hovKsBtFxHe09exp-ejTKb5v2pxuSRxWYq4Z4WahwCDN_5uqBTvR5pWeonUeGNojKWlhsE_gxqVhdRkeJU3a6IdQjQgXZld/s1600/Lesser+Celandine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #ff3f00; font-size: 14.46px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yRRmv8AxO5MKskzu3aOUoCuOqwGJUg3TcKAEN-B0cCyo5hovKsBtFxHe09exp-ejTKb5v2pxuSRxWYq4Z4WahwCDN_5uqBTvR5pWeonUeGNojKWlhsE_gxqVhdRkeJU3a6IdQjQgXZld/s400/Lesser+Celandine.jpg" style="background: none; border-image: none; border: medium; box-shadow: 0px 0px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Lesser celandine</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzrzb07CjME7cTns8RoDXbE_Euvt9t7gFPLIaYy0cgqYbK3lI0idpsdgram8EsaAwwPCKL692zhDLUSvT2BzCbw2WdTw71No-0PWBtZFJ5lcPgRCk5wuZo5UiIUugTy7ft4SAcYw8RK5dY/s1600/Greater+stitchwort.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #ff3f00; font-size: 14.46px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzrzb07CjME7cTns8RoDXbE_Euvt9t7gFPLIaYy0cgqYbK3lI0idpsdgram8EsaAwwPCKL692zhDLUSvT2BzCbw2WdTw71No-0PWBtZFJ5lcPgRCk5wuZo5UiIUugTy7ft4SAcYw8RK5dY/s400/Greater+stitchwort.jpg" style="background: none; border-image: none; border: medium; box-shadow: 0px 0px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Greater stitchwort</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><i></i><b></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgofafs0roS6XiLacCEXuwB0tBwdmv_rhikP7PupNlygtukWDX9LTs_ytPR38QZaOfNJ64Edd7meBiESrAniOg9z2LR3CYbQTTAV39HVWiEyK9RNiZyxnwloc7kba_gs-rsa1aj1cL3bJmQ/s1600/Bugle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #ff3f00; font-size: 14.46px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgofafs0roS6XiLacCEXuwB0tBwdmv_rhikP7PupNlygtukWDX9LTs_ytPR38QZaOfNJ64Edd7meBiESrAniOg9z2LR3CYbQTTAV39HVWiEyK9RNiZyxnwloc7kba_gs-rsa1aj1cL3bJmQ/s400/Bugle.jpg" style="background: none; border-image: none; border: medium; box-shadow: 0px 0px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Bugles</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwz5crxXBraX6O1tQakQOVK70xj0IOYCqSRO8iL3RgyJFAxtYhuUuuVrcWG23g2eZ9dzE6FJAhNF3L9j5Y0t-gG8dNLRvEBuwhKgMX3WykvVIg_dsUcTfryskwQdZUhW91jLp-RqdwGC5v/s1600/Butterbur+%2528Petastites+hybidus%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #ff3f00; font-size: 14.46px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwz5crxXBraX6O1tQakQOVK70xj0IOYCqSRO8iL3RgyJFAxtYhuUuuVrcWG23g2eZ9dzE6FJAhNF3L9j5Y0t-gG8dNLRvEBuwhKgMX3WykvVIg_dsUcTfryskwQdZUhW91jLp-RqdwGC5v/s400/Butterbur+%2528Petastites+hybidus%2529.jpg" style="background: none; border-image: none; border: medium; box-shadow: 0px 0px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Butterbur</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 24.0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together; page-break-after: avoid;">
<b><span style="color: #365f91; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gibside Blog 11 May 2016: Out-witting sheep</span></b></div>
<br />
As a rule, sheep are docile, unimaginative creatures,
capable of no more than munching grass all day, reproducing once a year, and
occasionally falling over with their feet sticking up in the air. It’s their
upbringing, you see. Natural selection has long since been replaced by farmer
selection. They are bred for the quality of their meat and wool, their
reproductive success rate, and their good looks – so that they can win prizes
in agricultural shows. Wit and survival skills are not selection criteria.<br />
<br />
It was unexpected then that, after all our hard work, sheep
dismantled a gate at the penned-in Warrenhaugh Pond, kicked sticks and straw
out of the way, and ate all the green grass cuttings from the grass snake nest
heap. It’s repaired now, and defences strengthened using hammer, nails and
string. We know how to out-wit sheep.<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6vN4vv7nLSIaI5r_xiugTnG4NiqMX4hrLJHMOi0uFaEb1xOmWPBego6sJDByOUr7Hu3EAGuaNEQS4moevfBArFpd8JJOULTgqoRD7AEErXdlO0tAMu0QJThtAGRv7fobsb6WJOlMPRJOl/s1600/Sheep2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #ff3f00; font-size: 14.46px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6vN4vv7nLSIaI5r_xiugTnG4NiqMX4hrLJHMOi0uFaEb1xOmWPBego6sJDByOUr7Hu3EAGuaNEQS4moevfBArFpd8JJOULTgqoRD7AEErXdlO0tAMu0QJThtAGRv7fobsb6WJOlMPRJOl/s400/Sheep2.jpg" style="background: none; border-image: none; border: medium; box-shadow: 0px 0px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">It wasn't us guv.</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRCPRu3eEneqaPFfIgkjZMQJ9qtP4XYwCUQtOHqvBj7SCz8HZmjebVLtTLMGSyiddnRQFGRxzxX4UUQlxLsi7tnFhsc9RFeDzi4PikkPxuqPIoLLFeJ5W795nCJtTcnGKtYISbZ3ubXfOo/s1600/Under+construction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #ff3f00; font-size: 14.46px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRCPRu3eEneqaPFfIgkjZMQJ9qtP4XYwCUQtOHqvBj7SCz8HZmjebVLtTLMGSyiddnRQFGRxzxX4UUQlxLsi7tnFhsc9RFeDzi4PikkPxuqPIoLLFeJ5W795nCJtTcnGKtYISbZ3ubXfOo/s400/Under+construction.jpg" style="background: none; border-image: none; border: medium; box-shadow: 0px 0px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">The nest heap being repaired</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNY8XDV7QRLjxAcjrjmQD5zIZX4wKS7dTcH2NrYNU4g_G98atEGCAi0XhZgYXKLrvGIaNo33MaYWhhUbT6jQB_2W0fkgPzVcStVA0RJdp9cctVeYChV_KqpfBYdqpeg5aefe4z4zX5f9B/s1600/Gate+repaired.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #ff3f00; font-size: 14.46px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNY8XDV7QRLjxAcjrjmQD5zIZX4wKS7dTcH2NrYNU4g_G98atEGCAi0XhZgYXKLrvGIaNo33MaYWhhUbT6jQB_2W0fkgPzVcStVA0RJdp9cctVeYChV_KqpfBYdqpeg5aefe4z4zX5f9B/s400/Gate+repaired.jpg" style="background: none; border-image: none; border: medium; box-shadow: 0px 0px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">The gate is now repaired</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<h1>
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">Gibside blog April - May 2017: Grass snake (Natrix natrix)</span></h1>
<br />
The new tins had been numbered with Roman numerals. One of
the rangers must have done that. They’re a sophisticated lot. We’ve been back
in one of the more remote parts of the Gibside woodland, cutting back the
tangle of bramble and honeysuckle that had taken advantage of the clearings we
had carved out earlier in the year. We lopped down a few more birches while we
were on, to let in more light. It is grass snake time again, and we were there
to set up a new monitoring site in addition to the eight already dotted around
the estate.<br />
<br />
This site is a bit out of the way, bordered north and south
by intermittent streams, and surrounded by trees – oak, rowan, ash, beech, wych
elm, holly, hazel and lots of birch. Though predominantly trees, there are
margins – streamside, field edge, nearby track side and, of course, the
clearings themselves – where non-woody flowering plants thrive. Here there are
bluebells, wood sorrel, ramsons, primrose, yellow pimpernel and the exquisite
moschatel. In some parts, people refer to grass snakes as water snakes.
Hereabouts there are a few ponds, and we’re not too far from the River Derwent
– though it is uphill all the way. The streams might help.<br />
<br />
Anyway, with it being a new patch, it has new ACOs –
artificial cover objects that is: bits of corrugated iron. These days they’re
made of some other material, but we just call them tins.<br />
<br />
The tins are there because, underneath, they make an ideal
grass snake shelter and, on top, a fine basking place, making any snakes more
visible to the observer. The numbers aid recording. And Natrix natrix might
well be tempted by the Roman numerals, but don’t count on it.<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUb6R3dKanVDiZ2wlKe1dE9152UG0N6UYdddssuhTd0he8blyjoH0v2-aaCxiuTuLdrLZL9l_lm9g3xwmqUarxS9RIvcwgy2CV5IlSIQS0UJGMgzZy7ZGPuEmslLz5W2e7I7smtpXJq8j/s1600/Log+pile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #ff3f00; font-size: 14.46px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUb6R3dKanVDiZ2wlKe1dE9152UG0N6UYdddssuhTd0he8blyjoH0v2-aaCxiuTuLdrLZL9l_lm9g3xwmqUarxS9RIvcwgy2CV5IlSIQS0UJGMgzZy7ZGPuEmslLz5W2e7I7smtpXJq8j/s400/Log+pile.jpg" style="background: none; border-image: none; border: medium; box-shadow: 0px 0px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">Log pile covered in honeysuckle</span></i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_aaFReDs8VA8r_r3FY0_0_rSuv6JgrYpX7xCVczvuxFysDS-lsWSGyTr7BlbSAW6k3MrMxWJdSy6rtXAJLG1s45a6qLSrS7-zo-0_B3C73QDLv7c68aopjOFAG8mOZ3Jy_e9ep3yM_AsT/s1600/Wych+elm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #ff3f00; font-size: 14.46px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_aaFReDs8VA8r_r3FY0_0_rSuv6JgrYpX7xCVczvuxFysDS-lsWSGyTr7BlbSAW6k3MrMxWJdSy6rtXAJLG1s45a6qLSrS7-zo-0_B3C73QDLv7c68aopjOFAG8mOZ3Jy_e9ep3yM_AsT/s640/Wych+elm.jpg" style="background: none; border-image: none; border: medium; box-shadow: 0px 0px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">A lovely wych elm tree near site entrance</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCM1NOKxX1-ISLf95dAx3y3RTGrsqvQa2xASQOyzZLwjxOzgb7ASERix4TvVmUTtXk7fadpCRONj9z8kROgsGjnXKXqgGZyMIx9uDjeSeROYzB9aa3hhBpKtcFKb4uPmzts9oqAuDLM6qN/s1600/Bluebells.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #ff3f00; font-size: 14.46px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCM1NOKxX1-ISLf95dAx3y3RTGrsqvQa2xASQOyzZLwjxOzgb7ASERix4TvVmUTtXk7fadpCRONj9z8kROgsGjnXKXqgGZyMIx9uDjeSeROYzB9aa3hhBpKtcFKb4uPmzts9oqAuDLM6qN/s640/Bluebells.jpg" style="background: none; border-image: none; border: medium; box-shadow: 0px 0px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Bluebells</span></b></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglG0Z4GX8w8FVPhnm2VGZrSWG0nGi6HRC-370OGL3IVa7jRxP36I5YHtV6etAbkjRDj6lW2mtDB2jNcSDGofqFHEL6XWpLKKntWPtvXUcsu5g2YTV3-6jew_IRQiiGgaImjtC-ARwdfPIQ/s1600/Yellow+pimpernel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #ff3f00; font-size: 14.46px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglG0Z4GX8w8FVPhnm2VGZrSWG0nGi6HRC-370OGL3IVa7jRxP36I5YHtV6etAbkjRDj6lW2mtDB2jNcSDGofqFHEL6XWpLKKntWPtvXUcsu5g2YTV3-6jew_IRQiiGgaImjtC-ARwdfPIQ/s400/Yellow+pimpernel.jpg" style="background: none; border-image: none; border: medium; box-shadow: 0px 0px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Yellow pimpernel</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDxMjRT4QMddf541Gny_nA-6gFrn3lHNnK403nkqghMnq1WsnsTqTk_T_7XPfH13OseBdpVcM4OmY2z5H-MXZ0bnRBDZB32wruwJn0c0vz3TEXNQbHcAxdHZeR6I1zr6Z5WzEgxBSaEgnT/s1600/Ramsons2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #ff3f00; font-size: 14.46px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDxMjRT4QMddf541Gny_nA-6gFrn3lHNnK403nkqghMnq1WsnsTqTk_T_7XPfH13OseBdpVcM4OmY2z5H-MXZ0bnRBDZB32wruwJn0c0vz3TEXNQbHcAxdHZeR6I1zr6Z5WzEgxBSaEgnT/s400/Ramsons2.jpg" style="background: none; border-image: none; border: medium; box-shadow: 0px 0px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Ramsons</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<b><span style="color: #365f91; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gibside Blog March to
May 2019: It’s that time of year</span></b><br />
<br />
Just the day before, Ranger Helen had watched three red
kites squabbling high above Gibside. Engaged in a dog fight (for want of a
better metaphor), the two males locked talons and plummeted into the trees,
risking serious injury in pursuit of a mate. Late March: it’s that time of
year. <br />
<br />
In the Ice House Woods blackbirds scuttled and a couple of
wrens flitted around in path-side shrubs. Wood anemones planted in their
thousands here last autumn are pushing up their first leaves among the first
signs of wood sorrel and cuckoo pint. Dog’s mercury, lesser celandine and yew
are in flower. A nuthatch rehearses being noisy and appealing. At a distance
trees still look wintery but, here in the woods and along the Avenue, they too
are unfurling their leaves in readiness for the start of nature’s year.<br />
<br />
In the air above the Octagon Pond, a buzzard, red kite and
kestrel all appeared at the same moment separated vertically and horizontally
by some invisible air controller. It was a photo lost to a slow camera and a
slower wit. On the pond, coots were preparing to nest. In the pond were frogs,
frogspawn and knots of toads. It’s that time of year.<br />
<br />
On a rainy day that ought to have kept us at home, we
wandered Ice House Dene Woods once more to check out the wood anemone. It was
cold - exceptionally cold for May. There was a gentle breeze that nevertheless
allowed the rain to fall straight down in a tolerable fashion, pleasant even.
We walked on to the riverside by Ladyhaugh. Ranger Phil had seen otters here
recently, but not today. We were cheered, though, by the sighting of a dipper
mid-stream and a roe deer grazing in the open – made bolder with the rain
keeping visitors and dog walkers away.<br />
<br />
We wandered on making a mental note of plants and birds, and
stopped off in the dry of the bird hide to write down what we could remember
over a sandwich and cup of coffee. Bedraggled woodpeckers monopolised the
feeders. Below, a young chaffinch was being fed by mum. It’s that time of year.<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIiVEeuK7ZgkDim240VF-9kSk_Jgf8P1DluU1tPFqgkNh_3Yt6ojTO-yvRHss36g-SdtIHU0mXE01nZVbiqa18x0IU5ypoXGsloXddj1Pk6eHjjoeHTdwEvnuV_bDggbaEYkcGDCgRWKqP/s1600/Nuthatch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #ff3f00; font-size: 14.46px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIiVEeuK7ZgkDim240VF-9kSk_Jgf8P1DluU1tPFqgkNh_3Yt6ojTO-yvRHss36g-SdtIHU0mXE01nZVbiqa18x0IU5ypoXGsloXddj1Pk6eHjjoeHTdwEvnuV_bDggbaEYkcGDCgRWKqP/s400/Nuthatch.jpg" style="background: none; border-image: none; border: medium; box-shadow: 0px 0px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Nuthatch</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><i></i><b></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23J8rxbpfT72O_G95HYsu_vXJ1hTYKv76GUQmqmpYz5H5BtDetmSlx7RpoTrVqpIbYtXDvZcbsPOUC3bpQqxW5YvAj-jp9DGuFXzLa4CFw_MbGjaRmSWkKE4BV0VMHiLZqXwBW_Dyhr89/s1600/Wood+Sorrel+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #ff3f00; font-size: 14.46px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23J8rxbpfT72O_G95HYsu_vXJ1hTYKv76GUQmqmpYz5H5BtDetmSlx7RpoTrVqpIbYtXDvZcbsPOUC3bpQqxW5YvAj-jp9DGuFXzLa4CFw_MbGjaRmSWkKE4BV0VMHiLZqXwBW_Dyhr89/s640/Wood+Sorrel+3.jpg" style="background: none; border-image: none; border: medium; box-shadow: 0px 0px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Wood sorrel flower heads</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_qeBtWFRQghuOFeJCeBD7JVOnvB6UMbwQWXk5YzLQEHvjp83-ybg_-jU3rKvdJD9G2JRn4GFIz8KJCE61dK1B5qfeWRpf08826ixbKiAYBU23_-6wrt1e57Zu39oHPsevHazwEaljElz/s1600/Cuddles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #ff3f00; font-size: 14.46px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_qeBtWFRQghuOFeJCeBD7JVOnvB6UMbwQWXk5YzLQEHvjp83-ybg_-jU3rKvdJD9G2JRn4GFIz8KJCE61dK1B5qfeWRpf08826ixbKiAYBU23_-6wrt1e57Zu39oHPsevHazwEaljElz/s400/Cuddles.jpg" style="background: none; border-image: none; border: medium; box-shadow: 0px 0px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Toads "tying the knot"</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><i></i><b></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5-F-G2foXQfkRy1wMikH2bNvTJqv0mb30B8MsTt6t5ZuA3ofIM72ShmsUzqmjtZfEoSlE5oisJEEW5MGXSSvgTB7F0qSyh38qSTY4qrYTceoQGlXwWo7vVZqSSxiaJtq8ZQ6h5Tp5LGI/s1600/Bluebells.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #ff3f00; font-size: 14.46px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5-F-G2foXQfkRy1wMikH2bNvTJqv0mb30B8MsTt6t5ZuA3ofIM72ShmsUzqmjtZfEoSlE5oisJEEW5MGXSSvgTB7F0qSyh38qSTY4qrYTceoQGlXwWo7vVZqSSxiaJtq8ZQ6h5Tp5LGI/s400/Bluebells.jpg" style="background: none; border-image: none; border: medium; box-shadow: 0px 0px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">A mass of bluebells on the edge of Ladyhaugh</span></i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyX-ze48xIAQR_q9Xto3VNXn7MdcKlAPIVYb2qNCueAv4bE1alqQILd9YU-WChz5m4s3qGUWbx-RKncSLZ3KZTWrHO5P8_tLiUI3kghbmY-SP-X8cQjpMVbOQml42CV2OhD7w6NyNSdekz/s1600/Horsetails.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #ff3f00; font-size: 14.46px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyX-ze48xIAQR_q9Xto3VNXn7MdcKlAPIVYb2qNCueAv4bE1alqQILd9YU-WChz5m4s3qGUWbx-RKncSLZ3KZTWrHO5P8_tLiUI3kghbmY-SP-X8cQjpMVbOQml42CV2OhD7w6NyNSdekz/s400/Horsetails.jpg" style="background: none; border-image: none; border: medium; box-shadow: 0px 0px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Horsetails - Lily Pond</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6o_z53Rs7AgApiwrL4sSH8eBcdCOb1fHaiDn_k7FaCp8tNk0vlcy8dNoQdRSR41pmDLMc5nVKkWTU_3CtP5v_2IPEGiHHgiaE390GKkdr6MFK5ezfYr1rhl7gXXpiDI8GH9HX8yF6vpGJ/s1600/Coot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #ff3f00; font-size: 14.46px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6o_z53Rs7AgApiwrL4sSH8eBcdCOb1fHaiDn_k7FaCp8tNk0vlcy8dNoQdRSR41pmDLMc5nVKkWTU_3CtP5v_2IPEGiHHgiaE390GKkdr6MFK5ezfYr1rhl7gXXpiDI8GH9HX8yF6vpGJ/s400/Coot.jpg" style="background: none; border-image: none; border: medium; box-shadow: 0px 0px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Coot on nest with young - Octagon Pond</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinHLZbzwM9oDdpk10Ql96Kywox1iLMaBFOMtHmqw0sr6EsdS2Zsf0eIE7rAznWV9y3g-24cPLbvo6joGDb6dGf7vdd_r5H9SsSll0p5LcuJGWf12EHshQbtaBGPjrsOPtv31zsq8GX31W2/s1600/Hawthorn+blossom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #ff3f00; font-size: 14.46px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinHLZbzwM9oDdpk10Ql96Kywox1iLMaBFOMtHmqw0sr6EsdS2Zsf0eIE7rAznWV9y3g-24cPLbvo6joGDb6dGf7vdd_r5H9SsSll0p5LcuJGWf12EHshQbtaBGPjrsOPtv31zsq8GX31W2/s400/Hawthorn+blossom.jpg" style="background: none; border-image: none; border: medium; box-shadow: 0px 0px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Hawthorn beginning to flower</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><i></i><b></b><br />
<br />
There will be plenty of work to do when we eventually return
to Gibside. Meanwhile we hope that you enjoyed the blast from the past.<br />
<br />
Keep safe. Keep healthy.<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>Steve Wootten & Phil Coyne</b></div>
Phil Coynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01344249046943617558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588497199467624104.post-88009170149934045852020-03-18T03:23:00.000-07:002020-03-18T03:23:45.498-07:00An update re: Covid-19<div>
<b>18th March 2020</b></div>
<div>
<b></b><br /></div>
<div>
Due to the current coronavirus pandemic government advice is
to avoid social contact wherever possible, so our volunteering session at
Gibside National Trust have been put on temporary hold. For how long remains to
be seen. <br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Dnvj8g30zotVAgsEFX_76jePWJHErb5fifbxLSfvB8dwr5J28pCRf1U46Ejh0__N9HDkU0w8dyL1T3qDuMwnMgDxe2gmKBi6tlYxy3WQYwbTl432jqVl3oG9CkZkVA8rn0qu5PxQJch5/s1600/A+corvid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Dnvj8g30zotVAgsEFX_76jePWJHErb5fifbxLSfvB8dwr5J28pCRf1U46Ejh0__N9HDkU0w8dyL1T3qDuMwnMgDxe2gmKBi6tlYxy3WQYwbTl432jqVl3oG9CkZkVA8rn0qu5PxQJch5/s400/A+corvid.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">A Corvid (Jackdaw - Corvus monedula)</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
So, for now it’s au revoir, but don’t worry we will be back
when this is all over. In the meanwhile, keep safe & healthy and keep washing
your hands. Best wishes to you all.<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>Steve Wootten & Phil Coyne</b></div>
Phil Coynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01344249046943617558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588497199467624104.post-88833091352904898072020-03-12T23:57:00.004-07:002020-03-14T01:47:57.236-07:00A belated Happy New Year<b>January - early March 2020</b><br />
<b></b><br />
<br />
Happy New Year to all our readers and welcome to the first
blog of 2020. The Wednesday conservation team began the new decade working in
the Strawberry Castle play area, where our task was to refresh the bark
chippings around the play structures. The enjoyment, however, was short-lived
as we soon found ourselves back to clearing ditches and working at clearing
leaves from the Ha-Ha.<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtyEgZBbe3sjZ-UCOlkoYyvDRTkxCk5ikWBg0UibVoZbDhC62pNdQUYFG-KIXw_LOd4oOiqJS-RcHllqXUogQpogrXki2AZkXehgOx5phUXjdox9pwVDZKXLCZheh6vd9RlxniHSsO2Li/s1600/Strawberry+Castle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtyEgZBbe3sjZ-UCOlkoYyvDRTkxCk5ikWBg0UibVoZbDhC62pNdQUYFG-KIXw_LOd4oOiqJS-RcHllqXUogQpogrXki2AZkXehgOx5phUXjdox9pwVDZKXLCZheh6vd9RlxniHSsO2Li/s400/Strawberry+Castle.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6ffoAIdtjQO0bROpGaA00AHF0DyNtAwGyc__ehCADghPw714BXUOSbf_oBCl2GvW2LgGihLar_Ypez6iGusE3YHTeCQhFo48lT0JFMWI7nviDEm4QzhNuj7hYnqAgjvQ2pMNdTHTylzA/s1600/Play+area.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6ffoAIdtjQO0bROpGaA00AHF0DyNtAwGyc__ehCADghPw714BXUOSbf_oBCl2GvW2LgGihLar_Ypez6iGusE3YHTeCQhFo48lT0JFMWI7nviDEm4QzhNuj7hYnqAgjvQ2pMNdTHTylzA/s400/Play+area.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">Raking bark chippings at Strawberry Castle</span></i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcMWgjPACofAEPlNAYCkuSp3sJd1PWYUm-uRgui7cCGPCffu6whf3FjtrxsGVFUKLDpHJ9kofl5rWo-oTQR_LE4DqFegi7OfxbTdh-z6qv2PPmlAeuWNPbymO2CkE-Xo4uJKWv0N-Gvy9S/s1600/Playtime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcMWgjPACofAEPlNAYCkuSp3sJd1PWYUm-uRgui7cCGPCffu6whf3FjtrxsGVFUKLDpHJ9kofl5rWo-oTQR_LE4DqFegi7OfxbTdh-z6qv2PPmlAeuWNPbymO2CkE-Xo4uJKWv0N-Gvy9S/s400/Playtime.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">Job done, now it's playtime</span></i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><b></b><i></i><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxsamVBf9jrDTcO-mVoytzOcVxLzuzY4AUExZfFdJ02gjUnSZUs1mTijWD5Yrp4k_hvr3oVZHfpf_TwUfXag9gPEjmaEb0HZVtTPxyayOwXG2WoZUK3narBpBn7Euvh5cYO6nOCOchobwq/s1600/Ditch+workers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxsamVBf9jrDTcO-mVoytzOcVxLzuzY4AUExZfFdJ02gjUnSZUs1mTijWD5Yrp4k_hvr3oVZHfpf_TwUfXag9gPEjmaEb0HZVtTPxyayOwXG2WoZUK3narBpBn7Euvh5cYO6nOCOchobwq/s400/Ditch+workers.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">Clearing drainage channel West Woods</span></i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHtUx7M7JBCxSgKjh04ogPaGEXJk03ICgUCfmwBK1GlM1XY-XrPJ5ETfBh2a2ExJPii164H2S5hWsK4xSMR3I2BWYLiYTyirq-koWkMvLOdLWiFazoK-TIo3dzB4rW2IWI9K1tf8YhnTzg/s1600/Free+flow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHtUx7M7JBCxSgKjh04ogPaGEXJk03ICgUCfmwBK1GlM1XY-XrPJ5ETfBh2a2ExJPii164H2S5hWsK4xSMR3I2BWYLiYTyirq-koWkMvLOdLWiFazoK-TIo3dzB4rW2IWI9K1tf8YhnTzg/s400/Free+flow.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Free flow</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxKf4WQtSIqdDjKuNln9dzlchnv-__JOFRWzGVQVI-kN9X5ybUgyahtwNEAA3PBx2R-fawXfLB-Mje-hL1UGMIo0WOHaHWVWdmyu4ZT_exc5OvqiATIahdcjKnDGzx69_Y25MF4u4l6hja/s1600/Ha+Ha1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxKf4WQtSIqdDjKuNln9dzlchnv-__JOFRWzGVQVI-kN9X5ybUgyahtwNEAA3PBx2R-fawXfLB-Mje-hL1UGMIo0WOHaHWVWdmyu4ZT_exc5OvqiATIahdcjKnDGzx69_Y25MF4u4l6hja/s400/Ha+Ha1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCa8lXpkvMMjy-kxYsV2CtlqdB6qYSIjx8uhZHgMqfcDQEtlrbrelJTdRqOog3EacCPLnu0Ci7OkGUD5SkYUxg6jPBmZfJJkNd6qShbUXCv_eGIlp-yTnh50KqpF4fOYbYWPuqi90zibzk/s1600/Digging+out+leaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCa8lXpkvMMjy-kxYsV2CtlqdB6qYSIjx8uhZHgMqfcDQEtlrbrelJTdRqOog3EacCPLnu0Ci7OkGUD5SkYUxg6jPBmZfJJkNd6qShbUXCv_eGIlp-yTnh50KqpF4fOYbYWPuqi90zibzk/s400/Digging+out+leaves.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEwy4NTNkFru8kizrLAtMhoTfgDJARbjOjLjSFU9iUNz31376Vo6RtzK9lsnegHPwk2kc-Dl3ZCnWef2a7ERVWAdxLrONxaPc0mKr4WaqeRM0naX7wboE9GDzTb-JbmYYuXwH2a9LjoET/s1600/Muddy+work.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEwy4NTNkFru8kizrLAtMhoTfgDJARbjOjLjSFU9iUNz31376Vo6RtzK9lsnegHPwk2kc-Dl3ZCnWef2a7ERVWAdxLrONxaPc0mKr4WaqeRM0naX7wboE9GDzTb-JbmYYuXwH2a9LjoET/s400/Muddy+work.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">The Ha-ha</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i></i><b></b><i></i><b></b><br />
<br />
Towards the end of January, we found ourselves working in
Snipes Dene. There is a plan to remove some trees from Snipes Dene and our task
was to thin out some of the many silver birch saplings to make spaces for the
tree surgeon to be able to move the felled trees out by using horse power to
pull out the felled tree trunks rather than large machinery, which would be
more damaging to the environment of the Dene.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf_mcaRkGH6s5hYkETvBJB4s969etgm5FGfbAuwhmFxPpW75pwepSohto8yOV38y94TQKF-y5dKJviqVfcMvw-iZrCfsqXe0jt6NLGiNVpjgZWuA5v9HL-v4JZXbsHgeQL6TtpueYmWIz0/s1600/Snipes+Dene1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf_mcaRkGH6s5hYkETvBJB4s969etgm5FGfbAuwhmFxPpW75pwepSohto8yOV38y94TQKF-y5dKJviqVfcMvw-iZrCfsqXe0jt6NLGiNVpjgZWuA5v9HL-v4JZXbsHgeQL6TtpueYmWIz0/s400/Snipes+Dene1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">This way up.</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZ_wtnb-zfcMAaf_zt9Pp3DaoVj3hi7D77OkDp99ba2CekzbWFhV3vVgn9C9y8BzYAz9K7iOfifbCKQB9hlj_vUB4QZsF52nMi_vPDkBTQrLWm3aRORx2N5skqDLYPDuOQGAxyqVv-vXd/s1600/Snipes+Dene+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZ_wtnb-zfcMAaf_zt9Pp3DaoVj3hi7D77OkDp99ba2CekzbWFhV3vVgn9C9y8BzYAz9K7iOfifbCKQB9hlj_vUB4QZsF52nMi_vPDkBTQrLWm3aRORx2N5skqDLYPDuOQGAxyqVv-vXd/s400/Snipes+Dene+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">Almost complete</span></i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
February began with a trip up towards the Column to Liberty
once again cutting back the invasive rhododendrons which line the sides of the
“serpentine path”. This time the team were attacking the newer growth and the
stumps were then treated with an herbicide to hopefully prevent regrowth. A
blue dye had been added to the herbicide to indicate which stumps had been
treated.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawRwWr6XS335MXYX6FPcERcEPSqQ_pKkrPoFiO3ARgBUUCp-2WZzbIjFcTBo7zhT2sFULpBuOqVFYgk84wgtYD6TG-zrDVVGc8NVE9h_0jm_nIQ6JiMdldDruEHjzBtzeTby0d7m8Imu4/s1600/New+growth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawRwWr6XS335MXYX6FPcERcEPSqQ_pKkrPoFiO3ARgBUUCp-2WZzbIjFcTBo7zhT2sFULpBuOqVFYgk84wgtYD6TG-zrDVVGc8NVE9h_0jm_nIQ6JiMdldDruEHjzBtzeTby0d7m8Imu4/s400/New+growth.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">The problem: new growth</span></i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqANKJ-ZmjEKIw9neR_G2IQma9YyHUBgDgqZyDW14RpDx6Aljn_CiQhlXpiDFs6Wy_fniGxrSW93V4PGBfpvJ8W419fgacoPZeDBlbLpEfPhdINlzYdeEaBZglw_AlKXZvsSyXAYt6a4vo/s1600/Rhoddie+bash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqANKJ-ZmjEKIw9neR_G2IQma9YyHUBgDgqZyDW14RpDx6Aljn_CiQhlXpiDFs6Wy_fniGxrSW93V4PGBfpvJ8W419fgacoPZeDBlbLpEfPhdINlzYdeEaBZglw_AlKXZvsSyXAYt6a4vo/s400/Rhoddie+bash.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">The team at work</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6FVnE_yTs6phXy9-HAWW-jJ_aGab89UY_F5mLpEAehVH9r-JOn0DXnWbTWueLMFRq5YNjHkpeOx6o6GF_ScPVQRKi2_HWKmVn3LsSaXsrDlG6ENQDlmQf8Ul_Tcb64LvUm2FF6WFpXpN/s1600/Clear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6FVnE_yTs6phXy9-HAWW-jJ_aGab89UY_F5mLpEAehVH9r-JOn0DXnWbTWueLMFRq5YNjHkpeOx6o6GF_ScPVQRKi2_HWKmVn3LsSaXsrDlG6ENQDlmQf8Ul_Tcb64LvUm2FF6WFpXpN/s400/Clear.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">Cleared</span></i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5XscBQKg1K9wwg4K7UlmLIPuPLhnB9bADkgxPdZsVyQintGXsLBgJbEStYSkDQ5Ls0WkJeodf23GlllbQXeA5_tYNuS8NaPvIbCV0uxFSaSKaITV5iD8arI8iwjpFG91FT9ssQSco_CVn/s1600/Blue+spot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5XscBQKg1K9wwg4K7UlmLIPuPLhnB9bADkgxPdZsVyQintGXsLBgJbEStYSkDQ5Ls0WkJeodf23GlllbQXeA5_tYNuS8NaPvIbCV0uxFSaSKaITV5iD8arI8iwjpFG91FT9ssQSco_CVn/s400/Blue+spot.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">Spot the treated stumps</span></i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><i></i><b></b><b></b><i></i><b></b><i></i><br />
<br />
After missing a couple of weeks (which included a trip to
help out at Craster on the Northumberland coast), I found myself back at the
Ha-ha in early March. I picked the wrong weeks to be away, didn’t I? Hopefully
now most of last year’s leaf fall has been cleared, bagged and transported to
the leaf store near the walled garden. <br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtSaf5bAor76G4bBERXqXWjZUManlfS7li-0KDPOTiQw2FlTKizfq9JSGTjvajapxQ5KhCb8h_aCA9NBxEIvzc0ppcYvvys2zDPZ8JrQQ-iZPzWvXW9x9CwpKq5LQ373lcoJocQk10hnQF/s1600/Ha-Ha2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtSaf5bAor76G4bBERXqXWjZUManlfS7li-0KDPOTiQw2FlTKizfq9JSGTjvajapxQ5KhCb8h_aCA9NBxEIvzc0ppcYvvys2zDPZ8JrQQ-iZPzWvXW9x9CwpKq5LQ373lcoJocQk10hnQF/s400/Ha-Ha2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Ha-ha almost cleared</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Spring has begun, the daffodils and crocuses are in flower,
birds are singing, a green woodpecker was heard calling frequently and red
kites are searching for a quiet spot to build a nest.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIwfu6MAlb6oMAbHpSpb1ZGVc-TzfZQzg4UYICWI6fTSfbhHjNWmGM7jq4zO76aEJiCpDe14qQNMPCbn9jyqRWq9B1W5WUOWHyN10gd_ilL8iaejTuq90SShOD6q8uRWeZUwnTvp923kiL/s1600/Snowdrops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIwfu6MAlb6oMAbHpSpb1ZGVc-TzfZQzg4UYICWI6fTSfbhHjNWmGM7jq4zO76aEJiCpDe14qQNMPCbn9jyqRWq9B1W5WUOWHyN10gd_ilL8iaejTuq90SShOD6q8uRWeZUwnTvp923kiL/s400/Snowdrops.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Snowdrops</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhivUuTbvDerKDhvNdlSrw3NRa9L-1cYQPO1zIiWrtNJib5mB1YpxpLfbM960iQnPKhEW5T0dNy2UWFR2EVyEIV2Vw5VHzVouedBiT7dkqMvj4x5JjmuRC2OLRNc1xlBnBijGuMJCYEgNxy/s1600/Purple+haze.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhivUuTbvDerKDhvNdlSrw3NRa9L-1cYQPO1zIiWrtNJib5mB1YpxpLfbM960iQnPKhEW5T0dNy2UWFR2EVyEIV2Vw5VHzVouedBiT7dkqMvj4x5JjmuRC2OLRNc1xlBnBijGuMJCYEgNxy/s400/Purple+haze.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Purple haze - crocuses</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT90-QAIIJlBCYDBhR3sABvnH7CVSMl7Rq-52u5b2G-KudH2KOJ65PT8_8iVN7YBnN8XcK5FtN9TwiyAvapC1GfDomjFAS5Wz7-Sa3Ee-SqimPPKwQ-4bOG_vs3kTwD0GfY3bb0ZYBz1BN/s1600/Gibside_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT90-QAIIJlBCYDBhR3sABvnH7CVSMl7Rq-52u5b2G-KudH2KOJ65PT8_8iVN7YBnN8XcK5FtN9TwiyAvapC1GfDomjFAS5Wz7-Sa3Ee-SqimPPKwQ-4bOG_vs3kTwD0GfY3bb0ZYBz1BN/s400/Gibside_0008.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizjW_WN1KBH_QE9Ajb-7H3OvU8KqDZhNUYdg0s4H7nKcBWcNy0FcxDpuvtOM3anmC2vXEDN6upCHBJcYI8tD0hfHi_DOOKlGBdjCxLmHKqKTkG4ZMEWCKg2yaDB6u2BBlPk0owK_8sjgLb/s1600/Green+Close.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizjW_WN1KBH_QE9Ajb-7H3OvU8KqDZhNUYdg0s4H7nKcBWcNy0FcxDpuvtOM3anmC2vXEDN6upCHBJcYI8tD0hfHi_DOOKlGBdjCxLmHKqKTkG4ZMEWCKg2yaDB6u2BBlPk0owK_8sjgLb/s400/Green+Close.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF6YC_T_RALcrPvfiU3g84fi3FVkTwvbR7KU-PR_FA36l1xGgMP6XvIktXMd1xQJ6H6KmnpONQWFIxfkC8IKEfmPgO2yRFUk9O9Ul8GS72gefsVYzE2er95zQW4hiBEwDjbaFd6Ln7PoEu/s1600/Hall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="814" data-original-width="1200" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF6YC_T_RALcrPvfiU3g84fi3FVkTwvbR7KU-PR_FA36l1xGgMP6XvIktXMd1xQJ6H6KmnpONQWFIxfkC8IKEfmPgO2yRFUk9O9Ul8GS72gefsVYzE2er95zQW4hiBEwDjbaFd6Ln7PoEu/s400/Hall.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Rainbow</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>Phil Coyne</b></div>
Phil Coynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01344249046943617558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588497199467624104.post-52344587879630155412019-12-22T08:23:00.002-08:002019-12-22T08:23:52.060-08:00Season's Greetings<b>December 2019</b><br />
<b></b><br />
<br />
Our road repairs detailed in last month’s blog didn’t last
very long. Two days of constant, heavy rain washed out our valiant efforts. Never
mind, the Wednesday Conservation team’s first job in December involved a trip
out to Ebchester (a National Trust Reserve on the River Derwent). A field at
one end of the reserve belonging to Northumbrian Water had been strimmed the
day before by some of Gibside’s rangers. Our task was to rake the grass
cuttings and dispose of them. Being such an efficient group, we were finished
by lunchtime.<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNcRtDEraReOiYcWkvo5v8dTTJFk5F8yyO4T9-HP-ZbG-vqG_nfXJNPHDE1FFpFTf9dZMdmnbrZcYA2ktE07ffivtdSS5KPdTsSXFklQNpsSYiYdFEqRoNsqFnkPkyqDEly7PSYHmMnl03/s1600/Ebchester+before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNcRtDEraReOiYcWkvo5v8dTTJFk5F8yyO4T9-HP-ZbG-vqG_nfXJNPHDE1FFpFTf9dZMdmnbrZcYA2ktE07ffivtdSS5KPdTsSXFklQNpsSYiYdFEqRoNsqFnkPkyqDEly7PSYHmMnl03/s400/Ebchester+before.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Before - looking down towards Sewage Treatment Plant!</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_o-_lbPN6tML6vy56auswZeSMQSxY-3UjuaDdhQ75lepgtxAAhwO3TaN6YRf7mmb1HQ_CIqvGLNOn7a0l7UCdaUdvKms7L3oDZhyphenhyphenA2p9EQkmjnphROsNq7bcYaz_F9Mrqzzg9WURwvZu/s1600/Hard+at+work.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><b><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_o-_lbPN6tML6vy56auswZeSMQSxY-3UjuaDdhQ75lepgtxAAhwO3TaN6YRf7mmb1HQ_CIqvGLNOn7a0l7UCdaUdvKms7L3oDZhyphenhyphenA2p9EQkmjnphROsNq7bcYaz_F9Mrqzzg9WURwvZu/s400/Hard+at+work.jpg" width="400" /></b></i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Hard at work</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-NtIOuu8_WsMWAGy539a7ZYsToTXRLC6tOSeiOPDkPEPS80DaiX3beVx-6b20WizYAIFJRS8EJgZTt4puc0BllUFa0RgP5stD-5GwTO5GM7mBxYNGWmo_FvzJl2CrnxnU4fz4Vn6HHfe6/s1600/After.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-NtIOuu8_WsMWAGy539a7ZYsToTXRLC6tOSeiOPDkPEPS80DaiX3beVx-6b20WizYAIFJRS8EJgZTt4puc0BllUFa0RgP5stD-5GwTO5GM7mBxYNGWmo_FvzJl2CrnxnU4fz4Vn6HHfe6/s400/After.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
<i><b><span style="font-size: small;">After</span></b></i></div>
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The following week saw the team in Snipes Dene cutting back
our old foes, Western hemlock and rhododendron bushes. The sides of an old wagonway
were cleared first, then spreading out into the dene more rhododendrons were
cleared forming brash piles with the cuttings.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-nfMDa8IJccEKRTLVN36AIL2KamjGMYMyB7Fq8phWE7IIBVR7F-A5gLTk_U-So4u1Ijlxkzpczdef2lT9ff3TbRLy2A9qz_NsZY-fUifKii9ROB29xgrrb_8u7ad_NHvPpTmK-YMRsJJ/s1600/Snipes+dene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-nfMDa8IJccEKRTLVN36AIL2KamjGMYMyB7Fq8phWE7IIBVR7F-A5gLTk_U-So4u1Ijlxkzpczdef2lT9ff3TbRLy2A9qz_NsZY-fUifKii9ROB29xgrrb_8u7ad_NHvPpTmK-YMRsJJ/s400/Snipes+dene.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Rhododendrons just visible behind the birches</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0kPxvAs-YXEMFsrjGzWPUZoUkzVhrviJYOOjFS0Mi0bIf1kBoEzPnPf5nX4C749MfgJqbz7uvrayKGOyQKa4W2veWWbbD7_VjgYkZmQrpSIqgrjsxcjgJ7ZYhAcEeMjzVpFp8cUVjgiV/s1600/Sun+shine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0kPxvAs-YXEMFsrjGzWPUZoUkzVhrviJYOOjFS0Mi0bIf1kBoEzPnPf5nX4C749MfgJqbz7uvrayKGOyQKa4W2veWWbbD7_VjgYkZmQrpSIqgrjsxcjgJ7ZYhAcEeMjzVpFp8cUVjgiV/s400/Sun+shine.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Sun just peeping over Snipes Dene</span></b></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXj6t5muygWkQxA2V0H8IAyabsTCE5YjprV3ia3cxCfBD1M1ejDEQvaQZtSnc_2jC6hn4aTTdL8qn8rnIcZT-QwN7XXJQA-2mqZqoYqW57mzje-CIHsHZZFUOvttGQ9Y9x8bVV_ij7rTKm/s1600/Waggon+way.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXj6t5muygWkQxA2V0H8IAyabsTCE5YjprV3ia3cxCfBD1M1ejDEQvaQZtSnc_2jC6hn4aTTdL8qn8rnIcZT-QwN7XXJQA-2mqZqoYqW57mzje-CIHsHZZFUOvttGQ9Y9x8bVV_ij7rTKm/s400/Waggon+way.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Waggonway</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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December 18<sup>th</sup>, our last session before Christmas
brought below freeing temperatures, resulting in a heavy frost. It takes more
than a bit of frost to deter some of our team even if we are raking leaves on
the bank alongside The Avenue.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkcm7erYqA9k8kW30EbQhg5k5tyMFJ3wnsf-LYxvmAPOn3uMNO5-xCVx04p8j_uu_FuIL4XuGZa2zEXv9SDNSYu6I6dxSFtaeQ7vicFgjPITL7J8N3aiRVD3QPwWsWyDn03_aTdeUyjyM/s1600/Orangery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkcm7erYqA9k8kW30EbQhg5k5tyMFJ3wnsf-LYxvmAPOn3uMNO5-xCVx04p8j_uu_FuIL4XuGZa2zEXv9SDNSYu6I6dxSFtaeQ7vicFgjPITL7J8N3aiRVD3QPwWsWyDn03_aTdeUyjyM/s400/Orangery.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Frosted field in front of The Orangery</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisH_dTniSEbWAaEUsALPR2W0o4RlmccvWIOamRtpWcsE5lPOi2uHlhvOYyBy7FejUry-_m_xgnFEb6gT_QPOvNePjLwGKsRR0XuAbLdgWQpGkDt98kKn4Gp-wuwGk6qumGGYCBagFnfTPJ/s1600/Frosty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisH_dTniSEbWAaEUsALPR2W0o4RlmccvWIOamRtpWcsE5lPOi2uHlhvOYyBy7FejUry-_m_xgnFEb6gT_QPOvNePjLwGKsRR0XuAbLdgWQpGkDt98kKn4Gp-wuwGk6qumGGYCBagFnfTPJ/s400/Frosty.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Frosted oak leaf</span></b></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZczJAeQU_A7XzW1lwH5vReTXIXMHcQ4GIGPpKPCch6p9GcPMj0CvvOgShmuEAU-h5oNQPdjSG0gHlCCGRPbw8q9shBOig3HNaYgkWIygdkjSV1_fICKZuaoND6yMHiGKPeriU1LAnG6G/s1600/before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZczJAeQU_A7XzW1lwH5vReTXIXMHcQ4GIGPpKPCch6p9GcPMj0CvvOgShmuEAU-h5oNQPdjSG0gHlCCGRPbw8q9shBOig3HNaYgkWIygdkjSV1_fICKZuaoND6yMHiGKPeriU1LAnG6G/s400/before.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Leaves blanket the bank side of The Avenue</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6DX9H5uoyUJNahbPaqrBqYsIcyHPQbEcB1u10r3Xvj5s24zhmPSIA5wRu3Y-oqqCTxLI7xOoZxmZ0ibJZjBhvnd0Ury26Jv1dab0zykhIJyt2hRS-o_xRZ1-FeFbhGDo061-9niouj-aW/s1600/Raking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6DX9H5uoyUJNahbPaqrBqYsIcyHPQbEcB1u10r3Xvj5s24zhmPSIA5wRu3Y-oqqCTxLI7xOoZxmZ0ibJZjBhvnd0Ury26Jv1dab0zykhIJyt2hRS-o_xRZ1-FeFbhGDo061-9niouj-aW/s400/Raking.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Raking in progress</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMSwmsFWi8ZNdufTyw6LwsKla5oA0CMe2rSXPlsLjOhzh1_kspBCE7beORyD319lAUFZItC4vz9qcDvzviZSewE4aGXtVwnQcd3Z-Vu-nF9kBNKrEGu6DokMSzE2q4TdSORLk7yC66fWf/s1600/Cleared.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMSwmsFWi8ZNdufTyw6LwsKla5oA0CMe2rSXPlsLjOhzh1_kspBCE7beORyD319lAUFZItC4vz9qcDvzviZSewE4aGXtVwnQcd3Z-Vu-nF9kBNKrEGu6DokMSzE2q4TdSORLk7yC66fWf/s400/Cleared.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Cleared</span></b></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-F7O3K5sA7EsMEWXjgpc_-HpofEvFEaD4xjfi85LgwprhYLXJLZNp5UbM-b9CS8exrk2N55grr7D2C4vK2sjQGp3Wbcbx3EGV4kEX516-qgVjWuMYN2eaBHSnXM_pFRXBbbjsx9eRnTSo/s1600/Holly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-F7O3K5sA7EsMEWXjgpc_-HpofEvFEaD4xjfi85LgwprhYLXJLZNp5UbM-b9CS8exrk2N55grr7D2C4vK2sjQGp3Wbcbx3EGV4kEX516-qgVjWuMYN2eaBHSnXM_pFRXBbbjsx9eRnTSo/s400/Holly.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Holly</span></b></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_LA5L7T22TLwl3ErOz9CVg7yb0YbCNj69JtbLczlu8mQhf3tqrZWp8sPTlStJ7vT5qeOoe0M-3ZkLBGhiU_ddztI9xHmRfT5u8FU-u2OFSRo2i43OXXIwBidrUsHChO39MsawGJCTqmdJ/s1600/Christmas+pud.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_LA5L7T22TLwl3ErOz9CVg7yb0YbCNj69JtbLczlu8mQhf3tqrZWp8sPTlStJ7vT5qeOoe0M-3ZkLBGhiU_ddztI9xHmRfT5u8FU-u2OFSRo2i43OXXIwBidrUsHChO39MsawGJCTqmdJ/s400/Christmas+pud.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Christmas Pudding</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxjlCD6rhJrUrnbfCTg0DylytW_a1GNs-LiVSP3vzkYDEWTWpYbTW4rGUo63qjuA5imFKM2spfB9ybHhmytccLdV6FjcgR6-SjrlVJZ1YLE-9u8wQfDGvCRt1VXssV7_c4_R8XY-SKcfPq/s1600/Robin.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxjlCD6rhJrUrnbfCTg0DylytW_a1GNs-LiVSP3vzkYDEWTWpYbTW4rGUo63qjuA5imFKM2spfB9ybHhmytccLdV6FjcgR6-SjrlVJZ1YLE-9u8wQfDGvCRt1VXssV7_c4_R8XY-SKcfPq/s400/Robin.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>So that’s it for 2019, have a great Christmas and best
wishes for 2020 to all our readers.</b><br />
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Phil Coynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01344249046943617558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588497199467624104.post-84289341516635010752019-11-27T07:39:00.000-08:002019-11-27T07:39:48.066-08:00From Rhoddie Bashing to Road Repairs<b>October - November 2019</b><br />
<b></b><br />
<br />
October saw the team working around the Octagon Pond on a
couple of occasions. One of the first tasks was to rake up grass which had
previously been strimmed along one edge of the pond. On our next visit the Wednesday
conservation team were tasked with cutting back trees, mainly birch, from one
side of the pond to improve the vista looking up towards The Banqueting House.
Destruction in the name of conservation – we were in our element.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrr18VcebyY1F2l-XUr2sf7g2CSP5qklwe8gxCbHzaYvalCTbC0RG6Pi-pk57Swk54fr4cFG60I1lUenX3zIYaSsnX78_uUoqCDvg94grvdSpBeoq5fYcJaBZNq8-M1k1GPG2tXOkomrB6/s1600/Grass+raking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrr18VcebyY1F2l-XUr2sf7g2CSP5qklwe8gxCbHzaYvalCTbC0RG6Pi-pk57Swk54fr4cFG60I1lUenX3zIYaSsnX78_uUoqCDvg94grvdSpBeoq5fYcJaBZNq8-M1k1GPG2tXOkomrB6/s400/Grass+raking.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Raking grass at the Octagon Pond</b></span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1hYbu0re-YotQZjnZpD8U5lqGH_7RbX3FM4Faju0Y45_uuGI2XXt4_UFrptsDBQIJktIAsRZhqSHSLlSjO_aRl2kdqK6bIAhCDG4MQwzQCvSWD35aDYLlHOlWmH1cxOGRrXg_KJ1JzTN/s1600/Fly+agaric.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1hYbu0re-YotQZjnZpD8U5lqGH_7RbX3FM4Faju0Y45_uuGI2XXt4_UFrptsDBQIJktIAsRZhqSHSLlSjO_aRl2kdqK6bIAhCDG4MQwzQCvSWD35aDYLlHOlWmH1cxOGRrXg_KJ1JzTN/s400/Fly+agaric.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">Fly agaric</span></i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrgKJzDCCrNfGjEOD_FysL_dl8B7ht_gfDKBRPclChh-zBs5NniyTPyWhnTujoSwgAaibazYbTUpie3tWNv3Rj_sLLDGJIkSIdD3xfi80_bA2wZKlMGt1ERDg4NwPcWSEToyuym9WCVBT/s1600/Fungus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrgKJzDCCrNfGjEOD_FysL_dl8B7ht_gfDKBRPclChh-zBs5NniyTPyWhnTujoSwgAaibazYbTUpie3tWNv3Rj_sLLDGJIkSIdD3xfi80_bA2wZKlMGt1ERDg4NwPcWSEToyuym9WCVBT/s400/Fungus.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Fungi growing on tree stump</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuIAFnfNMOhhEf8ND7HiJ9MOLdMFW_vPCsU5ERRh_7O_HG3JtO6Cuu_u7pEiIKHKFUf21G-lMsxW4_nOdDgX8HtS1acTyMnjhAjYfYR0_fe2csOaFkKmjWAIZM1aIGj7o0b4oJHNpjl7rC/s1600/Scale+of+the+job.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuIAFnfNMOhhEf8ND7HiJ9MOLdMFW_vPCsU5ERRh_7O_HG3JtO6Cuu_u7pEiIKHKFUf21G-lMsxW4_nOdDgX8HtS1acTyMnjhAjYfYR0_fe2csOaFkKmjWAIZM1aIGj7o0b4oJHNpjl7rC/s400/Scale+of+the+job.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Assessing the scale of the job at Octagon Pond</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><i></i><i></i><b></b><b></b><i></i><i></i><b></b><i></i><b></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAzS_xTAZo-uToXQgwxUaTroyfDFX5mXFpqGRqfKO8MUxdNhz2uhbVfZtvY-uXI-QzE75df9hw3cw3ObqfpIhx8JeDnjpqb3iaYnJE72WFuZVX5q4MNVgCS7_4cKpJDhrV-BkIw1ErOp56/s1600/work+in+progress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAzS_xTAZo-uToXQgwxUaTroyfDFX5mXFpqGRqfKO8MUxdNhz2uhbVfZtvY-uXI-QzE75df9hw3cw3ObqfpIhx8JeDnjpqb3iaYnJE72WFuZVX5q4MNVgCS7_4cKpJDhrV-BkIw1ErOp56/s400/work+in+progress.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">Almost complete</span></i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRiZS-ksqLo-2n8lOB8-tC_YfE2TgoC6A33ee3x8rzbWNTb11Fd-jqCT3RsBCrNcM-VEUl5oY0QalOtlCl-OweVIXJOsECU8ugLgvnkFixUYJuoMw-T5voyt9XjhyPUuCq3ZtOLHWHyU7R/s1600/Before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRiZS-ksqLo-2n8lOB8-tC_YfE2TgoC6A33ee3x8rzbWNTb11Fd-jqCT3RsBCrNcM-VEUl5oY0QalOtlCl-OweVIXJOsECU8ugLgvnkFixUYJuoMw-T5voyt9XjhyPUuCq3ZtOLHWHyU7R/s400/Before.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Still some work to be done</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGTeObGQ-idUMNc-iUKSTUNnycrwToCnCRmQ2ls6gWe7XrPEOh7RjAjbTZq9Pj-u96wu13L5mP5kCiqkn6HabbZ5zjgSr0snW2LoQKDXVY0meMWCxE8GT5Uee1A2N9SNYW3u875wABjJ1/s1600/Aftermath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGTeObGQ-idUMNc-iUKSTUNnycrwToCnCRmQ2ls6gWe7XrPEOh7RjAjbTZq9Pj-u96wu13L5mP5kCiqkn6HabbZ5zjgSr0snW2LoQKDXVY0meMWCxE8GT5Uee1A2N9SNYW3u875wABjJ1/s400/Aftermath.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Clear view</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i></i><b></b><b></b><i></i><i></i><b></b><i></i><b></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGabNto_YV1l4kQ7R5pHofi_MVGMzhy2CRWzHzT6KkAOWaaejygx7EIzPmDRkQf8eKmL8KbgGdlXWB9z65Aej4SbMGGS4GpHtOS1X8lcBTJbomCAtzY8Zx9nSqyiM4HjrHzo_OxAVWfxs-/s1600/View+of+Banqueting+House1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGabNto_YV1l4kQ7R5pHofi_MVGMzhy2CRWzHzT6KkAOWaaejygx7EIzPmDRkQf8eKmL8KbgGdlXWB9z65Aej4SbMGGS4GpHtOS1X8lcBTJbomCAtzY8Zx9nSqyiM4HjrHzo_OxAVWfxs-/s400/View+of+Banqueting+House1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">From the other side of the pond towards The Banqueting House</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
In the mists of late October, the team could be found
rhoddie bashing along the “serpentine path” which leads up to The Column to
Liberty. The rhododendrons in this area are prolific and were encroaching on
the path sides. Cutting them back quite severely enabled a new path edging to
be created using silver birch trunks.<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKRmthzMgoIu33YvGbYIAWxX-C_Pqxd0nClAqqWN4h4PqAopSG2r90TEeMFZra5BMh5nZykeYYSl6Jaed5rtihYympckN4cqVVGCg1M58d4qIpGiu_Ze0MXO0Rh9TJlVbEaXUgCYsP3nBQ/s1600/Low+cloud+over+orangery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKRmthzMgoIu33YvGbYIAWxX-C_Pqxd0nClAqqWN4h4PqAopSG2r90TEeMFZra5BMh5nZykeYYSl6Jaed5rtihYympckN4cqVVGCg1M58d4qIpGiu_Ze0MXO0Rh9TJlVbEaXUgCYsP3nBQ/s400/Low+cloud+over+orangery.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Low cloud hangs over The Orangery</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggD9aLug0wshpjtDmXc3HXWJYcZk9e8eq699IGFN_ebh__QTSRYhaXqswX-ZFS3RHeTGMS7f8ykGE_dA2s4Fsq-0LaxGOmF-74W1uVmHLq4lgmMlMpSrCLR44WrfGXheSvRSObpgLZ2IBV/s1600/Through+the+mist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggD9aLug0wshpjtDmXc3HXWJYcZk9e8eq699IGFN_ebh__QTSRYhaXqswX-ZFS3RHeTGMS7f8ykGE_dA2s4Fsq-0LaxGOmF-74W1uVmHLq4lgmMlMpSrCLR44WrfGXheSvRSObpgLZ2IBV/s400/Through+the+mist.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Through the mist</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzkRizzktJGGA5Ysczn2VtAlHFAlUQuhqGWeWXGRJjLGlafysbK3huPFd7ItJoq13KhEMYzkNc4rOYMd2rb9LHci0tVppxHGGmg9zUWc6fID3ph5M5CRcz9WajoDfBLUH3eXz7zqo9hFL/s1600/Thinning+out.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzkRizzktJGGA5Ysczn2VtAlHFAlUQuhqGWeWXGRJjLGlafysbK3huPFd7ItJoq13KhEMYzkNc4rOYMd2rb9LHci0tVppxHGGmg9zUWc6fID3ph5M5CRcz9WajoDfBLUH3eXz7zqo9hFL/s400/Thinning+out.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Cutting back the rhododendrons</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i></i><b></b><i></i><b></b><i></i><b></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjHqhGt4bljK1Qvv5pyDxpEOo1XWTOTHbWCRj9DTlVmizmqy8zP2I7MWytiq0zeunjtS4wzbcLWSFhpzyOa5KMaM6u4oQI7qBjbj0F3St9iSnvxLdfPrL1mBVfhbhob06MecO4nmvgzcW/s1600/New+path+edging.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjHqhGt4bljK1Qvv5pyDxpEOo1XWTOTHbWCRj9DTlVmizmqy8zP2I7MWytiq0zeunjtS4wzbcLWSFhpzyOa5KMaM6u4oQI7qBjbj0F3St9iSnvxLdfPrL1mBVfhbhob06MecO4nmvgzcW/s400/New+path+edging.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">New path edging</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNT9XlTP4kzO94dVit7MXutxtZ5Vu0wpUlJfM5r85wyWB1y7ZQmZeiUGhpQe4H6nAGxmvTKxrdUbg0ZPRVhMQSuEEZonGxg2cCpLX_fr0OepZBRRmbBEA6BPeHuzeVGVldGCwOAV5vuX7g/s1600/White+fungus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNT9XlTP4kzO94dVit7MXutxtZ5Vu0wpUlJfM5r85wyWB1y7ZQmZeiUGhpQe4H6nAGxmvTKxrdUbg0ZPRVhMQSuEEZonGxg2cCpLX_fr0OepZBRRmbBEA6BPeHuzeVGVldGCwOAV5vuX7g/s400/White+fungus.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Fungi growing on fallen tree trunk</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><i></i><b></b><i></i><b></b><br />
<br />
Early November brought our first frost of the season. The
day began with a little breaking and entering as the keys to the tool store
were missing. This necessitated the removal of the door before our work could
begin. Once access was gained, we became a team of road menders. Like many
roads elsewhere, the roads and paths of Gibside have become pothole ridden. After
clearing the ice and water from the potholes the task of filling them could
begin. This involved transporting wheelbarrow full of stone chippings to each site,
filling the holes and tamping the chippings down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOiQpRqAXHW2ayQl9pgDj5FH3MeR8LorVrNHt0m6r3cRn5QyShIbSyawQdgwlo3UCc0S-WCTxdJzS3p8nCpukTYOHX0KRVeAJ3hQBKGE8iMn9bGNJ-Sld3d9OkSXDQQ_3S4QaMANZA1VW/s1600/Breaking+and+entering.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="823" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOiQpRqAXHW2ayQl9pgDj5FH3MeR8LorVrNHt0m6r3cRn5QyShIbSyawQdgwlo3UCc0S-WCTxdJzS3p8nCpukTYOHX0KRVeAJ3hQBKGE8iMn9bGNJ-Sld3d9OkSXDQQ_3S4QaMANZA1VW/s640/Breaking+and+entering.jpg" width="438" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Breaking and entering</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i></i><b></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_vQA59hu_hXj5J7XyZ5J90dgWAKEfjd8_iNpdphq_fAduMRxy7cSM_3jLu2U4Dw0hQEvm6rQQc5hsqUSp8PaSh4GP_MB5iBbfBV_pfRajX6yTQAhxoynrV7WSA_HNVT5lytc4Yptj5iQ/s1600/Thinking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_vQA59hu_hXj5J7XyZ5J90dgWAKEfjd8_iNpdphq_fAduMRxy7cSM_3jLu2U4Dw0hQEvm6rQQc5hsqUSp8PaSh4GP_MB5iBbfBV_pfRajX6yTQAhxoynrV7WSA_HNVT5lytc4Yptj5iQ/s400/Thinking.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Thinking about it!</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><i></i><b></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-tv5LqMW36au4O7q5b_siaK7a9da4qC4hzXDzYfRmNk_peg3X8YdR5VifL-RyVVuJ-5oYboEOlCrHcwDbYqL2v8zCQsm-ruLIRjqByXOGOdUt1nFB6t2D-SCcUj6HjPfIsWEPCxBU609/s1600/Frosty+grass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-tv5LqMW36au4O7q5b_siaK7a9da4qC4hzXDzYfRmNk_peg3X8YdR5VifL-RyVVuJ-5oYboEOlCrHcwDbYqL2v8zCQsm-ruLIRjqByXOGOdUt1nFB6t2D-SCcUj6HjPfIsWEPCxBU609/s400/Frosty+grass.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Frosty grass on Park Fields</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6PpCpjfqsvHXfK5L9IX34qeeVEUU7UJiLcV5J9RVyBfiB1fA_P9_dxAG9khCXYxR8WYPAOD5e74uCeRopVy-RiIkzWephwH6hg2D9uFb_MohA8h31lIgOxXJNv5uQjQcD5L6VdVyI0Z-/s1600/Brushing+out+the+water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6PpCpjfqsvHXfK5L9IX34qeeVEUU7UJiLcV5J9RVyBfiB1fA_P9_dxAG9khCXYxR8WYPAOD5e74uCeRopVy-RiIkzWephwH6hg2D9uFb_MohA8h31lIgOxXJNv5uQjQcD5L6VdVyI0Z-/s400/Brushing+out+the+water.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Brushing water out of pothole prior to filling it.</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiS5bl_G43ZyFcbaEsJA9vqvqrlvCLVwfCL5900v5QzxuNM3Tpk6PQmwRcehRpMaYq5656yoRtgdrXuwTKG3zn_qDNP0qbs2khO66dpuJaCinIzO6RenK25brlIbdNmvyMZv0u6imqDacm/s1600/Can%2527t+see+the+join.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiS5bl_G43ZyFcbaEsJA9vqvqrlvCLVwfCL5900v5QzxuNM3Tpk6PQmwRcehRpMaYq5656yoRtgdrXuwTKG3zn_qDNP0qbs2khO66dpuJaCinIzO6RenK25brlIbdNmvyMZv0u6imqDacm/s400/Can%2527t+see+the+join.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Finished - can you see the join?</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i></i><b></b><i></i><b></b><i></i><b></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDT0I9LLgeavB-sW4PRjMnIzPs4_MbKJyal-G1AzvA9S_3lHQ2mV3BOEVSFrmIP3X3SUGvGFoq2kZJO-a-fSRL2sps9-b1A8j3sWSxhF8aRBX7tDaEBE3303ic_faxFFpARNbXAlPdsN0/s1600/Autumn+colour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDT0I9LLgeavB-sW4PRjMnIzPs4_MbKJyal-G1AzvA9S_3lHQ2mV3BOEVSFrmIP3X3SUGvGFoq2kZJO-a-fSRL2sps9-b1A8j3sWSxhF8aRBX7tDaEBE3303ic_faxFFpARNbXAlPdsN0/s400/Autumn+colour.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Finally a bit of Autumn colour</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Phil Coynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01344249046943617558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588497199467624104.post-40079672110817341482019-10-07T09:47:00.000-07:002019-10-07T09:47:02.662-07:00September 2019
<br />
Twenty five or so cattle bunched together in Park Field
putting up enough insects to attract swooping swallows that were absent from
the rest of the field.<br />
<br />
<br />
I was having an early wander. Of course, Gibside is
primarily for the public but it was lovely to potter around by myself before
the visitors arrived and when the rest of the team were already at work
elsewhere.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMGSvfgYDyhIKwp26E0N9dxyW3Ilfj5lML39zkv453f5zt8HymbJ1AUm333e0kDdlGdiuZccckeZBdCKmsvm_lL4rPk0vVqrK_r2czxOd6RT0LgcqtRdVsZ3uLEWzwEwQ9eOJeUpvM9eMG/s1600/H+Balsam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMGSvfgYDyhIKwp26E0N9dxyW3Ilfj5lML39zkv453f5zt8HymbJ1AUm333e0kDdlGdiuZccckeZBdCKmsvm_lL4rPk0vVqrK_r2czxOd6RT0LgcqtRdVsZ3uLEWzwEwQ9eOJeUpvM9eMG/s400/H+Balsam.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Attacking the Himalayan balsam on Ladyhaugh</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgD-JMS_yROM8OeFaXUvT5g4xeLYFMqdTM3b1eUDqNjPdBlsEnyXhNf-8loSuBP0d022d96Ftno9UJYz2HRGanJVoXIEjp9yWTK1nxMojsjMGYflTTC9RmsqIPRKb2-UVBzBbReie_W4E3/s1600/Before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgD-JMS_yROM8OeFaXUvT5g4xeLYFMqdTM3b1eUDqNjPdBlsEnyXhNf-8loSuBP0d022d96Ftno9UJYz2HRGanJVoXIEjp9yWTK1nxMojsjMGYflTTC9RmsqIPRKb2-UVBzBbReie_W4E3/s400/Before.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Before - silver birch surrounds the hazel plantings</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6G5zLQRh4o12PLRsCf9bPE13lU10TcWAZ88b2yu7YamX_8mtgqfjz8YBH7r3j6nnCg3DhVf_ztXjUGJcN5NvIT_YaIl3sF0wDq1y7rvGeSBMYCr3rShx-Dpq0UUIuf-7Zp8JW_K2kA8jQ/s1600/HArd+at+work.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6G5zLQRh4o12PLRsCf9bPE13lU10TcWAZ88b2yu7YamX_8mtgqfjz8YBH7r3j6nnCg3DhVf_ztXjUGJcN5NvIT_YaIl3sF0wDq1y7rvGeSBMYCr3rShx-Dpq0UUIuf-7Zp8JW_K2kA8jQ/s400/HArd+at+work.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">The team hard at work - West Woods</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i></i><b></b><i></i><b></b><i></i><b></b><br />
<br />
It had obviously been a while since I last visited the lower
West Wood track. It now has a number of exercise installations known,
apparently, as West Wood Workout. They’re a bit like climbing frames for big
people. Not tempted to give it a try, I sat on a seat on the other side of the
track listening to the wind in the trees and enjoying the woodland light.<br />
<br />
<br />
The rest of the team had passed through this way earlier and
tidied up the Den Building Area. I caught up with them in time for a tree stump
sit, a cup of coffee and conversation where they were working at clearing
self-seeded birch and sycamore around hazel planted a few years back.<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOulDLEonp_PTWmfI0dkG2WABu0ZfSFMaKz-RKJs-WteQ1jrLL6iChn-D8Zl2zc22FYwVCVE_ydNtl9WXlFk2PfAS4S0sEhKP1iN6f9X-kPaOuq5BHE2jjy2cmo_rwwml_AqqSDsVKvS3N/s1600/Bronze+shield+bug+nymph.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOulDLEonp_PTWmfI0dkG2WABu0ZfSFMaKz-RKJs-WteQ1jrLL6iChn-D8Zl2zc22FYwVCVE_ydNtl9WXlFk2PfAS4S0sEhKP1iN6f9X-kPaOuq5BHE2jjy2cmo_rwwml_AqqSDsVKvS3N/s400/Bronze+shield+bug+nymph.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Bronze Shieldbug nymph </span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiFDeIUqQXr7FalPt_yRj3ZbuQ_BCbdIJXa5JpoMkp-OF6upaIo9dqgLioiwDkw9VSExybWwRUr095ITs1Kha2iVlYzbomDqNbwQE-R3lQ6zQO-giqzfzgKCrPRUSaZklVHIQDILByhTPy/s1600/Ladybird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiFDeIUqQXr7FalPt_yRj3ZbuQ_BCbdIJXa5JpoMkp-OF6upaIo9dqgLioiwDkw9VSExybWwRUr095ITs1Kha2iVlYzbomDqNbwQE-R3lQ6zQO-giqzfzgKCrPRUSaZklVHIQDILByhTPy/s400/Ladybird.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Ladybird</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDav7_wMef0EQuvjiCILmizx0sXKCo2ILEJyE9oYL7MC9blAyPOtQcywmnJHiZOqxR9xI03gK3g3JgzEqc5KMF_fZSR9hrgHXhBv6Yn1IwGIdfKL35c77Im0v5wXr6OW1_M8YNnNsz5Nq/s1600/Parasol+inkcap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDav7_wMef0EQuvjiCILmizx0sXKCo2ILEJyE9oYL7MC9blAyPOtQcywmnJHiZOqxR9xI03gK3g3JgzEqc5KMF_fZSR9hrgHXhBv6Yn1IwGIdfKL35c77Im0v5wXr6OW1_M8YNnNsz5Nq/s400/Parasol+inkcap.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Shaggy parasol</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
As quiet and people-free as my wanderings had been, I only
saw and heard the occasional bird. I thought I might at least have spotted a
roe deer or startled a brown hare – but not today. There was a buzzard, though,
and a red kite overhead as we worked. It would be a rare occurrence not to see
and hear them in West Wood. And there were badger diggings edging the upper
track. This is often the case. Tracks work as well for badgers to get around as
they do for humans, and the narrow margin of cut grass beside the track is
ideal for rooting about in.<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi05eikYM7FsF7hdgWyNUO5wlvskjTDE_dHYdsEUZfcJdc4pD2DDRn0jW-rvsbzgrL_M6yzH8I3fo0T2QKyesLxOEpfP47zkaMXvpQbf1dW45B3qRPXN5oFsjNU4232XR34LY3lCRnbxK46/s1600/Hypogymnia+physodes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi05eikYM7FsF7hdgWyNUO5wlvskjTDE_dHYdsEUZfcJdc4pD2DDRn0jW-rvsbzgrL_M6yzH8I3fo0T2QKyesLxOEpfP47zkaMXvpQbf1dW45B3qRPXN5oFsjNU4232XR34LY3lCRnbxK46/s400/Hypogymnia+physodes.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Hypogymnia physodes</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMqzjCAj5RqIYZBbcC0eH4VBL57sp2xypxd0Oe1MY9czWjAks5BIx4M8HAiUH5q9vB7nBMilEZH8_NV40RrbBuCXXl4ZEua5a6SYvL-smfcp_-ZWohxt5zW_Re4KnnjgZJqnyfuEicoEu/s1600/Moss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMqzjCAj5RqIYZBbcC0eH4VBL57sp2xypxd0Oe1MY9czWjAks5BIx4M8HAiUH5q9vB7nBMilEZH8_NV40RrbBuCXXl4ZEua5a6SYvL-smfcp_-ZWohxt5zW_Re4KnnjgZJqnyfuEicoEu/s400/Moss.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<i></i><b></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLPspZ_OhlWCnF6hUXJV3DnHQolpxrM163NFfadkxq9YrnQU9D7oTn2bBrb6DI3TLiSgYlZw7CTnRJ30iRi3FqCenRrDr64SNnQKSLI_5yXTUt00o7uI8azS1DJWg2dJH8xesRLCUWBw8q/s1600/Hoverfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLPspZ_OhlWCnF6hUXJV3DnHQolpxrM163NFfadkxq9YrnQU9D7oTn2bBrb6DI3TLiSgYlZw7CTnRJ30iRi3FqCenRrDr64SNnQKSLI_5yXTUt00o7uI8azS1DJWg2dJH8xesRLCUWBw8q/s400/Hoverfly.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
<i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Hoverfly - Syrphus ribesii</span></b></i></div>
<div>
<i></i><b></b><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-ECja54xSUhoHU2uNndLOgEYPp08ctWV80b0V4bWL2uENqVhuw2NJTPpvfjxU43-AT0B2RhpiqiLHo9oAVIoECTk_ZUTdepLXYAfBbZk1p5-VFmjU2JcAaPz5ISyCwkiQ2wyJpIbM47s/s1600/Raking+on+the+Avenue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-ECja54xSUhoHU2uNndLOgEYPp08ctWV80b0V4bWL2uENqVhuw2NJTPpvfjxU43-AT0B2RhpiqiLHo9oAVIoECTk_ZUTdepLXYAfBbZk1p5-VFmjU2JcAaPz5ISyCwkiQ2wyJpIbM47s/s400/Raking+on+the+Avenue.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Raking grass on The Avenue bank</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i></i><b></b><br />
<br />
We’d had two weeks of clearing birch, sycamore and other
growth to eliminate competition for the hazel. It’s quite an enjoyable task,
but hard, tiring work. The following week, we got the easier job of feathering
the lime trees by the Walled Garden that is, removing the epicormic growth. Epicormic
growth is the suckers that shoot out from the bark close to the base of the
tree. Whilst we were doing that, three young grey squirrels innocently played
above our heads and around our feet, looking cute. But that won’t save them.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueHh4_wAY6N5vW0jk4PnoqdK4o_CIlHwORQoxl8dgudM7YrsvQkF5BVQNrTgx_IBljBpydxPo1HFQyIHZElAGxH5e_JCMXMXrc13PIyiyAdoXalvi6gguqqIymjkB1MxbOmQfebx6CbO-/s1600/Lime+-before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueHh4_wAY6N5vW0jk4PnoqdK4o_CIlHwORQoxl8dgudM7YrsvQkF5BVQNrTgx_IBljBpydxPo1HFQyIHZElAGxH5e_JCMXMXrc13PIyiyAdoXalvi6gguqqIymjkB1MxbOmQfebx6CbO-/s640/Lime+-before.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Lime tree showing epicormic growth</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i></i><b></b><u></u><i></i><b></b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7bSbgsw7PUD7ebUP4WvobdXyo4fXvZt1kqfZOQxbWY3m7DWfQ8NdeTuc4IKtlJEx1s58qHGMgcwTSxyLvK3psDamQK3Qp7e-K677FQhr_5W6k6MlGGh4_rT6p_lC0dvU5kbD8uMDycbp/s1600/Feathering+the+limes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7bSbgsw7PUD7ebUP4WvobdXyo4fXvZt1kqfZOQxbWY3m7DWfQ8NdeTuc4IKtlJEx1s58qHGMgcwTSxyLvK3psDamQK3Qp7e-K677FQhr_5W6k6MlGGh4_rT6p_lC0dvU5kbD8uMDycbp/s400/Feathering+the+limes.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Feathering the lime tree</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i></i><b></b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb3sH58R0525Lwww6VumMfOY7zifK2PjozEy49lxqs7h5GZyG1-NdtJWqThYozz5-grS2JQwLfnArdAuTPngnFerndE5Ggy1DjPt9T8CD5dHVtk7l4G1M98F7DnRtBriDinIYNK45baOlD/s1600/complete.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb3sH58R0525Lwww6VumMfOY7zifK2PjozEy49lxqs7h5GZyG1-NdtJWqThYozz5-grS2JQwLfnArdAuTPngnFerndE5Ggy1DjPt9T8CD5dHVtk7l4G1M98F7DnRtBriDinIYNK45baOlD/s640/complete.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Almost complete</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWNIXNro7aLKQFD9n-cEl-FNfcBieuoXzurxiaacqinSW2ZBfhPy6vv5sx0EaUb0dK0EssTZWqnYJ4LKQu_pCnAWbzdRRAMNX5bcGXQc5UIZvXgMJhWJrUYUAYDxdjbSfswpiqF28PaO8/s1600/Honey+Fungus+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWNIXNro7aLKQFD9n-cEl-FNfcBieuoXzurxiaacqinSW2ZBfhPy6vv5sx0EaUb0dK0EssTZWqnYJ4LKQu_pCnAWbzdRRAMNX5bcGXQc5UIZvXgMJhWJrUYUAYDxdjbSfswpiqF28PaO8/s640/Honey+Fungus+1.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">Honey fungus at base of tree</span></i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiveBA-QT5lnL7yFDl-5PWvpPZrMOzs0X4rwoc7qpKJmL9wr5meUVOKFUH7vuOuAyt1Rsq6R3WLzoMLDp5NzaFRZgPJXUcVBsJW8lEUv-YTTHlJ-dqDvbEJmrYK7_nf97zd_7pZh33nTXme/s1600/Honey+fungus+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiveBA-QT5lnL7yFDl-5PWvpPZrMOzs0X4rwoc7qpKJmL9wr5meUVOKFUH7vuOuAyt1Rsq6R3WLzoMLDp5NzaFRZgPJXUcVBsJW8lEUv-YTTHlJ-dqDvbEJmrYK7_nf97zd_7pZh33nTXme/s400/Honey+fungus+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Honey fungus</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i></i><b></b><b></b><i></i><i></i><b></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYELNV-1SX2h91zRsvQrT56UB-YIkLMli6qWjNQe5RTx9p8zfDFvhGKXcPMcF-7OlsIX6u8W7PRjE4dmLZ9KJwtfeyHU-n8PiZC7cHjgqj2obes85S8Ty3S4g-pZM7qymJenGOlo_TxY8A/s1600/Squirrel+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYELNV-1SX2h91zRsvQrT56UB-YIkLMli6qWjNQe5RTx9p8zfDFvhGKXcPMcF-7OlsIX6u8W7PRjE4dmLZ9KJwtfeyHU-n8PiZC7cHjgqj2obes85S8Ty3S4g-pZM7qymJenGOlo_TxY8A/s400/Squirrel+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZxRNmrzzC1nhbXG_30oefLGfrsU8k-qLj9jWgYb2LxkKI_c0k4PpUCPb5dQP6Tg8QAqhoA-bJRrEePwt1pvzaPhFPV5IFepNfSvwYcX7wS-TTkTieDZrBjk0tDHr-Qjuwcb-_MFIjVxK/s1600/Squirrel+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZxRNmrzzC1nhbXG_30oefLGfrsU8k-qLj9jWgYb2LxkKI_c0k4PpUCPb5dQP6Tg8QAqhoA-bJRrEePwt1pvzaPhFPV5IFepNfSvwYcX7wS-TTkTieDZrBjk0tDHr-Qjuwcb-_MFIjVxK/s400/Squirrel+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Young squirrels hunting acorns</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i></i><b>Steve Wootten & Phil Coyne</b></div>
Phil Coynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01344249046943617558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588497199467624104.post-65431677708512352392019-08-28T08:16:00.001-07:002019-08-28T15:17:38.359-07:00Getting down to it<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>July and August 2019</b></span><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Weeding
heather</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s an odd thing to be weeding around heather. You
don’t see anybody doing that on the moors around Rothbury. But our patches of
heather at Gibside are constantly invaded by other species. Even the
well-established area at the north end of the Hollow Walk benefits from the
occasional clear-out of birch, bramble and the dreaded western hemlock. Two or
three patches are now better able to look after themselves, but more recently
planted areas need a bit of gardening. Some might think it wrong to be
interfering in this way, but really, it’s what we do at Gibside – as is done in
many other ‘natural’ habitats: we give nature a helping hand. And that includes
encouraging variety as well as ridding the place of plants that just don’t
belong.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><i></i><b></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-hi9_89-jcOZqKN-T7WPT8b-n1-nD3Z0aw-SHwrteVTdbdzwQPEczJr9SSFmAbY9xyEyIjgo-RBp37FYfphO_PTkgoCp5Jk1mGpzWb71q5Egb83GMuZV4Aze1HilaPCx7Dt4nYFLtfGh/s1600/Before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-hi9_89-jcOZqKN-T7WPT8b-n1-nD3Z0aw-SHwrteVTdbdzwQPEczJr9SSFmAbY9xyEyIjgo-RBp37FYfphO_PTkgoCp5Jk1mGpzWb71q5Egb83GMuZV4Aze1HilaPCx7Dt4nYFLtfGh/s400/Before.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Before weeding</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i></i><b></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1qdehb4rQpyi6zj69dJyeVM4Vb0hvKt4G0Dgw5g60z7vHB6__ToCbAUpj6zS3JQ-KrpWkMCAUnXq-8og6_iFi-5SBjD28h7bGDF7WcgfHVOvYeJkutgZ8EzwwlaXa5D8LwZ96xsDnc65/s1600/After.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1qdehb4rQpyi6zj69dJyeVM4Vb0hvKt4G0Dgw5g60z7vHB6__ToCbAUpj6zS3JQ-KrpWkMCAUnXq-8og6_iFi-5SBjD28h7bGDF7WcgfHVOvYeJkutgZ8EzwwlaXa5D8LwZ96xsDnc65/s400/After.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">After weeding - heather now visible</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i></i><b></b><i></i><b></b><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Field
assessment</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">More often than not, identifying plants is more a test
of the ageing memory than it is of field botany knowledge. Joining in with the
rangers, though, on hands and knees in sheep-chomped fields trying to spot and
then put a name to the remaining bits of vegetation in any given metre square
was, indeed, a challenge. We were replicating a Field Assessment made four
years ago. A field assessment is a sort of plant quality survey of Gibside’s
farm fields. Whilst it’s perfectly acceptable to note anything growing, the
main purpose is to check out the presence of a number of indicator species</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuO4-AEk_WNHZxEFmmQQl14OyI98BG7ay_QmXQdWbhA_JuxSo53ntDgXNLCwBDn5zS6fazMZXPHsDOWs36_SLFXWAw-6OG069oPmRS1u0m9LkTYmC4hRKvMti29T_HB_BTuo8Oj__DO1F2/s1600/What%2527s+that+flower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuO4-AEk_WNHZxEFmmQQl14OyI98BG7ay_QmXQdWbhA_JuxSo53ntDgXNLCwBDn5zS6fazMZXPHsDOWs36_SLFXWAw-6OG069oPmRS1u0m9LkTYmC4hRKvMti29T_HB_BTuo8Oj__DO1F2/s400/What%2527s+that+flower.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">What's that flower?</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Positive indicators include Bird’s foot trefoil,
Meadow buttercup, Selfheal, Red clover, White clover, Germander speedwell and
many more. The negative indicators are few: Broad-leaved dock, Stinging nettle,
Soft rush, Thistles and Ragwort.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Ug_kJvIiFdJGIcMURkz515WJPyPvNM0nlPk4fgMXqsQouSkb8W0HxMN0wwVbY2OyEwvQtllsogqSFlYuhjEx_3hJfjpsw8IuBFLVZfgYsByMw-6wky9sJznKA3HlFxOf0mLYYo5Fb5AP/s1600/Birdsfoot+Trefoil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Ug_kJvIiFdJGIcMURkz515WJPyPvNM0nlPk4fgMXqsQouSkb8W0HxMN0wwVbY2OyEwvQtllsogqSFlYuhjEx_3hJfjpsw8IuBFLVZfgYsByMw-6wky9sJznKA3HlFxOf0mLYYo5Fb5AP/s640/Birdsfoot+Trefoil.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Birds foot trefoil</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-YtOc1B2YG-IBzQczu0Td_7D-Eddhcm3rYkrojQodxZSBuNzzES2wPJr3x_UXuBZmyWwoxatdcxCSWGHM2mGe84h8VFQeqsOezSQKbkQa-srOcEhEzrnEXLrq-WL6nuoVWgUY89EG5LC/s1600/Red+clover+%2528Trifolium+pratense%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-YtOc1B2YG-IBzQczu0Td_7D-Eddhcm3rYkrojQodxZSBuNzzES2wPJr3x_UXuBZmyWwoxatdcxCSWGHM2mGe84h8VFQeqsOezSQKbkQa-srOcEhEzrnEXLrq-WL6nuoVWgUY89EG5LC/s400/Red+clover+%2528Trifolium+pratense%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Red clover</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><i></i><b></b><i></i><b></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3XlKtwVB98aSl9lWnRIx7dP7-l1VPpgLUQ-JjmBagrvDW6DTITSZxv4xaX9uoiWjap0ZiZ441IWnsLk0oZ12GlKg8VcQv9heaYJugMyo2AHtoT3P05vW0g3AvBGcuo-Zvh-l8IlMnYWc8/s1600/White+Clover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3XlKtwVB98aSl9lWnRIx7dP7-l1VPpgLUQ-JjmBagrvDW6DTITSZxv4xaX9uoiWjap0ZiZ441IWnsLk0oZ12GlKg8VcQv9heaYJugMyo2AHtoT3P05vW0g3AvBGcuo-Zvh-l8IlMnYWc8/s400/White+Clover.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">White clover</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><i></i><b></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihImowuqup5S86A2XHJc1eytw90l9E9ICXI7LvwhRHTZxAiwzkWj-DmkaNbqePmeob2wKoC_vgaifqLBAH5dnvRWIal1TqP_9-uTqeobVkm4wLdvGQLdcSMs7fZ4uKleij3yt899AOrTj3/s1600/Self+heal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihImowuqup5S86A2XHJc1eytw90l9E9ICXI7LvwhRHTZxAiwzkWj-DmkaNbqePmeob2wKoC_vgaifqLBAH5dnvRWIal1TqP_9-uTqeobVkm4wLdvGQLdcSMs7fZ4uKleij3yt899AOrTj3/s400/Self+heal.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Self heal</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The data is in but, like all statistics, requires
professional interpretation. It looks encouraging, though.</span><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Tick
monitoring</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Working with Gibside’s rangers invariably takes us off
the tracks and into the woods and other wild places where visitors tend not to
go. Losing ourselves amongst nature is one of the main reasons for working as a
Conservation Volunteer, but it has its drawbacks. It’s like this: we love
nature but we hate ticks. They’re nasty little things with unpleasant eating
habits and, worst still, can be carriers of some horrible diseases. And the
population is growing.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A few years back,
researchers at Liverpool University set up a project to assess the distribution
of the various species of ticks across the nation. We thought we’d have a go at
Gibside and borrow their strategy to do so. This involves dragging a metre square
white sheet across vegetation for ten metres in one direction, then turning
around and dragging it back again and counting how many ticks have been picked
up. We’re not attempting to identify them, just count them. Of course, you
don't get them all, but we can, hopefully, get a density comparison across the
estate. We’re just at the learning stage. Or, put another way, we haven’t <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">caught many. Maybe there aren’t many to catch. That
would be a good thing.</span><br />
</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpE5zeT4QBLMx6rL3Iw9ZJVeXY-PU97xtyXxwegET9ShKIZoVGc1A_vin2PxiLMYsdas6OY_hSP-_w2-qH2AIDU5M0aLXEQy6X_YonuMls8rOAQhAj_Tgx2TF1gVhwUKK9ZM21KcVq7ts/s1600/Tick+hunt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpE5zeT4QBLMx6rL3Iw9ZJVeXY-PU97xtyXxwegET9ShKIZoVGc1A_vin2PxiLMYsdas6OY_hSP-_w2-qH2AIDU5M0aLXEQy6X_YonuMls8rOAQhAj_Tgx2TF1gVhwUKK9ZM21KcVq7ts/s400/Tick+hunt.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">The tick collector at work</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i></i><b></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVETB1dpJeLCNLGbRgxAsZXn9O-aoZ21dBOt-55nB0rV8Gk7_riv5dOdapVV4pSiBIsDJ7iRAjyf43O-AuGtGWhIpGrR5efz-9tvgUTuwhdPrrW2kK32gYQCbAa3SWknE2UWP3Uaylsoj_/s1600/Betony+on+Avenue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVETB1dpJeLCNLGbRgxAsZXn9O-aoZ21dBOt-55nB0rV8Gk7_riv5dOdapVV4pSiBIsDJ7iRAjyf43O-AuGtGWhIpGrR5efz-9tvgUTuwhdPrrW2kK32gYQCbAa3SWknE2UWP3Uaylsoj_/s400/Betony+on+Avenue.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Betony in bloom on The Avenue bank</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This year has been a good year for some species of butterfly, in particular, Painted lady butterflies.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZKn_7zGJ36S0Z59UcT8yOU_fnh-kSJBKOoHVbhU3PvLX969JPr0WS3f9VEJvrv7lRxUlmzu_lLnYJa0OAJgm1gldB_ymIXyFEaRleY8P3sKZ4u9bmb1bkVyZI7aIw8qjf7yXb9P59mqs/s1600/Painted+lady+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZKn_7zGJ36S0Z59UcT8yOU_fnh-kSJBKOoHVbhU3PvLX969JPr0WS3f9VEJvrv7lRxUlmzu_lLnYJa0OAJgm1gldB_ymIXyFEaRleY8P3sKZ4u9bmb1bkVyZI7aIw8qjf7yXb9P59mqs/s400/Painted+lady+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">A Painted lady butterfly</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i></i><b></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBa1uS6yheKclLl-8O8-gnYuoswcXaFkAbBGWG5Vc_mSVlFH6ZESYIEIcUxjEr79hpUvLlkIVDAg_BcVfBqD06EbivtngLByEfv301voT7tatLujiRHbxSY_PN2G705c-EdvCAa3L6X_t/s1600/Red+Admiral+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBa1uS6yheKclLl-8O8-gnYuoswcXaFkAbBGWG5Vc_mSVlFH6ZESYIEIcUxjEr79hpUvLlkIVDAg_BcVfBqD06EbivtngLByEfv301voT7tatLujiRHbxSY_PN2G705c-EdvCAa3L6X_t/s400/Red+Admiral+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">A Red admiral butterfly</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And now as Autumn approaches mushrooms are starting to make an appearance...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGZ-C62_d-xRh3vcHEeb9ll65-Oncntk_pptb2VKJRWHsB46_1Mn_kYxybQaMhaDxbwzm6mT26tqzKRgKGh_w9bif9c81OlpcURPGJNiQX3bp-yzY1UedeGYORjAp8LsaCaEjSs55ULHq/s1600/Shaggy+parasol.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGZ-C62_d-xRh3vcHEeb9ll65-Oncntk_pptb2VKJRWHsB46_1Mn_kYxybQaMhaDxbwzm6mT26tqzKRgKGh_w9bif9c81OlpcURPGJNiQX3bp-yzY1UedeGYORjAp8LsaCaEjSs55ULHq/s400/Shaggy+parasol.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">A group of Shaggy parasol mushrooms</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i></i><b></b><br />
Another task assigned to our team was helping to eradicate Himalayan balsam from the estate. We try really hard but are helpless against the exploding seed heads.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieH-5d5RyjCSjhSuZSvpFA-G3mWVTH9h3go-t7kPf3Bb4mhyphenhyphendxFZe5c54ulizLCn7en5aHHAkKxAajkbxxBSL-XEFZqv8Aoc33obvPW4tOpBWail_kStwGWDlYrThnSyFYVXnKsrD0ZQYO/s1600/Balsam+bashing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieH-5d5RyjCSjhSuZSvpFA-G3mWVTH9h3go-t7kPf3Bb4mhyphenhyphendxFZe5c54ulizLCn7en5aHHAkKxAajkbxxBSL-XEFZqv8Aoc33obvPW4tOpBWail_kStwGWDlYrThnSyFYVXnKsrD0ZQYO/s400/Balsam+bashing.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
<b><i><span style="font-size: small;">Terry surrounded by head height bracken</span></i></b></div>
<div>
<b><i><span style="font-size: small;"> attempts to remove the Himalayan balsam. </span></i></b></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>Steve Wootten & Phil Coyne</b></div>
<b></b><br />Phil Coynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01344249046943617558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588497199467624104.post-71897706139261690972019-05-12T10:24:00.001-07:002019-05-12T10:24:37.306-07:00 It’s that time of year<b>March to May 2019</b><br />
<b></b><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">Just the day before, Ranger Helen had watched three
red kites squabbling high above Gibside. Engaged in a dog fight (for want of a
better metaphor), the two males locked talons and plummeted into the trees,
risking serious injury in pursuit of a mate. Late March: it’s that time of
year. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">In the Ice House Woods blackbirds scuttled and a
couple of wrens flitted around in path-side shrubs. Wood anemones planted in
their thousands here last autumn are pushing up their first leaves among the
first signs of wood sorrel and cuckoo pint. Dog’s mercury, lesser celandine and
yew are in flower. A nuthatch rehearses being noisy and appealing. At a
distance trees still look wintery but, here in the woods and along the Avenue,
they too are unfurling their leaves in readiness for the start of nature’s
year.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIiVEeuK7ZgkDim240VF-9kSk_Jgf8P1DluU1tPFqgkNh_3Yt6ojTO-yvRHss36g-SdtIHU0mXE01nZVbiqa18x0IU5ypoXGsloXddj1Pk6eHjjoeHTdwEvnuV_bDggbaEYkcGDCgRWKqP/s1600/Nuthatch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIiVEeuK7ZgkDim240VF-9kSk_Jgf8P1DluU1tPFqgkNh_3Yt6ojTO-yvRHss36g-SdtIHU0mXE01nZVbiqa18x0IU5ypoXGsloXddj1Pk6eHjjoeHTdwEvnuV_bDggbaEYkcGDCgRWKqP/s400/Nuthatch.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">Nuthatch</span></i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF1Y03bmyHdvgvsUE95I2cOfnXIQP9bZGdKJKG27Q7pApdBgY5VdS-12acptEaDSsBMF_z3ljxeXoZoL_vjPvjtPdkudj7Lx5hn_YHlCayMwvK09C6xWysP0NApF0DLFzJFwgx1cICy587/s1600/Wood+sorrel+leaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF1Y03bmyHdvgvsUE95I2cOfnXIQP9bZGdKJKG27Q7pApdBgY5VdS-12acptEaDSsBMF_z3ljxeXoZoL_vjPvjtPdkudj7Lx5hn_YHlCayMwvK09C6xWysP0NApF0DLFzJFwgx1cICy587/s400/Wood+sorrel+leaves.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Wood sorrel</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><i></i><b></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSryhmBbYGiS9TIuRgg_fs3l_qQzzTTfwp9QImjnHP9zpmrmIKkjt1IHSXx0v5C0NZdUzBZbMenL7lVJbxgIOD-USaomobSYbNQ69BGM-67JR7xBToDQ4JiSKDur_TVGjIvTtUyyLEk0F/s1600/Wood+anemone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSryhmBbYGiS9TIuRgg_fs3l_qQzzTTfwp9QImjnHP9zpmrmIKkjt1IHSXx0v5C0NZdUzBZbMenL7lVJbxgIOD-USaomobSYbNQ69BGM-67JR7xBToDQ4JiSKDur_TVGjIvTtUyyLEk0F/s400/Wood+anemone.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Wood anemone leaves emerging</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23J8rxbpfT72O_G95HYsu_vXJ1hTYKv76GUQmqmpYz5H5BtDetmSlx7RpoTrVqpIbYtXDvZcbsPOUC3bpQqxW5YvAj-jp9DGuFXzLa4CFw_MbGjaRmSWkKE4BV0VMHiLZqXwBW_Dyhr89/s1600/Wood+Sorrel+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23J8rxbpfT72O_G95HYsu_vXJ1hTYKv76GUQmqmpYz5H5BtDetmSlx7RpoTrVqpIbYtXDvZcbsPOUC3bpQqxW5YvAj-jp9DGuFXzLa4CFw_MbGjaRmSWkKE4BV0VMHiLZqXwBW_Dyhr89/s640/Wood+Sorrel+3.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Wood sorrel flowers</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwaf3oocRctwGxXfOeVlhW8pT59ZAH87MblRsH9xKcwQWgLrPRJuRZ_N_83SL0D7WMOWoFSGC582YMeTz851u88q6EEIqmjmvH-MeM2lqiNtwz7KINmKe3xfF7E9J2BXsaDDGKbLIAoRU/s1600/Wood+anemones+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwaf3oocRctwGxXfOeVlhW8pT59ZAH87MblRsH9xKcwQWgLrPRJuRZ_N_83SL0D7WMOWoFSGC582YMeTz851u88q6EEIqmjmvH-MeM2lqiNtwz7KINmKe3xfF7E9J2BXsaDDGKbLIAoRU/s400/Wood+anemones+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Wood anemone in flower </span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">Although the grass had barely had chance to grow, somebody
was playing with a new lawnmower; a machine that looks like a hybrid miniature
of a bin lorry and combine harvester – a combined harbinger of spring, perhaps.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjADk633taSLAc3t4EENIbpaLrbkp65YpL2bHcttfrTjACdqP9lUIXssK3M0S1G9_Ln0_HYxRrWK7pk3dPyWkvx5u2vFb9N1jjLNOx-vQIXxJMV_hpggVTU-cCzk9LUX5ZghB_Rssy5gvcK/s1600/New+Mower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjADk633taSLAc3t4EENIbpaLrbkp65YpL2bHcttfrTjACdqP9lUIXssK3M0S1G9_Ln0_HYxRrWK7pk3dPyWkvx5u2vFb9N1jjLNOx-vQIXxJMV_hpggVTU-cCzk9LUX5ZghB_Rssy5gvcK/s400/New+Mower.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">The new lawnmower in action</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><i></i><b></b><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">In the air above the Octagon Pond, a buzzard, red kite
and kestrel all appeared at the same moment separated vertically and
horizontally by some invisible air controller. It was a photo lost to a slow
camera and a slower wit. On the pond, coots were preparing to nest. In the pond
were frogs, frogspawn and knots of toads. It’s that time of year.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_qeBtWFRQghuOFeJCeBD7JVOnvB6UMbwQWXk5YzLQEHvjp83-ybg_-jU3rKvdJD9G2JRn4GFIz8KJCE61dK1B5qfeWRpf08826ixbKiAYBU23_-6wrt1e57Zu39oHPsevHazwEaljElz/s1600/Cuddles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_qeBtWFRQghuOFeJCeBD7JVOnvB6UMbwQWXk5YzLQEHvjp83-ybg_-jU3rKvdJD9G2JRn4GFIz8KJCE61dK1B5qfeWRpf08826ixbKiAYBU23_-6wrt1e57Zu39oHPsevHazwEaljElz/s400/Cuddles.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Toads "tying the knot"</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">Five weeks on, on a rainy day that ought to have kept
us at home, we wandered Ice House Dene Woods once more to check out the wood
anemone. It was cold - exceptionally cold for May. There was a gentle breeze
that nevertheless allowed the rain to fall straight down in a tolerable
fashion, pleasant even. We walked on to the riverside by Ladyhaugh. Ranger Phil
had seen otters here recently, but not today. We were cheered, though, by the
sighting of a dipper mid-stream and a roe deer grazing in the open – made
bolder with the rain keeping visitors and dog walkers away.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5-F-G2foXQfkRy1wMikH2bNvTJqv0mb30B8MsTt6t5ZuA3ofIM72ShmsUzqmjtZfEoSlE5oisJEEW5MGXSSvgTB7F0qSyh38qSTY4qrYTceoQGlXwWo7vVZqSSxiaJtq8ZQ6h5Tp5LGI/s1600/Bluebells.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5-F-G2foXQfkRy1wMikH2bNvTJqv0mb30B8MsTt6t5ZuA3ofIM72ShmsUzqmjtZfEoSlE5oisJEEW5MGXSSvgTB7F0qSyh38qSTY4qrYTceoQGlXwWo7vVZqSSxiaJtq8ZQ6h5Tp5LGI/s400/Bluebells.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Bluebells on the edge of Ladyhaugh</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><i></i><b></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyX-ze48xIAQR_q9Xto3VNXn7MdcKlAPIVYb2qNCueAv4bE1alqQILd9YU-WChz5m4s3qGUWbx-RKncSLZ3KZTWrHO5P8_tLiUI3kghbmY-SP-X8cQjpMVbOQml42CV2OhD7w6NyNSdekz/s1600/Horsetails.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyX-ze48xIAQR_q9Xto3VNXn7MdcKlAPIVYb2qNCueAv4bE1alqQILd9YU-WChz5m4s3qGUWbx-RKncSLZ3KZTWrHO5P8_tLiUI3kghbmY-SP-X8cQjpMVbOQml42CV2OhD7w6NyNSdekz/s400/Horsetails.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Horsetails in Lily Pond</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><i></i><b></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinHLZbzwM9oDdpk10Ql96Kywox1iLMaBFOMtHmqw0sr6EsdS2Zsf0eIE7rAznWV9y3g-24cPLbvo6joGDb6dGf7vdd_r5H9SsSll0p5LcuJGWf12EHshQbtaBGPjrsOPtv31zsq8GX31W2/s1600/Hawthorn+blossom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinHLZbzwM9oDdpk10Ql96Kywox1iLMaBFOMtHmqw0sr6EsdS2Zsf0eIE7rAznWV9y3g-24cPLbvo6joGDb6dGf7vdd_r5H9SsSll0p5LcuJGWf12EHshQbtaBGPjrsOPtv31zsq8GX31W2/s400/Hawthorn+blossom.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Hawthorn just coming into flower</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">We wandered on making a mental note of plants and
birds, and stopped off in the dry of the bird hide to write down what we could
remember over a sandwich and cup of coffee. Bedraggled woodpeckers monopolised
the feeders. Below, a young chaffinch was being fed by mum. It’s that time of
year.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTrStv3ewoaT20XlDD1wAkxf0DFaO35qLm3KbwYluvhAwZouP19hoxnpIMem7aoXBwkdsGxCjZCjhQcHxaPHp6LfxktVCg___LefdYjHmOQPZTYxKLaJunNLF0TMrQHBbBUSR1Ggh7bve/s1600/Maple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTrStv3ewoaT20XlDD1wAkxf0DFaO35qLm3KbwYluvhAwZouP19hoxnpIMem7aoXBwkdsGxCjZCjhQcHxaPHp6LfxktVCg___LefdYjHmOQPZTYxKLaJunNLF0TMrQHBbBUSR1Ggh7bve/s640/Maple.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">A splendid maple tree</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i></i><b></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6o_z53Rs7AgApiwrL4sSH8eBcdCOb1fHaiDn_k7FaCp8tNk0vlcy8dNoQdRSR41pmDLMc5nVKkWTU_3CtP5v_2IPEGiHHgiaE390GKkdr6MFK5ezfYr1rhl7gXXpiDI8GH9HX8yF6vpGJ/s1600/Coot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6o_z53Rs7AgApiwrL4sSH8eBcdCOb1fHaiDn_k7FaCp8tNk0vlcy8dNoQdRSR41pmDLMc5nVKkWTU_3CtP5v_2IPEGiHHgiaE390GKkdr6MFK5ezfYr1rhl7gXXpiDI8GH9HX8yF6vpGJ/s400/Coot.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Coot on nest with young - Octagon Pond</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i></i><b></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5L-ilJEWDmMMeWzHcTZV8aMsb0QAz06xqNQAEBgoYwzTDLrJ-QeIxbn63UrdSHRQHeLVSjyQOFYMBXBlalAoIjVAdAnGIMB-LoKnynhVK-L4zDv2ZQR8wpoC6PhJrRWikeLVlRXpQP_2P/s1600/Wild+strawberry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5L-ilJEWDmMMeWzHcTZV8aMsb0QAz06xqNQAEBgoYwzTDLrJ-QeIxbn63UrdSHRQHeLVSjyQOFYMBXBlalAoIjVAdAnGIMB-LoKnynhVK-L4zDv2ZQR8wpoC6PhJrRWikeLVlRXpQP_2P/s400/Wild+strawberry.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Wild strawberry</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVhU5iB1wIMvCC3qYp58a7p0WIwJmG3quWd1eptOLKMrJJwPJvkpask5fyGPrUZz0qLxTmnQhzYYvFiY-41utZmF6sdWlrFAET0rAuvtN8Sk63097OrmJ6N2WhviesX0dwdmP343siUWE/s1600/Apple+blossom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVhU5iB1wIMvCC3qYp58a7p0WIwJmG3quWd1eptOLKMrJJwPJvkpask5fyGPrUZz0qLxTmnQhzYYvFiY-41utZmF6sdWlrFAET0rAuvtN8Sk63097OrmJ6N2WhviesX0dwdmP343siUWE/s400/Apple+blossom.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">Apple blossom - Walled Garden</span></i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i></i><b></b><b></b><i></i><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>Steve Wootten & Phil Coyne</b></div>
Phil Coynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01344249046943617558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588497199467624104.post-1665196679526681202019-02-25T09:45:00.000-08:002019-02-25T09:45:26.376-08:00Nature’s dens<b>February 2019</b><br />
<b></b><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">We were on our way to thin out regenerated birch in
West Wood. Left to themselves weedy trees would lose out to stronger ones and
die off leaving space for survivors to thrive. Selective removal speeds up the
process. Terry and Phil, walking ahead, took a short cut through a stand of
beeches. Mary and I, trailing behind, followed. Sensible advice is to take no
cut-offs. Crossing a child-built bridge, I slipped and slithered into a ditch
taking Mary with me. I’m not sure whether I had held onto Mary for support or
if she was attempting to save me. It’s not a very deep ditch.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0bV5Z6LfP-cJ-qJoG4RyY-UiOG_n3BQ8DkeqX-3yd_5RYrxw_YRCiip1VZHnto5rQZy2WvhUkUwUMTmbweT9eH3sclMFFYoiZDJx3KT9LkLGxiyRcCqv7wLk2-_A_6SwEmyhyphenhyphennDStBiHC/s1600/Bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0bV5Z6LfP-cJ-qJoG4RyY-UiOG_n3BQ8DkeqX-3yd_5RYrxw_YRCiip1VZHnto5rQZy2WvhUkUwUMTmbweT9eH3sclMFFYoiZDJx3KT9LkLGxiyRcCqv7wLk2-_A_6SwEmyhyphenhyphennDStBiHC/s400/Bridge.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">The bridge of logs</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0mJWQvcujljBkXGjq-XiWf7FIDhd-WlJrZ28NafjgK-E7QXkN697yYLilT1GctpNwhnkFAQ4qYXaPKez9KMAAgQb_R78QoS_zcqTP8SUYHpCjGZ4st9nql_kt0XxS858rhTWeySlBVjds/s1600/Birches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0mJWQvcujljBkXGjq-XiWf7FIDhd-WlJrZ28NafjgK-E7QXkN697yYLilT1GctpNwhnkFAQ4qYXaPKez9KMAAgQb_R78QoS_zcqTP8SUYHpCjGZ4st9nql_kt0XxS858rhTWeySlBVjds/s400/Birches.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Tightly packed birch trees</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">Bridges are a side line here. The main business in the
beech wood is den building. Kids have probably always loved to build camps and
dens – hideaways nested in the branches of trees, a cave hollowed out among
bushes, a burrow under a tablecloth, and anything created with a cardboard box
and childish imagination.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDYz_V8ucYoU4RV_wZOEIGJ5s0DFCGiROTIbSN5ZwkUp3vzZVWhlRHfakn7ksk3fRFYy3fn5qDv_h8eMJsZXnYgpHECk5XG_qf8m-kbAusk3Wms0-9mTS-hGcvtehKlfgOG66fm_taEpg/s1600/Den.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDYz_V8ucYoU4RV_wZOEIGJ5s0DFCGiROTIbSN5ZwkUp3vzZVWhlRHfakn7ksk3fRFYy3fn5qDv_h8eMJsZXnYgpHECk5XG_qf8m-kbAusk3Wms0-9mTS-hGcvtehKlfgOG66fm_taEpg/s400/Den.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">The beginnings of a den</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><i></i><b></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5MauEXWFIphAOk3P4nH-W7E6gaDgDpC_4apniC-rTNwk0SSKkKDN0bhqig3mEiNpZmr_o8tgrbqJHuHYtTAhSBzuK6NMWHoQlDGXGiWgxWsSS9PYteLjh9xJ-6Tjn7go0je0SboZrQYl/s1600/At+work.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5MauEXWFIphAOk3P4nH-W7E6gaDgDpC_4apniC-rTNwk0SSKkKDN0bhqig3mEiNpZmr_o8tgrbqJHuHYtTAhSBzuK6NMWHoQlDGXGiWgxWsSS9PYteLjh9xJ-6Tjn7go0je0SboZrQYl/s400/At+work.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Getting to work thinning out the birches</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><i></i><b></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZWIuh0BbConDO1LM_2NmXYaZuOJxYBAY35IubMDy6HbwYP49BA_n-hyqO5fLNkZV03YnA4HQi71vRJ2i6J3SfwfoOGUP6YJ0gqKj2dkFD25MxZsBIA2EYN1aj1VNh1ZxPImuqSlokkHM/s1600/Brash+piles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZWIuh0BbConDO1LM_2NmXYaZuOJxYBAY35IubMDy6HbwYP49BA_n-hyqO5fLNkZV03YnA4HQi71vRJ2i6J3SfwfoOGUP6YJ0gqKj2dkFD25MxZsBIA2EYN1aj1VNh1ZxPImuqSlokkHM/s400/Brash+piles.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Piles of birch brash</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i></i><b></b><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">Childish fancies and fantasies fade and imagination dulls
but, for some, the pleasure of a space of one’s own stays for a lifetime. For
the adventurous that might be a tent or a bothy. Some may settle for a
favourite corner of a pub, a quiet place in the back garden or in the house, a
man-shed, a bench in the local park, a woodland glade. Big skies and open
landscapes have a grand magnificence, but the small detail of place provides a
different kind of satisfaction.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">B<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">eing red-jacketed volunteers affords us licence to
wander from the tracks and in among the trees. Every nook and cranny is worth
close investigation – the exquisite miniature forests of mosses and lichen on
fallen logs, bracket fungus decorating dying trees, ferns overhanging a stream,
a clearing inviting you to sit and listen to birds and leaves.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxc9D38LGy5XKpMMhoL6KTUqYzyQwIOhnwFH0zVX9Pcrub4UyFgEe5ZLNhKWvJj6D7WJ5atQfr4Xb7Iml1D28cs0QSqAThHTnvQQy3DleIxxe3DTmmbGgreLCHgzogXZ37ZfxGZYudkXGj/s1600/Brackets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"></span><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxc9D38LGy5XKpMMhoL6KTUqYzyQwIOhnwFH0zVX9Pcrub4UyFgEe5ZLNhKWvJj6D7WJ5atQfr4Xb7Iml1D28cs0QSqAThHTnvQQy3DleIxxe3DTmmbGgreLCHgzogXZ37ZfxGZYudkXGj/s400/Brackets.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Developing bracket fungi on log</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4q5KSBYYkD9D4GxUHfB7b2VjlfqeaqwgWFqNM8NKvVsDctR18e-6m8I6kburJL4Ah1fU9T7V8Z_dIL0ZvHZ7KgtaKslkWtnICZb51vkB7B1veuCozwVF0-S6Xsv60JImK0hGSnTO42q_3/s1600/Fungi+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4q5KSBYYkD9D4GxUHfB7b2VjlfqeaqwgWFqNM8NKvVsDctR18e-6m8I6kburJL4Ah1fU9T7V8Z_dIL0ZvHZ7KgtaKslkWtnICZb51vkB7B1veuCozwVF0-S6Xsv60JImK0hGSnTO42q_3/s400/Fungi+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Fungi on birch </span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_sVc31zrUvbQnHlQvX0sVv86hWuysFqN4kiKQoWYEuMXCyYDC0CPo77HW82ozqhwOd7dwuGsH-Y-qNs5QqZpL9kw2044Lza8NS_XWDuUmsYmdayP532vhH2roJKZ775rUBdE_o1Ols8a/s1600/Moss+%2526+Lichen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_sVc31zrUvbQnHlQvX0sVv86hWuysFqN4kiKQoWYEuMXCyYDC0CPo77HW82ozqhwOd7dwuGsH-Y-qNs5QqZpL9kw2044Lza8NS_XWDuUmsYmdayP532vhH2roJKZ775rUBdE_o1Ols8a/s400/Moss+%2526+Lichen.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Moss & lichen on tree stump</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzB67WVDG_XvqpJYlz4A5vBkTNLUxLjf6UIAFtsPcfW2657n8p6U1Sl4fRqIzHxV17kbc5wc86PVutmc7zPTg2fpvGezfLwIunaHbsJpb47V1eUE80kkExMhS8Vly8Gyh_hUxXJxcZz8cF/s1600/Cladonia+coniocraea1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzB67WVDG_XvqpJYlz4A5vBkTNLUxLjf6UIAFtsPcfW2657n8p6U1Sl4fRqIzHxV17kbc5wc86PVutmc7zPTg2fpvGezfLwIunaHbsJpb47V1eUE80kkExMhS8Vly8Gyh_hUxXJxcZz8cF/s400/Cladonia+coniocraea1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Cladonia coniocraea</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">Of the many glades, clearings and stream banks of
Gibside, there are two that are particularly special. One is in the West Wood –
not far off the main track, but far enough to give it the sense of a secret
enclave. There are a few older trees, but this area was largely felled about
fifteen years ago. Almost thirteen years ago now, it was the site of the very
first Conservation Volunteers’ job. Among the desolation left by the cropped
timber we built a log pile. It’s still there, surrounded by birch and oak –
some twenty feet or more in height. Nearby, nature, with a little help, has
fashioned a clearing; a rotting tree trunk provides an uncomfortable seat.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAysQgHQTI_QE1qyTF4sfegzKjvVbzZpVJlbxSsSVLDUOhiQzCnXlnSejp6-vIeEXL5G9BDL6eh3RBqZiE9EaIAJZA82OGXOzYOD_zU1PvfAQDoreEPcrMAwV0gVGsl5LzAjZcFkwEXLx/s1600/First+log+pile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAysQgHQTI_QE1qyTF4sfegzKjvVbzZpVJlbxSsSVLDUOhiQzCnXlnSejp6-vIeEXL5G9BDL6eh3RBqZiE9EaIAJZA82OGXOzYOD_zU1PvfAQDoreEPcrMAwV0gVGsl5LzAjZcFkwEXLx/s400/First+log+pile.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">The original log pile</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDnFifGbQUSlhybH9_INAU-3w66BbghyVbjlduqj3Un7vs9hLkrBUnFvF8S6-xoJ_btbHBGk1QE2ahyphenhyphenEWRCr-eF1Sc2ImZJ8OkuBjkB1xmZVyUnLTu0Ch3aA76TcQeXHaPBz-7O43_hiPU/s1600/Hazel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDnFifGbQUSlhybH9_INAU-3w66BbghyVbjlduqj3Un7vs9hLkrBUnFvF8S6-xoJ_btbHBGk1QE2ahyphenhyphenEWRCr-eF1Sc2ImZJ8OkuBjkB1xmZVyUnLTu0Ch3aA76TcQeXHaPBz-7O43_hiPU/s400/Hazel.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-ASIJtgv1KurS6CLOGeA8oWVDkUmzQUmI8cLcy7BHvhpgqALW_ng32-8EOmDrrfpDQmk2jES49gyStjHPIYwEc9m61FBQ1_F7XfmZLxAI6qp0gUlEKECBBbU3_VJqn69wM7guucaWZSo/s1600/Catkins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-ASIJtgv1KurS6CLOGeA8oWVDkUmzQUmI8cLcy7BHvhpgqALW_ng32-8EOmDrrfpDQmk2jES49gyStjHPIYwEc9m61FBQ1_F7XfmZLxAI6qp0gUlEKECBBbU3_VJqn69wM7guucaWZSo/s400/Catkins.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Hazel catkins</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><i></i><b></b><i></i><b></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKRgue5eJbAqQgoYBQ0Tovmm9dbpyjN7Wm5wimzVxjqL-O4iFCahkm9QNbGdX4XOIcW5pwRTYsOgQcLv7PrGsxPJZnS5Ms90zYsdvPPYzT4Bxo7IpGVCyERSYIb5_o5i_Oz_IsqXc1ckTn/s1600/Rhoddie+bashing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKRgue5eJbAqQgoYBQ0Tovmm9dbpyjN7Wm5wimzVxjqL-O4iFCahkm9QNbGdX4XOIcW5pwRTYsOgQcLv7PrGsxPJZnS5Ms90zYsdvPPYzT4Bxo7IpGVCyERSYIb5_o5i_Oz_IsqXc1ckTn/s400/Rhoddie+bashing.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Rhododendron bashing</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidoUx57I8DAZIMcRNTYKptA3o17dC4gt_BhqvSvykY2ZyDh-gr9hu6LZeNkC1gEpaMIQSCmT09kr90s2ubOFjjaQhItexIs4JvWxLprVFoq1feHYnvZO8eiPMZa5XbmgXql8ezbOCIWA_y/s1600/A+well+ordered+brash+pile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidoUx57I8DAZIMcRNTYKptA3o17dC4gt_BhqvSvykY2ZyDh-gr9hu6LZeNkC1gEpaMIQSCmT09kr90s2ubOFjjaQhItexIs4JvWxLprVFoq1feHYnvZO8eiPMZa5XbmgXql8ezbOCIWA_y/s400/A+well+ordered+brash+pile.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">A neat pile of rhododendron brash</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">At the other end of the estate, perched above Snipes
Dene, is the other favourite spot – a clearing amongst old and new growth with
another fallen tree to sit on to watch and listen, or just be still: another
pretend hideaway, nature’s den.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHDmQi8nez4cApH7Ku-XtwYvIwgFL2Fit79OixjBaOwkfhs5dKUwAWTlvsGsIBoxDRvMmV8aG9FGxfC0STSI3gEsCJUN4SSu8-PFYQZKKbnugWhgmhpFiubtGZSV5Iu4HsxPoA7hgeSi3/s1600/Snow+drops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHDmQi8nez4cApH7Ku-XtwYvIwgFL2Fit79OixjBaOwkfhs5dKUwAWTlvsGsIBoxDRvMmV8aG9FGxfC0STSI3gEsCJUN4SSu8-PFYQZKKbnugWhgmhpFiubtGZSV5Iu4HsxPoA7hgeSi3/s400/Snow+drops.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Snowdrops</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><i></i><b></b><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>Steve Wootten & Phil Coyne</b></div>
Phil Coynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01344249046943617558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588497199467624104.post-22552901131509995772019-01-29T12:26:00.000-08:002019-01-29T12:26:14.860-08:00Keeping busy<b>December 2018 - January 2019</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">No matter that Louise The Grand Dauphine found the
sight of a ha-ha amusing, clearing out a year’s accumulation of wet leaves really
isn’t a great deal of fun. Mind you, the landed gentry probably didn’t have to do
it themselves. For us it could have been worse. So many times in past years we
have stood gradually sinking into mulch and mud, shovelling out soggy leaves
into dump bags; their weight requiring three grown people to heave them onto
the back of a truck. But it had been freezing overnight and still minus three
while we worked. The leaves were frosted crisp and white, and – because it had scarcely
rained in weeks – dry. With a full set of rangers and a good turnout of
Wednesday volunteers, the job was done in record time. But, at Gibside, there’s
always something else to do.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNTgweJT1iga0aTMDg3fHKkw-k4NchHNuvD5WN6O3MOL47ocgfW55UagO2ns6Ib1Vr3f9VCTyVSSocD7Fjb3j_0arju19qcRYkJU3ijkcculo_41a8kiv_y2tbu1ESKLg1kKhi4wAdb6Y/s1600/Frosted+balls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNTgweJT1iga0aTMDg3fHKkw-k4NchHNuvD5WN6O3MOL47ocgfW55UagO2ns6Ib1Vr3f9VCTyVSSocD7Fjb3j_0arju19qcRYkJU3ijkcculo_41a8kiv_y2tbu1ESKLg1kKhi4wAdb6Y/s400/Frosted+balls.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Frost balls</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVvffTd6QlWp-CiCP3J3eGR2fNSD7NTH8K3-NreBI_QSO7M0RQO2RzoUP48bWV5tN_7v7KtbKjCC9PDwrfBzMEE7ET5KsI9qkhaWGL0eNMqqPXQFy_kG30EBZyhTjtEgDWNE18L6gke3Z/s1600/Snow+shovels+at+work.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVvffTd6QlWp-CiCP3J3eGR2fNSD7NTH8K3-NreBI_QSO7M0RQO2RzoUP48bWV5tN_7v7KtbKjCC9PDwrfBzMEE7ET5KsI9qkhaWGL0eNMqqPXQFy_kG30EBZyhTjtEgDWNE18L6gke3Z/s640/Snow+shovels+at+work.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Snow shovels are really useful for clearing the leaves</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><i></i><b></b><i></i><b></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3qsRhR3d7x7jb3cpMXOso19OHA6ZU1lRqi75N6_M_XpTrt7PEn5Dj1o1QnPcOxyjLLdnKx_9kFbv9D6NqsUnYlevGORMsQDkqP_l9VOSydAVQ8AU8r8gQYIG0Mgmmq_ZLjUWOoSm3oyEV/s1600/Ha-ha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3qsRhR3d7x7jb3cpMXOso19OHA6ZU1lRqi75N6_M_XpTrt7PEn5Dj1o1QnPcOxyjLLdnKx_9kFbv9D6NqsUnYlevGORMsQDkqP_l9VOSydAVQ8AU8r8gQYIG0Mgmmq_ZLjUWOoSm3oyEV/s400/Ha-ha.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Leaf piles ready for bagging</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqhnsj4oIc_VePRL3CC_GL4RJsFNSNfAhNbbvkvaw3J7qNsfVUovbhPVDFVLeVJd8Y-ThYPODWgx_-4yI0nXAz5-AakmGt3K4prB0-A5Slg8VyVoghHiLpZPsNL7rVvuCKXans1dxUkOL4/s1600/Almost+finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqhnsj4oIc_VePRL3CC_GL4RJsFNSNfAhNbbvkvaw3J7qNsfVUovbhPVDFVLeVJd8Y-ThYPODWgx_-4yI0nXAz5-AakmGt3K4prB0-A5Slg8VyVoghHiLpZPsNL7rVvuCKXans1dxUkOL4/s640/Almost+finished.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Almost finished</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i></i><b></b><i></i><b></b><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">We were back to brash clearing in the West Wood. Piling
up row upon row of branches, twigs, rotted leaves and some quite substantial
logs – the leftovers of clear felling – untangled by hand from a woven mass
often two feet or more deep. We have found a few creatures here as we’ve worked
but, up until recently, it has been a bleak and barren landscape unappealing to
man or mouse. Now that we’ve cleared much of the ground, we’ve planted trees –
hundreds of them, nearly all hazel. Bit by bit the landscape is morphing into
fields of stakes and tubes. It shouldn’t take long though for the hazel
saplings to emerge from their protective plastic, and for the unsightly dead
hedges we’ve created to rot down and become overgrown.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Indeed, other plants are already recolonising
this temporary desert – holly, chickweed, foxgloves, and birch of course.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaMX1rgYx_Ec-qJwP0Ony45dKu_v07Jmvweam3Z4Dc4ryjmLWjRiPOcT05roXnHPCC8GxS6fhrb68DMjQv5v024PAqPOZtNyrUE1W8ZfhLhYVXvlLnPrmfVUqS2CKAU6ALIfMc3FYub5sC/s1600/Frozen+foxgloves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaMX1rgYx_Ec-qJwP0Ony45dKu_v07Jmvweam3Z4Dc4ryjmLWjRiPOcT05roXnHPCC8GxS6fhrb68DMjQv5v024PAqPOZtNyrUE1W8ZfhLhYVXvlLnPrmfVUqS2CKAU6ALIfMc3FYub5sC/s400/Frozen+foxgloves.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Frozen foxgloves</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><i></i><b></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGftTLJv5yuyybtQTTWGRekXv93_WgQRjKvP88JINZIK-aRTNWziMsTYPu4X2InWFhXb0BNZE29r3EehS5y9CNXU0wbopdCuykQHXZTSA276IOYoikjE_PF9SdtW9ES4y5suCdPbWmVnuR/s1600/Training+session.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGftTLJv5yuyybtQTTWGRekXv93_WgQRjKvP88JINZIK-aRTNWziMsTYPu4X2InWFhXb0BNZE29r3EehS5y9CNXU0wbopdCuykQHXZTSA276IOYoikjE_PF9SdtW9ES4y5suCdPbWmVnuR/s400/Training+session.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Training session in progress</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i></i><b></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKxEIFe6DxPJzHLfIwqDaYopOc0r1KmLvqB2FOQVRXg_QAvheLflJWyOABPNYOgf9V2WZYtC3i8cqZzk4Idr5L2WxDCKCX1ecgG3LfE0gdzkp2l20pmQ2kT_stMOyWDsBhHa5lwReZiNa8/s1600/Hazel+planting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKxEIFe6DxPJzHLfIwqDaYopOc0r1KmLvqB2FOQVRXg_QAvheLflJWyOABPNYOgf9V2WZYtC3i8cqZzk4Idr5L2WxDCKCX1ecgG3LfE0gdzkp2l20pmQ2kT_stMOyWDsBhHa5lwReZiNa8/s400/Hazel+planting.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Planting hazels</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdCacrvXDtQW96emJt8q8VjxroGLm6ymjCzeyfYrFNTcGH3S0NESKDidjoevHnT0Tmlt0HvkkGsIad4JKPjK76MOyEaLRovhWuH3MIvUvS1YXDjr2iaunCwl5oBuTvM4GtSQnU5wFNKJB2/s1600/Hazel+wood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdCacrvXDtQW96emJt8q8VjxroGLm6ymjCzeyfYrFNTcGH3S0NESKDidjoevHnT0Tmlt0HvkkGsIad4JKPjK76MOyEaLRovhWuH3MIvUvS1YXDjr2iaunCwl5oBuTvM4GtSQnU5wFNKJB2/s400/Hazel+wood.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">A completed section of hazel planting</span></i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i></i><b></b><b></b><i></i><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMG3T_YXrIcG6khh9k5wZkhjhb1_Ek6jwXFISteiaTeqOHV26_BLAbXYDwHzABco8MAL-e27jPXLFjrY-wvtF8dBFaAQpNVCGnwpQQBp8H3o5A5sHFHqQU-bA3rXKdRAvNrvsP10HLsZu/s1600/Tea+break.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMG3T_YXrIcG6khh9k5wZkhjhb1_Ek6jwXFISteiaTeqOHV26_BLAbXYDwHzABco8MAL-e27jPXLFjrY-wvtF8dBFaAQpNVCGnwpQQBp8H3o5A5sHFHqQU-bA3rXKdRAvNrvsP10HLsZu/s400/Tea+break.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">A welcome cuppa</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">We’ve left gaps in the dead hedges to create route
ways so as not to make life too difficult for the larger mammals that live
around here – badger, brown hare, roe deer. And the hedges should quite nicely
accommodate smaller mammals, and toads and assorted creepy-crawlies.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">The Forestry Commission crop removed from this site
was nearly all western hemlock. They took the timber, but the cones and seeds that
they left behind will only too soon become seedlings, which will have to come
out. That should keep us busy.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJPATgwvX6KIiY1-1103QSGLRK1Zi0ig-k9SsO5djRoCwnq-k69UES0G_H4sqTpxgLn3_6ZRULhSD3jnoSW2VB6-s3DPNdspHq4hoSC-_3sEXaUeWGSiGB2A1BZgyo8bP77ixX4GBwG52/s1600/Cladonia+fibriata.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJPATgwvX6KIiY1-1103QSGLRK1Zi0ig-k9SsO5djRoCwnq-k69UES0G_H4sqTpxgLn3_6ZRULhSD3jnoSW2VB6-s3DPNdspHq4hoSC-_3sEXaUeWGSiGB2A1BZgyo8bP77ixX4GBwG52/s400/Cladonia+fibriata.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Cup lichen ( Cladonia fibriata)</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIT4G5QfIPU5HoxS-LLtv5lh1ad-8qaMqvJkg1lWHmXr7eqPiaebzhm5afv32EuheAeSV2jdyUcndwhSdRvyMdMWuyEJKq4Gme3b7EAeLgqT6j2BHJPCjlpVEEWApXAtDaL5I9-wel0x0p/s1600/Polytrichum+sp..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIT4G5QfIPU5HoxS-LLtv5lh1ad-8qaMqvJkg1lWHmXr7eqPiaebzhm5afv32EuheAeSV2jdyUcndwhSdRvyMdMWuyEJKq4Gme3b7EAeLgqT6j2BHJPCjlpVEEWApXAtDaL5I9-wel0x0p/s400/Polytrichum+sp..jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Moss - Polytrichum sp.</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLm9DluSLmOOCyheyXgqGiBTUPcp3APHcwYG2-xcnv8A41MXjL2fyR49oVjhNHTxfnJBt2lR_yICeQka8kspRnWY6-M9lnvvbWqfKp1iL_gCt8rc9WwDcW5hz29LbVIHoifSETnvuqjI_R/s1600/Lunch+for+two.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLm9DluSLmOOCyheyXgqGiBTUPcp3APHcwYG2-xcnv8A41MXjL2fyR49oVjhNHTxfnJBt2lR_yICeQka8kspRnWY6-M9lnvvbWqfKp1iL_gCt8rc9WwDcW5hz29LbVIHoifSETnvuqjI_R/s400/Lunch+for+two.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Lunch for two</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>Steve Wootten & Phil Coyne</b></div>
Phil Coynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01344249046943617558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588497199467624104.post-4435635982161251142018-11-20T12:22:00.001-08:002018-11-20T12:22:58.360-08:00A bit of a wander<b>November 2018</b><br />
<b></b><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">A flock of twenty or so long tailed tits accompanied
by one great tit cousin seemed not bothered by human presence in their midst. A
pair of buzzards cruised overhead, but it was probably the sparrow hawk
patrolling the woodland edge that moved them on, and quietened all other
birdlife.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVpTnbEbEqrgdx29ySyYoLShOg3l5hkthFCkkXLU4VldGQB5_hzLtUi7Q00lhFBr3iRl9vYewz89upK_vlIyo3OIpcjWj_jLKdpadJgkPUhOUKn16_DSk5WKaRP3A_1eqwBWacDdK3wJn/s1600/Column.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVpTnbEbEqrgdx29ySyYoLShOg3l5hkthFCkkXLU4VldGQB5_hzLtUi7Q00lhFBr3iRl9vYewz89upK_vlIyo3OIpcjWj_jLKdpadJgkPUhOUKn16_DSk5WKaRP3A_1eqwBWacDdK3wJn/s400/Column.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Hollow Walk in Autumn</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4hfaVP8YANGE7UxhBd_ITYQaCVzoWjXKb3ztobBeEYHScGBVTHD_a9euB4T9hEM7X4giBJ1F_nphqPRTMpYhEJSUhXn3t0o19vYH_q32w8tKe6NKi_cBUuHEU2mfWsTSijdyz_OBMFiW/s1600/Snipes+Dene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4hfaVP8YANGE7UxhBd_ITYQaCVzoWjXKb3ztobBeEYHScGBVTHD_a9euB4T9hEM7X4giBJ1F_nphqPRTMpYhEJSUhXn3t0o19vYH_q32w8tKe6NKi_cBUuHEU2mfWsTSijdyz_OBMFiW/s400/Snipes+Dene.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Snipes Dene</i></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">The wind hastened the fall of leaves and chased them
across the beechwood floor, turning it into a moving carpet of golden-brown. We
were in these woods a few weeks ago working alongside gardeners planting wood
anemone rhizomes – ten thousand of them. That’s a lot. When they come into life
next spring, they should create a natural barrier along the path, discouraging
people from trampling the woodland floor with its great variety of
invertebrates. Not disturbing the creatures of the woodland floor is a good
thing anyway, but this stretch is part of Gibside’s SSSI, so there is an extra
duty of care. SSSI – that’s Site of Special Scientific Interest; pronounced
tripleesseye.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8SZjTCWOjbH7yUGzQBy4LALDYMJjHfizCMojZTevbz0c-DdMgMQ4z6_6cLRs0WnM5uSdiEKj2dG63l5f4ki3GVTsiKq1AA-3c2r60iLlkk9jm367WxJoQKLsVjtEzYcPQIwiRxS8MP1ma/s1600/Twiglets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8SZjTCWOjbH7yUGzQBy4LALDYMJjHfizCMojZTevbz0c-DdMgMQ4z6_6cLRs0WnM5uSdiEKj2dG63l5f4ki3GVTsiKq1AA-3c2r60iLlkk9jm367WxJoQKLsVjtEzYcPQIwiRxS8MP1ma/s400/Twiglets.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Not Twiglets but wood anemone rhizomes</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJNaMwr9qpkng_VbkdnHY_6TEC6TknrysfEsGwI3WhbIxcc4YPZ-AmvKlWfFmmeCfpSDpZIVZ_Vrb48e_LjheaQJM04pfMvrRQQwW7fW-sBq_eiC3uygp5-3kqebKe05m5md706UpffEO/s1600/Steve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJNaMwr9qpkng_VbkdnHY_6TEC6TknrysfEsGwI3WhbIxcc4YPZ-AmvKlWfFmmeCfpSDpZIVZ_Vrb48e_LjheaQJM04pfMvrRQQwW7fW-sBq_eiC3uygp5-3kqebKe05m5md706UpffEO/s400/Steve.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Steve prepares a slot for some rhizomes</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzSutje7dABMEUz2Bzl52L62VPXX2ZyGTXuFHQAHpdWvNh_PgPnXraTsCDsvtYP0h-fwdlcLNHC6AxdYSWhibB1YymeevG2nbNqan_bzn9nNmlDPoMXscxDJrKnyHn4Nwox-Zv3RrSqFR/s1600/Planters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzSutje7dABMEUz2Bzl52L62VPXX2ZyGTXuFHQAHpdWvNh_PgPnXraTsCDsvtYP0h-fwdlcLNHC6AxdYSWhibB1YymeevG2nbNqan_bzn9nNmlDPoMXscxDJrKnyHn4Nwox-Zv3RrSqFR/s400/Planters.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">More of the planting team</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">Down on Warrenhaugh crows played on the wind over
fields now empty of sheep. Further down river jackdaws, like their crow cousins,
were enjoying the blustery day until spotting a red kite to harass for a bit before
returning to their more innocent game. A heron in stately flight rightly
ignored squabbling mallard. It was a good day to be on the wander.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkZdgCxkPj3evGQHtE84cl_6g_jK6GYFXgtUP858KYIEO8_tLu3Gd41Qb2GfZCgeo8FT6ara9YBjloWtO4iHdG6sIrNO561nlUyqPEldP5eO4jLbCfpvzk0YX_bk34IKbQhYrU6m42y6bB/s1600/Sun+%2526+Trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkZdgCxkPj3evGQHtE84cl_6g_jK6GYFXgtUP858KYIEO8_tLu3Gd41Qb2GfZCgeo8FT6ara9YBjloWtO4iHdG6sIrNO561nlUyqPEldP5eO4jLbCfpvzk0YX_bk34IKbQhYrU6m42y6bB/s400/Sun+%2526+Trees.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Sunlight through the trees</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">Nearby, just below the icehouse, Ruth and John were
barrowing hefty river-smoothed rocks up an extremely steep path to line a
streambed and thereby limit erosion. They had already shored up the stream
banks and installed drainage to control the flow of water seeping from the
adjacent hillside. They are extraordinary people: Gibside’s own volunteer civil
engineers.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNuJ7-wA9MNaSke8ZMso1R42gvV_QxgtL57VQclkfNGCpumKeNZKFudcagfWjmI-SN5_tmR62RDA-3rpcRhJEbk0tTE9nTaxytzRbI5CJi1lKS1BpC5OkkYpnOI3tMukQsmdIKgWCRCIBO/s1600/Starting+point.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNuJ7-wA9MNaSke8ZMso1R42gvV_QxgtL57VQclkfNGCpumKeNZKFudcagfWjmI-SN5_tmR62RDA-3rpcRhJEbk0tTE9nTaxytzRbI5CJi1lKS1BpC5OkkYpnOI3tMukQsmdIKgWCRCIBO/s400/Starting+point.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Birches in Snipes Dene, before.</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><i></i><b></b><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">The wanderer crossed Ladyhaugh and on to Snipes Dene,
where the rest of the team were busy cutting out mainly birch and rhododendron
to create a woodland glade. Some larger trees, though, are being spared – only
to be ring-barked and left as standing dead wood. Ranger Dan experimented by
painting some with blue-dyed herbicide. The glade is to be one of five down
this side of the valley, each of about two hundred square metres. It’s all part
of a plan made in consultation with the likes of Natural England and the
Forestry Commission to encourage a variety of ground flora, and construct
habitats attractive to amphibians, reptiles and invertebrates. They would expect
that of a triplesseye.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1YiUhQjAZDjvkwHx2h6MC_WimZ3sjmcBwZ1t15adskoqDL27hZ7IJQa11uaSobshEnYWN6vo1nsQdR61uFxFZ20A7zCo22iJNHxzZ-19Mpg7fTb-_SX9lrI6WVkUaSIqaSNGenrGs3rwp/s1600/Cut+backs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1YiUhQjAZDjvkwHx2h6MC_WimZ3sjmcBwZ1t15adskoqDL27hZ7IJQa11uaSobshEnYWN6vo1nsQdR61uFxFZ20A7zCo22iJNHxzZ-19Mpg7fTb-_SX9lrI6WVkUaSIqaSNGenrGs3rwp/s400/Cut+backs.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Mike tackles a birch</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><i></i><b></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXIoIPyYEX3Ce9uIYAgPQxn3ME7pzJLIDG48O3eneMOLBtW-eN2GZt3ZECUSbK89j7b-BhDh891M7yQJ3jLeh6jT6BOUXqjAIKMFKh4TaVGyyDhLPnjW0ZvRkppvcgiiG2OT_CfEpcGjQ/s1600/Timber.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXIoIPyYEX3Ce9uIYAgPQxn3ME7pzJLIDG48O3eneMOLBtW-eN2GZt3ZECUSbK89j7b-BhDh891M7yQJ3jLeh6jT6BOUXqjAIKMFKh4TaVGyyDhLPnjW0ZvRkppvcgiiG2OT_CfEpcGjQ/s400/Timber.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">"Timber!"</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><i></i><b></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTBChs4JW6Cx4SAWBV7_Y1DIUbGzmTVc4yEXvhIF9_B1FOEPTX7V2jcosP5dT0KTNAFPRV1C5GJHuUoolECDo7BmYcL8w_sAJ4a7IlSkgaJu3O9QAER3KUAuJQJuiW40O9y-G6dswTRkGD/s1600/Picasso.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTBChs4JW6Cx4SAWBV7_Y1DIUbGzmTVc4yEXvhIF9_B1FOEPTX7V2jcosP5dT0KTNAFPRV1C5GJHuUoolECDo7BmYcL8w_sAJ4a7IlSkgaJu3O9QAER3KUAuJQJuiW40O9y-G6dswTRkGD/s400/Picasso.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Picasso: Herbicide being painted onto ring-barked tree.</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtiTWKlIjanz8aROFdEcbkPJ7KHkoclCVRSwEFKx4zWYR0YbAd5ytVPRqJVWEaJZt75FQLDXcf2JexNe5h98E8Q20FccRhI2Ky5N76amBd1RshWoeVHAZqzycFI617pU9h9zlCCBftcim/s1600/Cleared.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtiTWKlIjanz8aROFdEcbkPJ7KHkoclCVRSwEFKx4zWYR0YbAd5ytVPRqJVWEaJZt75FQLDXcf2JexNe5h98E8Q20FccRhI2Ky5N76amBd1RshWoeVHAZqzycFI617pU9h9zlCCBftcim/s400/Cleared.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">"The Wednesday" Glade</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGu09XN9g-Ht1by1V2kqK4fjJAiVy7uinJyArOHrP9fOAV6GxaY7yKxkItFmeUdh-dtfOhX7jlcpdqU_6z7_3PtCZAKBqKDJyEN254_G0V2Eb22hvHaexC6bGEwUWvHUwW54qyp1hx38xH/s1600/dead+mans+fingers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGu09XN9g-Ht1by1V2kqK4fjJAiVy7uinJyArOHrP9fOAV6GxaY7yKxkItFmeUdh-dtfOhX7jlcpdqU_6z7_3PtCZAKBqKDJyEN254_G0V2Eb22hvHaexC6bGEwUWvHUwW54qyp1hx38xH/s400/dead+mans+fingers.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Dead Man's Fingers - Xylaria longipes</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i></i><b></b><i></i><b></b><i></i><b></b><br />
Whilst eating lunch we "spotted" an eyed ladybird (Anatis ocellata), but unfortunately didn't manage to get a photograph.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>Steve Wootten & Phil Coyne</b></div>
Phil Coynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01344249046943617558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588497199467624104.post-21484060822515808632018-10-15T10:22:00.003-07:002018-10-15T10:22:57.734-07:00Clear autumn light<b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">October 2018</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">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.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOnoLJKUVQGUB2kkoaSikjgDTL2t9tyn6emXpFNudHjdSuJtfVmW_gRtdZNDgtzsX7sykv1hYpM8vSxLIISJIxUkZy4_Oaz0AUjFF0w3Br_RMai1SRy6HE3zXeRG7QyEaRTINwAYnF2b2D/s1600/Mowing+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="804" data-original-width="1200" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOnoLJKUVQGUB2kkoaSikjgDTL2t9tyn6emXpFNudHjdSuJtfVmW_gRtdZNDgtzsX7sykv1hYpM8vSxLIISJIxUkZy4_Oaz0AUjFF0w3Br_RMai1SRy6HE3zXeRG7QyEaRTINwAYnF2b2D/s400/Mowing+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMmfdG5oqlPFLPb6R7mSP21Ot4qVkJg8odrlYyu1qcT4QRwhJ8FT-yca4C5nDsCqz1bj1gY93UtPX79hSF9_a5-XmCFc6untNbg0FiNOPHTmZCFPpUuSEuQGnPzd8_xe-ZeMJLDz-mohI/s1600/Mowing+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMmfdG5oqlPFLPb6R7mSP21Ot4qVkJg8odrlYyu1qcT4QRwhJ8FT-yca4C5nDsCqz1bj1gY93UtPX79hSF9_a5-XmCFc6untNbg0FiNOPHTmZCFPpUuSEuQGnPzd8_xe-ZeMJLDz-mohI/s400/Mowing+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Mike mows The Avenue</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
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.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtaPwrSPpT11oq7O75jrfGCjj27hoicz4wluD8mRwvlVALOEleAvzeXGeB3HLceIuvtZqJLtSBjjqc04Sq9ET6bZ1gPeAuXTWZOgvcEwA8H8RYbZJmRmo7OT7n7l73xp0a-YkLFsxcZrfS/s1600/Tangle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtaPwrSPpT11oq7O75jrfGCjj27hoicz4wluD8mRwvlVALOEleAvzeXGeB3HLceIuvtZqJLtSBjjqc04Sq9ET6bZ1gPeAuXTWZOgvcEwA8H8RYbZJmRmo7OT7n7l73xp0a-YkLFsxcZrfS/s400/Tangle.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">A tangled mess</span></i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiouvPXCJt1zStm8e9lDFonS6UH5-ouoa4lzO84Ei9fLBJiwwFQpL6RDtxvxN0zD4WsF-1dcl-U4Xd2ngG7v8ikoRl29cpZ-wzgArkSgacOt_D7KyDn6EW8k1q2j191cknMc2M4Iws2ToVe/s1600/Cleared.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiouvPXCJt1zStm8e9lDFonS6UH5-ouoa4lzO84Ei9fLBJiwwFQpL6RDtxvxN0zD4WsF-1dcl-U4Xd2ngG7v8ikoRl29cpZ-wzgArkSgacOt_D7KyDn6EW8k1q2j191cknMc2M4Iws2ToVe/s400/Cleared.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Cleared patch, adjoining hazel in top left corner. </span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><i></i><b></b><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
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.</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
Autumn also brings lots of fungi to the surface. Here are
just a few recent finds:</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXy4nNcLCAzO5vaS3fhUrJeOnpZTihhosvfUYzGDjb7aYtcXMX9eqm3TfBY9_rLWf8vPHQovjVaaBvEsGJ7ENemeU5WcNxy1VQWSY1IoLv878f25f8jgKFoyzeD9ZM8yJ11mUfWR1wudG/s1600/Glistening+inkcap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXy4nNcLCAzO5vaS3fhUrJeOnpZTihhosvfUYzGDjb7aYtcXMX9eqm3TfBY9_rLWf8vPHQovjVaaBvEsGJ7ENemeU5WcNxy1VQWSY1IoLv878f25f8jgKFoyzeD9ZM8yJ11mUfWR1wudG/s400/Glistening+inkcap.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Glistening inkcaps</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><i></i><b></b><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPxoVFpuO1HEVql_jRUY-fCKFJOPaohk_KXCZLjDxBxI40u5x1CpyCylZtt2uYnuTv-bpuDvlmXbry8bbbWsVAF5nQE_Ms7FoJCvQXhFtxdUTjYTR3XbXwFdeO5DqpoZ_v3A0XT5lTNw3/s1600/Shaggy+inkcaps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPxoVFpuO1HEVql_jRUY-fCKFJOPaohk_KXCZLjDxBxI40u5x1CpyCylZtt2uYnuTv-bpuDvlmXbry8bbbWsVAF5nQE_Ms7FoJCvQXhFtxdUTjYTR3XbXwFdeO5DqpoZ_v3A0XT5lTNw3/s400/Shaggy+inkcaps.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;"><b><i>Shaggy inkcaps</i></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><b></b><i></i><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPj0DPiuWjPYcO-H7Von8TJI6s4en8ymO6l3G06n_rh5470S52Gy26veez6rHTh_vBuY_d7LCbwhNtKOcp1Q-uoQFUGrvNuz8hf9D1cXCMVVY2uXaZblBAbFxlqi_F7YsKiKGJnpeZG5BW/s1600/Puffball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPj0DPiuWjPYcO-H7Von8TJI6s4en8ymO6l3G06n_rh5470S52Gy26veez6rHTh_vBuY_d7LCbwhNtKOcp1Q-uoQFUGrvNuz8hf9D1cXCMVVY2uXaZblBAbFxlqi_F7YsKiKGJnpeZG5BW/s400/Puffball.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Puffballs</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzGPDaJob6_p4j6n1D1ohgfOIBjDa4-4BBg8j0yt08k3A1trEOJiU57tH7tKMhGGsqN7fkFMnDN0S8jjbqOAO-B0zMhyphenhyphenuLUDSzDVnxjCuv2T1CNYOJOf8v-_vmc2uxbL13sr88ob0jJS1O/s1600/Puffballs+puffing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzGPDaJob6_p4j6n1D1ohgfOIBjDa4-4BBg8j0yt08k3A1trEOJiU57tH7tKMhGGsqN7fkFMnDN0S8jjbqOAO-B0zMhyphenhyphenuLUDSzDVnxjCuv2T1CNYOJOf8v-_vmc2uxbL13sr88ob0jJS1O/s400/Puffballs+puffing.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Puffballs - puffing</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLp88ltCytU9Cjlu404Fai7miKXwgxw4VHaGWUbC7oYc5j5PJEPaFULlbQvWR7gKdLUFmxjGXKtiudZuAnjH3diIKtjbsihnEO23L9VLIuErGfcTAc1-lgf_zr8Wt-93_G3O60rDHHVS8x/s1600/Jelly+ear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLp88ltCytU9Cjlu404Fai7miKXwgxw4VHaGWUbC7oYc5j5PJEPaFULlbQvWR7gKdLUFmxjGXKtiudZuAnjH3diIKtjbsihnEO23L9VLIuErGfcTAc1-lgf_zr8Wt-93_G3O60rDHHVS8x/s400/Jelly+ear.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Jelly ear</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpe3pVRaFKwok_wX2Yje7YyEoQVHG7oYDjMNPs-G1KZGSj2iXfUKKCYPJAk2R0CN_CrNycKjoJOhwQjCL46aEg7iNk9bIh73HUMpXxfX4UCN8cE6TJpcZGKVAYu42BqUhP0VZW401prcAR/s1600/Russula.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpe3pVRaFKwok_wX2Yje7YyEoQVHG7oYDjMNPs-G1KZGSj2iXfUKKCYPJAk2R0CN_CrNycKjoJOhwQjCL46aEg7iNk9bIh73HUMpXxfX4UCN8cE6TJpcZGKVAYu42BqUhP0VZW401prcAR/s400/Russula.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Russula sp.</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i></i><b></b><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><i></i><b></b><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><i></i><b></b><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><i></i><b></b><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYC990AzsECJJEjU0zHZLISNxS-jUwDvi7dRiPIJabQGP6wNpPF_FTKh9UH6eLNRUHI_j_jLCg1HihdvAijKfURvJIbHzg022I2nIMm9W1Atc9J8FGA5KnelPqU9stxZzgdg0lkFHUPLIi/s1600/Pholiota+sp+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYC990AzsECJJEjU0zHZLISNxS-jUwDvi7dRiPIJabQGP6wNpPF_FTKh9UH6eLNRUHI_j_jLCg1HihdvAijKfURvJIbHzg022I2nIMm9W1Atc9J8FGA5KnelPqU9stxZzgdg0lkFHUPLIi/s400/Pholiota+sp+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Pholiota sp.</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGu8CdB6JEath3_naRJftgHwfGTX1VZv_67inrq3CGkqztk1Q6QBoj4REXLpxtlGhQ1lHKtbtogs15QQ2fUKTp8cXvYvnJBFmosdvh51VuihwNqyZYQnjBYuT4HTIzA1YD0POnGD4iuGHq/s1600/Fly+agaric.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGu8CdB6JEath3_naRJftgHwfGTX1VZv_67inrq3CGkqztk1Q6QBoj4REXLpxtlGhQ1lHKtbtogs15QQ2fUKTp8cXvYvnJBFmosdvh51VuihwNqyZYQnjBYuT4HTIzA1YD0POnGD4iuGHq/s400/Fly+agaric.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Fly agaric</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdg96dqglnei6wE44HuFqDa0Ceqzopby49RAhrI3fIjN5KvPGYZNfa81XxTzZMNY13gCC9PbciTSx-_fyfRdvFjpL4wf6DF3WphM2SHCE3ZFTHdJDjoezYrRCJzRdHgp-wgvTQuIgMC22r/s1600/Fungi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdg96dqglnei6wE44HuFqDa0Ceqzopby49RAhrI3fIjN5KvPGYZNfa81XxTzZMNY13gCC9PbciTSx-_fyfRdvFjpL4wf6DF3WphM2SHCE3ZFTHdJDjoezYrRCJzRdHgp-wgvTQuIgMC22r/s400/Fungi.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Fungal cascade</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i></i><b></b><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><i></i><b></b><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><i></i><b></b><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwAy3uyxq-L_5jjbF4DqJH_X_Sg87yfhGKnoGVqL_bxDxsaYOERw6R4TvZiaeQ_roVSf2jpDUNIy9ynhO4h2VRw8UBmc3BiwqjJHNAVQP3jAhyphenhyphenOmWKbQTVrDXvVEeG2SSibo4xBn7ZCY7L/s1600/Sulphur+tuft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwAy3uyxq-L_5jjbF4DqJH_X_Sg87yfhGKnoGVqL_bxDxsaYOERw6R4TvZiaeQ_roVSf2jpDUNIy9ynhO4h2VRw8UBmc3BiwqjJHNAVQP3jAhyphenhyphenOmWKbQTVrDXvVEeG2SSibo4xBn7ZCY7L/s400/Sulphur+tuft.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Sulphur tuft</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
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.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg95cQf6P0dnMLSuUO1x-v8UtAlJEtPDLrZEQtq18I4Bl7BqXe5Yz7o4AOgYUWo3yBbYOKkCU8CTjl9FoSk_EN1TZzwpZFmJPBOp6-SX_K40dG5BM1etAyjb9HuMLTWglx7nEFObE4iNWbk/s1600/Terry+%2526+Mary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg95cQf6P0dnMLSuUO1x-v8UtAlJEtPDLrZEQtq18I4Bl7BqXe5Yz7o4AOgYUWo3yBbYOKkCU8CTjl9FoSk_EN1TZzwpZFmJPBOp6-SX_K40dG5BM1etAyjb9HuMLTWglx7nEFObE4iNWbk/s400/Terry+%2526+Mary.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Mary & Terry</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><i></i><b></b><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div>
</span></span><div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Steve Wootten & Phil Coyne</span></b></span></span></div>
</div>
Phil Coynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01344249046943617558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588497199467624104.post-9763259186849127352018-09-25T12:47:00.000-07:002018-09-25T12:47:02.557-07:00Hope and experience<b>September 2018</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">At the lower turning circle close to where Snipes Dene meets
the River Derwent, we came across three Comma butterflies. For us it was an
exciting find – perhaps not a rarity, but not an insect we see often. We
mentioned our sighting to Ranger Phil at the end of the day. “Was that down by
the lower turning circle?” he asked. We have come to expect such a response:
there is very little that this man of nature does not know about the flora,
fauna and landscape of Gibside Estate. He knew, too, about the Holly Blue
feeding on the nipplewort the week before in an otherwise near desert of felled
trees in West Wood.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpOkxA998zRWJcws4Yr24sCEHyUiwm5AaprwfK9K-RiBQVYV97JhMNDbuVqd1ZzzJzBbltQFxRjQZu6SRcKSy7CQnN4pI-3wUJpifnQGGjo1V9F5rWXExaL9tNvt1Vlo9clkvCsv6Kq8E/s1600/Comma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpOkxA998zRWJcws4Yr24sCEHyUiwm5AaprwfK9K-RiBQVYV97JhMNDbuVqd1ZzzJzBbltQFxRjQZu6SRcKSy7CQnN4pI-3wUJpifnQGGjo1V9F5rWXExaL9tNvt1Vlo9clkvCsv6Kq8E/s400/Comma.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Comma butterfly</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC83o8zX61jMW444Ep9sF1juSQrAf9z-_3B-GuFnLLtAlzQ3RoDh8mRqCKs_c88ma5yz7hUGsFuAQ4Oq61SrsDkbvkeMWOjPIqI660WAFiTKar0PIH0DjR-NQqr179pfn3Vvv4iNkDYvgo/s1600/Holly+blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC83o8zX61jMW444Ep9sF1juSQrAf9z-_3B-GuFnLLtAlzQ3RoDh8mRqCKs_c88ma5yz7hUGsFuAQ4Oq61SrsDkbvkeMWOjPIqI660WAFiTKar0PIH0DjR-NQqr179pfn3Vvv4iNkDYvgo/s400/Holly+blue.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Holly blue butterfly</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdMi8g_A-3hISTrkSgzAwL_wRkA_jwahudWRyT23aldvxmz_bqfub3TZ8BX-VW5wA3I8fxWufr0jfYO5-iq4JJ36n5Tw4r84R3L69nqBCEpedSSJjHGL5FjQDvaNz578nzBYsUv96KYvQ/s1600/Speckled+wood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdMi8g_A-3hISTrkSgzAwL_wRkA_jwahudWRyT23aldvxmz_bqfub3TZ8BX-VW5wA3I8fxWufr0jfYO5-iq4JJ36n5Tw4r84R3L69nqBCEpedSSJjHGL5FjQDvaNz578nzBYsUv96KYvQ/s400/Speckled+wood.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Speckled wood butterfly</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The daunting task of clearing the leftovers from the felling
in West Wood continues in preparation for planting native species come winter.
Close to half has been cleared, but it seems unlikely that the whole area will
be ready. It’s hard work, and tedious.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VgwVMjMwYMkQgXszANHkAsFXA_XXcffeLLoIV8FbVFehvqWLsDWMHrUgy20uPvr7LA48_rNg_VLhVsb1TcdGdbSmYS3R_rDapKJYfws14SIQ0IkOZ-0lbb5_vSJqN3y_TMnVtUQtLs0w/s1600/Before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VgwVMjMwYMkQgXszANHkAsFXA_XXcffeLLoIV8FbVFehvqWLsDWMHrUgy20uPvr7LA48_rNg_VLhVsb1TcdGdbSmYS3R_rDapKJYfws14SIQ0IkOZ-0lbb5_vSJqN3y_TMnVtUQtLs0w/s400/Before.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Brash before the great clear-up in West Woods</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><i></i><b></b><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPzxqJ1k8y2Dkr6E_zsjbiLjTo7S0I5IYWj7EtkBuzHhqtfmdxYLq_iW2f5GQO89snElCTryKMB7N_PJpxlcBYFTm6RjAscF4yZqrLXJGhmYuiawdxVSAvo89HejUA0ior_2X13sQKU6G/s1600/Clearing+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPzxqJ1k8y2Dkr6E_zsjbiLjTo7S0I5IYWj7EtkBuzHhqtfmdxYLq_iW2f5GQO89snElCTryKMB7N_PJpxlcBYFTm6RjAscF4yZqrLXJGhmYuiawdxVSAvo89HejUA0ior_2X13sQKU6G/s400/Clearing+up.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Hard at work</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZpaiSFQ9IoYDdn94sWqMb9gpGuPqdINXzZqVxvd-aMs09vmtNZe8nVyUUyG2rqETxj1jlT8k0x0pRDqQQv5-Lj8uXGlBid7QW9EXIu4FMCDTJQdsLSko7qh0DNN9PJKlDTaoVFy9kjFv/s1600/After+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZpaiSFQ9IoYDdn94sWqMb9gpGuPqdINXzZqVxvd-aMs09vmtNZe8nVyUUyG2rqETxj1jlT8k0x0pRDqQQv5-Lj8uXGlBid7QW9EXIu4FMCDTJQdsLSko7qh0DNN9PJKlDTaoVFy9kjFv/s400/After+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZuxqsb4zt4go1UIy4sru8UbXiQ59Kda32jpnmuql-EEs6gT8fJfkRG_OAJ629Nmpnf7IP3vLp92WgcGAw8KdSjpNGJoj20oq_Bq9fqQhyL7zbYeHareahp7AvcZIM8gyHBWEFoPwb3cU/s1600/After+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZuxqsb4zt4go1UIy4sru8UbXiQ59Kda32jpnmuql-EEs6gT8fJfkRG_OAJ629Nmpnf7IP3vLp92WgcGAw8KdSjpNGJoj20oq_Bq9fqQhyL7zbYeHareahp7AvcZIM8gyHBWEFoPwb3cU/s400/After+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">After the clear-up</span></b></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTJocpsU6ibgyfheaxfvfLXixW0b-AKoyk74II6QLiaInt-37AB6ucGqzb6tl6NaPfuxTWfIk0aPR4CZjkGzFeN_VFxRl_d6l0BIdlgDKhJJFWSV_MFJw6YuD3UMPhjbaPKGR1T3jTZGE/s1600/Break.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTJocpsU6ibgyfheaxfvfLXixW0b-AKoyk74II6QLiaInt-37AB6ucGqzb6tl6NaPfuxTWfIk0aPR4CZjkGzFeN_VFxRl_d6l0BIdlgDKhJJFWSV_MFJw6YuD3UMPhjbaPKGR1T3jTZGE/s400/Break.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">A well earned break</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">By way of change from the toil of removing the West Wood
brash, some went off to thin out trees by the Octagon Pond; others cleared the
blocked drainage channels on the nearby track. We two, along with Terry and
Mary, set about an end of season visit to our grass snake monitoring sites. At
each we made a final check under the ACOs (That stands for Artificial Cover
Objects. Artificial cover objects are bits of corrugated iron), and stacked
them out of sight until next year, then sorted through the nest heaps for any
evidence of grass snake activity. Of course reader, as you will have worked out
for yourself by now, they are not really nest heaps because nothing ever nests
in them – well, certainly not grass snakes. Still, we live in hope even if
experience gives us no reason to do so.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNvomNotGIIUU2YEOJV4cYWx281EkkKlg5sJXP6C5TA-n5a70SGR5vvmPtyBG2vlnA7QzJ7V9ENSaAuDDvg1i8rv7GsVdP277ngwe_pRnZ9Or-D4kKeTlJluD2cDKTN98-OUUbARjRMMl/s1600/Hunt+the+snake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1200" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNvomNotGIIUU2YEOJV4cYWx281EkkKlg5sJXP6C5TA-n5a70SGR5vvmPtyBG2vlnA7QzJ7V9ENSaAuDDvg1i8rv7GsVdP277ngwe_pRnZ9Or-D4kKeTlJluD2cDKTN98-OUUbARjRMMl/s400/Hunt+the+snake.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Hunt the ACO at the Lily Pond</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><i></i><b></b><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There were other creatures making good use of our tins
though. The ACOs often shelter toads, ants and field voles. They’re not what
we’re looking for but seeing them is its own reward, and brings a little
excitement to our day. It would be nice, though, if someone were to slip in a
few grass snakes. Reintroduction we would call it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>Steve Wootten & Phil Coyne</b></div>
Phil Coynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01344249046943617558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588497199467624104.post-36067590992916632542018-08-26T12:27:00.001-07:002018-08-26T12:27:47.941-07:00A repair job<b>August 2018</b><br />
<b></b><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">The strimming had been finished by the time we got
there, which was a good thing. We avoid mechanical noise when we can, though
some others on the team love the gadgetry of strimmers and mowers and the like.
The walled garden and its surroundings had become a bit overgrown, despite
weeks of heat, sunshine, and little rain. At this time of year, the pond has to
be left alone so as not to disturb the wildlife – in particular, the large population
of great-crested newts. For the same reason, the surrounding vegetation has to
be left long and dense enough to maintain a safe understorey - if that’s the
right term to use.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0FLfRT_Y-k0lPPDkRhq30sChe0hSVhXnpt5xtnQ32ZV5nLRv_fzd4UDr_vZ4OiUfeovW9G-4owcvUaxhrQIKDS3b8Fpv0DWp48OvsPpUelNF6bqbjiRj_fhyphenhyphen_uaUoG-bJ_fqesQQJaen7/s1600/Raking+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0FLfRT_Y-k0lPPDkRhq30sChe0hSVhXnpt5xtnQ32ZV5nLRv_fzd4UDr_vZ4OiUfeovW9G-4owcvUaxhrQIKDS3b8Fpv0DWp48OvsPpUelNF6bqbjiRj_fhyphenhyphen_uaUoG-bJ_fqesQQJaen7/s400/Raking+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_nxMnJMoGWzozLYGFIPeYAWFSCggaMajg-cCkdVOOWAe0Sz4fZ77OZ6fpr7If-9xYdARfeBDMSDKcFf2tVV2L6V-9rtRQRzMgBxicB-3nmFqLop1uvLzQeMblmLB8wCcSxtUjK0Mq7UU/s1600/Raking+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_nxMnJMoGWzozLYGFIPeYAWFSCggaMajg-cCkdVOOWAe0Sz4fZ77OZ6fpr7If-9xYdARfeBDMSDKcFf2tVV2L6V-9rtRQRzMgBxicB-3nmFqLop1uvLzQeMblmLB8wCcSxtUjK0Mq7UU/s400/Raking+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Raking</span></b></i></td></tr>
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<i></i><b></b><br /></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">We raked up the cut grass, willow herb, thistles and
brambles and dumped them out of sight down a steep bank in nearby woods. We had
also cut back willow shrubbery where it was encroaching on the pond, but that
was to be put to good use.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8kD2PNaeBXhB90bxIJLcq2Y_nEWiIzs-wzcf-AqJHEuXiuHkgy_dYjafyLZSxX75PL7sqsHfnlovIJN_hdZc8-jdDQhqyYMLdcZeByf8emPaniFeSUUwd1xKE4oaucf3wqe-14gSwTk-4/s1600/Lauren.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8kD2PNaeBXhB90bxIJLcq2Y_nEWiIzs-wzcf-AqJHEuXiuHkgy_dYjafyLZSxX75PL7sqsHfnlovIJN_hdZc8-jdDQhqyYMLdcZeByf8emPaniFeSUUwd1xKE4oaucf3wqe-14gSwTk-4/s400/Lauren.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Filling the bags</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgElHj2AUlQgHV4tdS2k2zO70KKmwN9zl-JF4pN6_qfENvi0eMujZyWyPPBtsbwWY9qPmQniIGopqLW26mrlWqCkBlDNUxo6CdPLVtrkVVY0seVlWx03tOkY64rGG8MWvfm_xE12V0Y1XX7/s1600/Cutting+back+the+willow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgElHj2AUlQgHV4tdS2k2zO70KKmwN9zl-JF4pN6_qfENvi0eMujZyWyPPBtsbwWY9qPmQniIGopqLW26mrlWqCkBlDNUxo6CdPLVtrkVVY0seVlWx03tOkY64rGG8MWvfm_xE12V0Y1XX7/s400/Cutting+back+the+willow.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Tackling the willow</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">Uphill from the stables, on the fringe of the West
Wood, is the Playscape – a woodland area of things to play in and on. The
recently added feature of a woven, living willow dome had died. We mocked the
skill level of the rangers who had constructed it, but that was, perhaps,
unfair given this summer’s weather. A nearby willow tunnel, constructed by your
bloggers two years ago with help from volunteers Terry and Mary, is
thriving.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But that’s probably not so
much to do with our weaving skills as being well-established and sited in a
near-permanently damp hollow. We used the willow cut from the walled garden to
strengthen and green it – this time with help from Lorna and David. It’s not
the best time of year to do it but, with a bit of moisture, willow usually
takes root.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4S4h-jMDRh8r9w702yKb00rObU7BCooDN18EpZw50bkBvAFBaEce_tsmUwHL-YeS_jpwFYbLso2esYjHTxlhQC7fYWVd85QutHfqbeUEJYmWPd4enW_NokGHBz0QYroT8gC2CPzZ-nG4e/s1600/Dome+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4S4h-jMDRh8r9w702yKb00rObU7BCooDN18EpZw50bkBvAFBaEce_tsmUwHL-YeS_jpwFYbLso2esYjHTxlhQC7fYWVd85QutHfqbeUEJYmWPd4enW_NokGHBz0QYroT8gC2CPzZ-nG4e/s640/Dome+1.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Repairing the dome</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeBccmzkvVGxp7SoNAm02iIfCj3gY0dYwxwxw1jbVgPRQepxzSf8FqNRwT-tXlIyf4zXETyq4x7NHrQtxQ0XLvGXayqnXSJDoJw43nnmJesuK28AFoVV7q1PYdb0CdADfo0T3T9BM1P0O0/s1600/Dome+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeBccmzkvVGxp7SoNAm02iIfCj3gY0dYwxwxw1jbVgPRQepxzSf8FqNRwT-tXlIyf4zXETyq4x7NHrQtxQ0XLvGXayqnXSJDoJw43nnmJesuK28AFoVV7q1PYdb0CdADfo0T3T9BM1P0O0/s640/Dome+2.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">The finished job</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">Whilst we were doing that, some of the team planted
willow cuttings in the collapsing banks of the stream that runs through the
trees, and others replaced decayed rails on the log bridge that spans it.
Children gathered, eager to be the first to cross.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">It was another warm day. Jobs done, we took our lunch
beside Octagon Pond and sat watching common darters (a species of dragonfly) come
and go, and a little grebe repeatedly dive, surfacing only briefly. Apart from observing
the wildlife, it was interesting to study the contents of lunch boxes. Clearly
visible was beetroot in buns, and someone even had olives.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Thought people only did that sort of thing in
Mediterranean countries; maybe it’s the weather.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCSk777CmSFPIQKOuEy5UDVL1tdRjGYU_ZCeEUcj1xP-90s9Y3w9FBxyEBCPpGFhVNfjnK6aQDSvO_iWIl5NdosiPWNL4QAf-5d1WlIo7sylncoU6jC4THKQ-QJuk74SI7rEjQ0LnZRni/s1600/Do+not+disturb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCSk777CmSFPIQKOuEy5UDVL1tdRjGYU_ZCeEUcj1xP-90s9Y3w9FBxyEBCPpGFhVNfjnK6aQDSvO_iWIl5NdosiPWNL4QAf-5d1WlIo7sylncoU6jC4THKQ-QJuk74SI7rEjQ0LnZRni/s400/Do+not+disturb.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">DO NOT DISTURB!</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmjYyz1Q8jkUYLRxMcfAPcQSBrfo_lfKv7RIr55x00qrXhCmSWfhrb3Q7SDcIKgUMj740L5n0b026caPboaAvwzg8bAO8Gx04ErjRVRYiZZEBu7RBePagAHIuBfgkfoAQRJBU06UDMC-8q/s1600/Common+darter+%2528male%2529+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmjYyz1Q8jkUYLRxMcfAPcQSBrfo_lfKv7RIr55x00qrXhCmSWfhrb3Q7SDcIKgUMj740L5n0b026caPboaAvwzg8bAO8Gx04ErjRVRYiZZEBu7RBePagAHIuBfgkfoAQRJBU06UDMC-8q/s400/Common+darter+%2528male%2529+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Male Common darter</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKEYWYF8w9ON2bm2-8UG9in-cK3qQAc1daJ176X-irxrM-0rbDKs6MFYs-LAXvtqMhibRyZJFnkh_mHVvLgUWS478utJRHwiO0v29hqTEKXhd5tIwx8bEo65j7v14ZZk7OUc7N_vJTUITr/s1600/Common+darter+%2528female%2529+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKEYWYF8w9ON2bm2-8UG9in-cK3qQAc1daJ176X-irxrM-0rbDKs6MFYs-LAXvtqMhibRyZJFnkh_mHVvLgUWS478utJRHwiO0v29hqTEKXhd5tIwx8bEo65j7v14ZZk7OUc7N_vJTUITr/s400/Common+darter+%2528female%2529+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Female Common darter</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi1lXPyw5AhIYwINwk1G0ND8oBn2IMM9U6OxH1hRvU4nUW0N48OTBiq7pZ0eN_52HwiYj8uVg_LgumW8bvHW8X1EhV0FRHw4nCM4cOtCGIYXGhI1cboDTT3zrysoDcqpHAC0asi5HYEbBB/s1600/Harvest+time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi1lXPyw5AhIYwINwk1G0ND8oBn2IMM9U6OxH1hRvU4nUW0N48OTBiq7pZ0eN_52HwiYj8uVg_LgumW8bvHW8X1EhV0FRHw4nCM4cOtCGIYXGhI1cboDTT3zrysoDcqpHAC0asi5HYEbBB/s400/Harvest+time.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">H<i><b><span style="font-size: small;">arvest time</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56q3eAwoScjIYD9buCpw7ekPAxSZwP96-p-jnzqCM3qdDSI26RMETdlP6g_dG97cFcF0mc3CUDTlERPnkrs-JYrbParCyOkRk7WfDwc3yVFwEC_1nM5vDqLRDshhSVxmcUb1uurD9vXcG/s1600/French+beaans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56q3eAwoScjIYD9buCpw7ekPAxSZwP96-p-jnzqCM3qdDSI26RMETdlP6g_dG97cFcF0mc3CUDTlERPnkrs-JYrbParCyOkRk7WfDwc3yVFwEC_1nM5vDqLRDshhSVxmcUb1uurD9vXcG/s400/French+beaans.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">French beans</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9s3kUoUgcYYkqng0qC3NZzFZp4WNpuZAo0WwqDmui2o3_zeb2z3hVLeSY7dXCLvtl1ldTjzcQQZTvEm-jvmzIcQU4thhZiVASuSl-DIw2THSjs0AHxpudjLqx70O8ygu8q-DWLz28EpZ2/s1600/Globe+artichoke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9s3kUoUgcYYkqng0qC3NZzFZp4WNpuZAo0WwqDmui2o3_zeb2z3hVLeSY7dXCLvtl1ldTjzcQQZTvEm-jvmzIcQU4thhZiVASuSl-DIw2THSjs0AHxpudjLqx70O8ygu8q-DWLz28EpZ2/s400/Globe+artichoke.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Globe artichoke</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRlZi1XNHaUlsZTNGqhbSmbUou40dDfWDxOR4X6_KQoZ4SpQeQutOuxSemM48O0XbG046HTOGGYFiVeijix3JcCpoFm1QLBINSYACfFVPFDMGLWbAQU-fupr2MI6dBVeP-uHXgYqpWGTfC/s1600/Produce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRlZi1XNHaUlsZTNGqhbSmbUou40dDfWDxOR4X6_KQoZ4SpQeQutOuxSemM48O0XbG046HTOGGYFiVeijix3JcCpoFm1QLBINSYACfFVPFDMGLWbAQU-fupr2MI6dBVeP-uHXgYqpWGTfC/s400/Produce.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Surplus produce awaits a good home</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg83jN2h53UwuKRxtsylVJmZBHMN0ZbLowl6zNd5shhIwWYIuw8evH7kMGbRntyhp6sYr53FLKGmcugS-asSQ1zjggCxqzUnedrQwiLbmabVKZBDKbogWnt42JxIm-EmVUOrF_p3XBrwIS/s1600/Colour+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg83jN2h53UwuKRxtsylVJmZBHMN0ZbLowl6zNd5shhIwWYIuw8evH7kMGbRntyhp6sYr53FLKGmcugS-asSQ1zjggCxqzUnedrQwiLbmabVKZBDKbogWnt42JxIm-EmVUOrF_p3XBrwIS/s640/Colour+1.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qF5MaPUvAniPYFhyphenhyphenJTbce-F0pxcsfNRou9sFrAZwEepfFtIUy-IR2d6o229GEzqXT2kKAjeTYdlQ7GWDDanJ97jiw_ZriJyvVLIiYxdgXg5F4rcHvUaI0F8ANUBHt0dER-IqVXM9k0Il/s1600/Colour+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qF5MaPUvAniPYFhyphenhyphenJTbce-F0pxcsfNRou9sFrAZwEepfFtIUy-IR2d6o229GEzqXT2kKAjeTYdlQ7GWDDanJ97jiw_ZriJyvVLIiYxdgXg5F4rcHvUaI0F8ANUBHt0dER-IqVXM9k0Il/s400/Colour+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicCSJ3C2sRDhqXI7C4jB0TvuZhqUgtlc751XB56GFDrT9SeGFqny20E2voZ1CoLBho5AV8NBD4z1U9yGkzF_iEfgaJLhq43ogvccO7g8eOStqFxWj_G5dkeSff-HCY3FrBujtoHzO6qaWH/s1600/Colour+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicCSJ3C2sRDhqXI7C4jB0TvuZhqUgtlc751XB56GFDrT9SeGFqny20E2voZ1CoLBho5AV8NBD4z1U9yGkzF_iEfgaJLhq43ogvccO7g8eOStqFxWj_G5dkeSff-HCY3FrBujtoHzO6qaWH/s400/Colour+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">A riot of colour in The Walled Garden</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>Steve Wootten & Phil Coyne</b></div>
Phil Coynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01344249046943617558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588497199467624104.post-32222309973261703562018-08-02T01:56:00.000-07:002018-08-02T01:56:44.422-07:00Snipes Dene<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><b>July 2018</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Snipes
Dene is thriving. It must be some eight or nine years ago since much of the
valley was laid waste by the removal of the Forestry Commission’s timber crop.
A large part of that crop was western hemlock – a fast growing North American
import. That’s good for business perhaps but, for Gibside Rangers and us
volunteers, it’s just another non-native, invasive species to control. And
that’s a battle. Over the intervening years, we must have pulled up tens of
thousands of western hemlock saplings. There will be more battles ahead, but
it’s safe to say the war is won.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQXBZl8N8n-fJvdvgwqsWBEAPO6w8gxamtqxixibD4lw0oRgn9uJmGzXGV9b9LgmjyLsikkdjDQ12dQ5OWS7C2hZXcDzsDW3jwmSudDioj08CIRBShwGwwOdTAma_N91Di9C7KkxkqrzB/s1600/Snipes+dene+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQXBZl8N8n-fJvdvgwqsWBEAPO6w8gxamtqxixibD4lw0oRgn9uJmGzXGV9b9LgmjyLsikkdjDQ12dQ5OWS7C2hZXcDzsDW3jwmSudDioj08CIRBShwGwwOdTAma_N91Di9C7KkxkqrzB/s400/Snipes+dene+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">Snipes Dene regeneration</span></i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"></span>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;">In the summer
of 2011 we selected a section of the Dene to survey and, over the next few
years attempted to monitor its regeneration. At the start, this was a leisurely
enough pursuit. The ground was largely free of cover, and provided with some
substantial tree stumps on which to drink coffee, eat sandwiches, and study
nature. Our survey area was roughly demarcated by a few oak, beech, birch and
sycamore which had been left standing. Along with existing holly and alder, all
had soon produced saplings. Broom, gorse and rowan were early colonisers too,
together with patches of stinging nettles, red campion, ling, bilberry and lots
of foxgloves. For the best part though, the ground remained bare, its decaying
wood seemingly only populated by hordes of spiders. Quite what they were eating
was a mystery; there wasn’t even an ant or woodlouse to be seen.</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPPdfHfnmkF2hlER-qHSgaOLAocrs0bCIPspyUHQB8DFrGNzmYqvq2c4uTRaLiMQlWb0A6xtrEgLdyI0Cc4Ns2h_h65R_6fM1jxzZcAovZRX9LReWa4KM19XuPzdDUF2bLhCYbS2Qw_lg/s1600/New+rowans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPPdfHfnmkF2hlER-qHSgaOLAocrs0bCIPspyUHQB8DFrGNzmYqvq2c4uTRaLiMQlWb0A6xtrEgLdyI0Cc4Ns2h_h65R_6fM1jxzZcAovZRX9LReWa4KM19XuPzdDUF2bLhCYbS2Qw_lg/s400/New+rowans.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">New Rowan trees</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"></span>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Two years
later, we recorded many more touches of colour, and grasses, rushes, bramble
and raspberry were well established. In the summer of 2015 we gave up; the site
had become impenetrable. Elsewhere in the Dene the rate of regeneration had
been patchy, and had been boosted by the planting of a good mix of native
broadleaf. Although we still have to get in there and cut out the persistent
western hemlock and rhododendron, today Snipes Dene is a fine wooded valley.
And so it should be: along with much of Gibside, it is a designated Site of
Special Scientific Interest.</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHA4r5FoKJb9XA3eJk2xMlqulZq8yWZqOioAfKp_0PiIkctC1eexEaeIJddANhj3EiCNzvo2mhC4-QQLmPFpY7tNHNwzf_6_65ylH_OqOyPOkTD-WoynHAHWmHe5-3YmqkprETT7dPa52_/s1600/Ladybird+junior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHA4r5FoKJb9XA3eJk2xMlqulZq8yWZqOioAfKp_0PiIkctC1eexEaeIJddANhj3EiCNzvo2mhC4-QQLmPFpY7tNHNwzf_6_65ylH_OqOyPOkTD-WoynHAHWmHe5-3YmqkprETT7dPa52_/s400/Ladybird+junior.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Ladybird larva</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCwUeLNCwdb8oyysGB4FqEP0_PEpUZrBM19gK0YHrtjZeQ61lHaGQNDsQdD7AZVcHJcQIYD1MBHn1YFtVX018f7WV8bhO1LD2PG9BduM-caV44L4wt8tU6750jchXpxMSW85pgVbwUQMpA/s1600/Ladybird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCwUeLNCwdb8oyysGB4FqEP0_PEpUZrBM19gK0YHrtjZeQ61lHaGQNDsQdD7AZVcHJcQIYD1MBHn1YFtVX018f7WV8bhO1LD2PG9BduM-caV44L4wt8tU6750jchXpxMSW85pgVbwUQMpA/s400/Ladybird.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Adult Ladybird</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3UMu9btYbFn9UTBIMZTyTyZRigYig8H-4HmQe3-OPSBVW-CHgLI4fuuZ44EN9JIWXkWY1GqLl-CZejf3FeShRvrMv9iXFKS7Py5iV7m7Tx47-_grmegwlfKf4K8sEp5q5UUX-DD8zo33u/s1600/Common+Blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3UMu9btYbFn9UTBIMZTyTyZRigYig8H-4HmQe3-OPSBVW-CHgLI4fuuZ44EN9JIWXkWY1GqLl-CZejf3FeShRvrMv9iXFKS7Py5iV7m7Tx47-_grmegwlfKf4K8sEp5q5UUX-DD8zo33u/s400/Common+Blue.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">Common blue butterfly seen in Hollow Walk</span></i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqqMgF8iYi5Rynj1hUOAf6Q3UjRCc29x6WBmUCKiJijYIzxsbuDCFvUhiy2ppgXO_5dxw9wJJ9ZN-7iH9a0S78-D8MMizsFVCr2R-KXkNa2RH-SKkhT0IM6_Ax8YSDEpzQOHdmk5sdFsh/s1600/Small+Skipper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqqMgF8iYi5Rynj1hUOAf6Q3UjRCc29x6WBmUCKiJijYIzxsbuDCFvUhiy2ppgXO_5dxw9wJJ9ZN-7iH9a0S78-D8MMizsFVCr2R-KXkNa2RH-SKkhT0IM6_Ax8YSDEpzQOHdmk5sdFsh/s400/Small+Skipper.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Small skipper butterfly</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span><i></i><b></b><span style="font-size: small;"></span><i></i><b></b><span style="font-size: small;"></span><b></b><i></i><span style="font-size: small;"></span><i></i><b></b><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5w8R_W7p8sHzxETS0bOEBk5OdoMBrDTuUSrHeI5OoJeRrCCWKX3bUqmVaDkqstRNRDiJ7FC-cwwU4lMqscjxJhnyMbLobMP3R0yXR3eLTHLjReP2sUU4z19qpwsBJQyU3KIVFuueq9Tz/s1600/damselflies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5w8R_W7p8sHzxETS0bOEBk5OdoMBrDTuUSrHeI5OoJeRrCCWKX3bUqmVaDkqstRNRDiJ7FC-cwwU4lMqscjxJhnyMbLobMP3R0yXR3eLTHLjReP2sUU4z19qpwsBJQyU3KIVFuueq9Tz/s400/damselflies.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">A friendly pair of blue damselflies</span></i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIwh0lD4hBfdQVHjgCRjWagVTuyY1KxecR7rGoSRIxT_xfj-8Jw8vG5SUeJVw6IlCs0yN3Ot9PW8b1Qpkb7lrbk__vbUcnPyUxCxke1gsGe4y5EUBvDcLrofL0CFY5bHI3h8mlT8XqEuIU/s1600/Walled+Garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIwh0lD4hBfdQVHjgCRjWagVTuyY1KxecR7rGoSRIxT_xfj-8Jw8vG5SUeJVw6IlCs0yN3Ot9PW8b1Qpkb7lrbk__vbUcnPyUxCxke1gsGe4y5EUBvDcLrofL0CFY5bHI3h8mlT8XqEuIU/s400/Walled+Garden.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Once again the walled garden is bursting with colourful blooms</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><span style="font-size: small;"></span><i></i><b></b><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Steve Wootten & Phil Coyne</span></b></div>
</span>Phil Coynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01344249046943617558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588497199467624104.post-5108192320261399632018-04-19T12:45:00.003-07:002018-04-19T12:45:51.965-07:00Keep Gibside Tidy<b>April 2018</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">For a while now, the National Trust has been
encouraging young people to get out and about, experience the countryside,
climb a tree, dip a pond, spot an insect – that kind of thing. At Gibside,
visiting groups of youngsters get to build shelters from branches and twigs,
and sit on logs around a communal fire just like we oldies used to do. All good
stuff, we think. Those of us who were in the Scouts and Guides used to cook
inedible pastry things on green sticks to accompany our charred-on -the-outside
pink-in-the-middle sausages, but it’s unlikely that that falls within the perceived
safety zone these days.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17xJg2RUgGj2jVc2iyj5rl-VFQfX5eQrKYfJqGyQ-c1AynsXVVpug8K-ShHKGzhkliUZz9i-8fE9bND_uXI5OL5ayY5Xo0PCC1ufu1hXTlewJGBO_-WfmX_h0RoH9wNe3n1cJY4p4Huup/s1600/Camp+fire+circle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17xJg2RUgGj2jVc2iyj5rl-VFQfX5eQrKYfJqGyQ-c1AynsXVVpug8K-ShHKGzhkliUZz9i-8fE9bND_uXI5OL5ayY5Xo0PCC1ufu1hXTlewJGBO_-WfmX_h0RoH9wNe3n1cJY4p4Huup/s400/Camp+fire+circle.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">A camp fire circle</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">Anyway, to get to the point: last week, by request, we
worked in the Den Building Area clearing the</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHlrjq4lnJWST-dZvTqF4zAZp8tr6CnIolZPdIFLvv1rqP7zo861lfkRPVFMhsEPUkcbUMZ6GpaICYA_KF6gshlewdN02QpqcYQvQLC3eZ3GnraAxJK87SlQXlSIgSTGCv150fZc0UaocP/s1600/Coltsfoot+for+blog.jpg"></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>woodland floor of branches, logs and twigs,
and made neat, graded piles ready for use in building dens. We quite enjoyed
the work. We even made a path. And it’s not unusual to heave timber around to
improve the habitat or prepare the ground for planting. But tidying up nature
before the children arrive is a new one.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7RQ5B0l27Z5bCuWQel_SY_7dKc456c36M87qxQBpsDyBipg2z6AD52snWtt2WI5nB1w0bh44gR6LHBtzIsDj5uJpQlAmTm3HVdpYKW5TdA2UDlZtlEThwSmP1T2F8WY4fFrMMS9KhsIR/s1600/den.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7RQ5B0l27Z5bCuWQel_SY_7dKc456c36M87qxQBpsDyBipg2z6AD52snWtt2WI5nB1w0bh44gR6LHBtzIsDj5uJpQlAmTm3HVdpYKW5TdA2UDlZtlEThwSmP1T2F8WY4fFrMMS9KhsIR/s400/den.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">A den and cleared woodland floor</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2OzZ4OAWt6CUCIwAJ1IdtfenGZjmJAT0WxNrEh7TqM92fM9byba2rEFEeLq-LTlTNptBIRrs3Y5_aeLuq7sSAibHIX63xGwdZwC4F-XlYLHMK78Av885bPEFl2xPAPSNutARX3fAR8io/s1600/Finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2OzZ4OAWt6CUCIwAJ1IdtfenGZjmJAT0WxNrEh7TqM92fM9byba2rEFEeLq-LTlTNptBIRrs3Y5_aeLuq7sSAibHIX63xGwdZwC4F-XlYLHMK78Av885bPEFl2xPAPSNutARX3fAR8io/s400/Finished.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Finished</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><i></i><b><i><br /></i></b><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">This week, we’ve been at it again. The Forestry
Commission have clear felled and removed considerable numbers of trees from
West Wood, leaving much of the ground strewn with brash. So that the area can
be replanted, we have to clear it. As previously reported, we made a start
earlier in the year. Now we’ve moved to another sector, and bit by bit West
Wood will become re-established as native woodland, and thoroughly deserve its
designation as a Local Wildlife Site. Maybe we could get some children to help
us tidy up; that would make it fifty-one things done before they reach the age
of eleven and three quarters.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZhPH4LkkPOZu1FNlm8UWwkTZ0aSTOr8G5sRJhfn9nB9knR5f169jmmDSuNVjY6f8o8DDUJbgvXrJbDP-K3Sf_GGwqrmANeFC-JqCH1vsnmeB8rCej0DPW0D8sxliSMSyX9-xPDzs3pA2/s1600/The+problem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZhPH4LkkPOZu1FNlm8UWwkTZ0aSTOr8G5sRJhfn9nB9knR5f169jmmDSuNVjY6f8o8DDUJbgvXrJbDP-K3Sf_GGwqrmANeFC-JqCH1vsnmeB8rCej0DPW0D8sxliSMSyX9-xPDzs3pA2/s400/The+problem.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">The scale of the problem</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i><b><br /></b></i><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCShKtzWe4JJwRblWF8NTxSWT6Kp0zzyuc-B5xW18ZBl9s4V-32luTehxHgCgA_3b29Wkb3viVAKTvglRaaiJhf4YJ5WAq1X6_avcWfInJEYCXj4mDMsa31-5W_vCsvUkViupiyXKepzo/s1600/The+wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCShKtzWe4JJwRblWF8NTxSWT6Kp0zzyuc-B5xW18ZBl9s4V-32luTehxHgCgA_3b29Wkb3viVAKTvglRaaiJhf4YJ5WAq1X6_avcWfInJEYCXj4mDMsa31-5W_vCsvUkViupiyXKepzo/s400/The+wall.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Building a wall with the brash</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4SRGciHyFerzCS2jpBa4EN1y4_mlU6BEeOPdljEGPXhgXV73YP8AqijM_yv84GHLq83rRh4rQZo091boSqhWj7IEM6EdY90anC4HExZkm45lPz4unP9NpSbVuhUlw6Ajk8YC6TQBWxTxj/s1600/Wall+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4SRGciHyFerzCS2jpBa4EN1y4_mlU6BEeOPdljEGPXhgXV73YP8AqijM_yv84GHLq83rRh4rQZo091boSqhWj7IEM6EdY90anC4HExZkm45lPz4unP9NpSbVuhUlw6Ajk8YC6TQBWxTxj/s400/Wall+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">The finished wall or perhaps a fence for horse racing!</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">The weather has been miserable for the last six or
eight weeks, postponing spring. But colour is returning to our woods. Wood
sorrel, wood anemone, golden saxifrage, lesser celandine, coltsfoot, and ramsons
are all in flower. The sun is shining, and birds are nesting.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh480xhqaTy7uzY-1id06ghEEgu5H93LKC1CRk7GBbpEKgZWe5jBW5sKXcY88QpiZts70bubdrIwMCOFm4IVrdArTdFbYCTZ2PTD_nE_G8dkun5RvIUCT6EvZUaruVxTbkhz0UOpOwuORdN/s1600/Wood+anemone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh480xhqaTy7uzY-1id06ghEEgu5H93LKC1CRk7GBbpEKgZWe5jBW5sKXcY88QpiZts70bubdrIwMCOFm4IVrdArTdFbYCTZ2PTD_nE_G8dkun5RvIUCT6EvZUaruVxTbkhz0UOpOwuORdN/s400/Wood+anemone.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Wood anemone</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i><b><br /></b></i><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFIm5Z6-2z8ZykPLq_z9dbSAGOOoZLlQe49mUOMD3VrIb1w1VLJOAB9N5ZAIq6-JizQ_WFemdmQrx645EMMqyvfyprs21S3BVaNHCP6ra0VVFnBWTRxKfUEGt1spPqZTU0H-STkdOXkims/s1600/Ramsons+for+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFIm5Z6-2z8ZykPLq_z9dbSAGOOoZLlQe49mUOMD3VrIb1w1VLJOAB9N5ZAIq6-JizQ_WFemdmQrx645EMMqyvfyprs21S3BVaNHCP6ra0VVFnBWTRxKfUEGt1spPqZTU0H-STkdOXkims/s400/Ramsons+for+blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Ramsons just coming into flower</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTmKffM_Sdg4xUki1cD3pv-JIc8P7XSL1Ab2utnnK-8Vh8CB6ib7OHlsD9_pgHa_kTG_Hn_GrmyxxBfaPmXJ0ZKYhTr5-w-zIYSpH2_FFjxczVRDk8DJV-7DiCFXnt6rgpEvmAYM_tPWol/s1600/WH+flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTmKffM_Sdg4xUki1cD3pv-JIc8P7XSL1Ab2utnnK-8Vh8CB6ib7OHlsD9_pgHa_kTG_Hn_GrmyxxBfaPmXJ0ZKYhTr5-w-zIYSpH2_FFjxczVRDk8DJV-7DiCFXnt6rgpEvmAYM_tPWol/s400/WH+flowers.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Even the cut western hemlock has flowers</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjanAYq8redMb_QDY7KTGbMs-CBCaM5nMFg3qR7HUhlWDLEp1prdVGWbHYXBoh4kpUpR6e2Fcigedco535U3K3P6giQxUahxtQ-E3rkpiI2aCJGlJ3JX5r-UGxiNK3MqmcsTv6PSQyBgrg1/s1600/Golden+saxifrage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjanAYq8redMb_QDY7KTGbMs-CBCaM5nMFg3qR7HUhlWDLEp1prdVGWbHYXBoh4kpUpR6e2Fcigedco535U3K3P6giQxUahxtQ-E3rkpiI2aCJGlJ3JX5r-UGxiNK3MqmcsTv6PSQyBgrg1/s400/Golden+saxifrage.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Golden saxifrage</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3wsBe_iREM_fEm32bIfABQ_BMgEWAqtmZkWquc4hC_o2lRVinbrTEShbU-JTM8Jz-eTc-_OyrpjWdUCq8as32oYVmYen1Np-ria4JUOSO0DKoOw5gzzEhuhhpcg2AFYBBV6SgpyCaJE_/s1600/Lesser+Celandine+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3wsBe_iREM_fEm32bIfABQ_BMgEWAqtmZkWquc4hC_o2lRVinbrTEShbU-JTM8Jz-eTc-_OyrpjWdUCq8as32oYVmYen1Np-ria4JUOSO0DKoOw5gzzEhuhhpcg2AFYBBV6SgpyCaJE_/s400/Lesser+Celandine+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Lesser celandine</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqBY0yugCzbqxyJXYfr3JviW4iFQHB0X8Zi9OXDFwRgF07nsnjAL4_5SMtqucnVdrOFF9dE5dEQhACpziNvaQO-swUIhAsZqkXN0hlfMojmDBW2ny6Tv8GqBtgsw0Ghuzy20rYGYUPXPP/s1600/Coltsfoot+for+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqBY0yugCzbqxyJXYfr3JviW4iFQHB0X8Zi9OXDFwRgF07nsnjAL4_5SMtqucnVdrOFF9dE5dEQhACpziNvaQO-swUIhAsZqkXN0hlfMojmDBW2ny6Tv8GqBtgsw0Ghuzy20rYGYUPXPP/s400/Coltsfoot+for+blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Coltsfoot</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4vOyOVn2zqIiFFYcIvzwwgSPM8pY1L4q1AsYobRYQ0N9ycxa7T-zBr1DptcM5z-CbWIMWN08n6xnnX-2Ly9WDIHtQ5Jp2Vh6URfll1anbUsKFTjMqUOgEZCnhOAgaEbUqxNkWm_KwwxY/s1600/Stream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4vOyOVn2zqIiFFYcIvzwwgSPM8pY1L4q1AsYobRYQ0N9ycxa7T-zBr1DptcM5z-CbWIMWN08n6xnnX-2Ly9WDIHtQ5Jp2Vh6URfll1anbUsKFTjMqUOgEZCnhOAgaEbUqxNkWm_KwwxY/s400/Stream.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Leapmill Burn</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<div align="right">
<b>Steve Wootten & Phil Coyne</b></div>
Phil Coynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01344249046943617558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1588497199467624104.post-58858383813056017292018-02-28T12:03:00.002-08:002018-02-28T12:03:45.847-08:00That was February<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b>28th February 2018</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">It’s the last Wednesday of February, and Gibside is
closed. Like much of the country, the weather has got the better of us. We
bloggers quite like the snow, but working in it wouldn’t have been at all
pleasant. Then there are health and safety considerations, I suppose.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8DHw75_EVAcFj04oV5I5-QfkmL7aDFcu24bzD3J8npPZoGL5mtpFLLzX5hNeTqnZtdbfXWZIk10stIZTba3yH4LmTTr37Rr9tvX9sezli1Tv9Whes7AiEDaV3dKdCfiRAfjQbKBn84gn/s1600/A+thin+dusting+of+snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8DHw75_EVAcFj04oV5I5-QfkmL7aDFcu24bzD3J8npPZoGL5mtpFLLzX5hNeTqnZtdbfXWZIk10stIZTba3yH4LmTTr37Rr9tvX9sezli1Tv9Whes7AiEDaV3dKdCfiRAfjQbKBn84gn/s400/A+thin+dusting+of+snow.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">A thin dusting of snow earlier in the month</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">The month started in a gloom of damp vegetation with
little sign of new growth. But, it’s February. Soon birch, hazel, snowdrop and
gorse were all in flower, with fresh hawthorn leaves providing a hint of green.
We’ve had some very wet and windy Wednesdays, but some that have been perfectly
still with an early morning light that has lasted all day. As so often happens
as we work, robin and red kite visit to see if there are easy pickings to be
had from us causing disturbance. Red kites drift off disappointed or
uninterested; brave robins get a bite to eat. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXwmaa1GLDXcPN_9ehyY3nj6ZcPg9dh_RnjocgiBdV2-EWEPZ1CupLh5TYMT-UamWBuaNMTHQwYvAo3D915KQw2S3eOy1oisl-1ZfTlXEZvJlZpe5qe6lP5RXAqDlGDWAmXlEgvmgO1tv/s1600/Loading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXwmaa1GLDXcPN_9ehyY3nj6ZcPg9dh_RnjocgiBdV2-EWEPZ1CupLh5TYMT-UamWBuaNMTHQwYvAo3D915KQw2S3eOy1oisl-1ZfTlXEZvJlZpe5qe6lP5RXAqDlGDWAmXlEgvmgO1tv/s400/Loading.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">Loading branches onto the truck</span></i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">We’ve worked hard this month. One of our jobs is to
move things from one place to another. Sometimes we move them back again. Recently
we shifted branches from den building area to the Birthday Area, ready for
den-building. That’s right, the Birthday Area. It seems not that long ago that
we moved them from the birch wood (or Birthday Area) to beech wood Den Building
Area. There’s a purpose to everything, I’m sure.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqA0bcmW3inP9HKMwglqqjW8j7rAgix12t0L2LN1rp184vpueicu_4oNqlVquy2YyVSwtD9SF_brlR-wCR89TAMAuB5higClDRFuZ6lUEvyzkLtqajKHZTxS4tGZ5BmcXJ8N_4r01gK8q/s1600/The+great+wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqA0bcmW3inP9HKMwglqqjW8j7rAgix12t0L2LN1rp184vpueicu_4oNqlVquy2YyVSwtD9SF_brlR-wCR89TAMAuB5higClDRFuZ6lUEvyzkLtqajKHZTxS4tGZ5BmcXJ8N_4r01gK8q/s400/The+great+wall.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
<b><i><span style="font-size: small;">Building the "Great Wall of Gibside", a wall of brash </span></i></b></div>
<div>
<b><i><span style="font-size: small;">to mark </span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">out the boundary of a footpath on Skyline walk</span></i></b></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><br /></b>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">We’ve had more fires in order to rid West Wood of
western hemlock brash. Fire lighting and tending continues to be a little
competitive. Consequently, we’re all getting better at it. Well, nearly
all.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>There is an art to it. Little
tricks like knowing that birch bark lights whatever the weather, that feeding a
fire by laying branches and twigs parallel, and not poking or otherwise
interfering are key to success.</span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh9_A8eTiaMon3jVVAn5hyV6E8pr8PJasROJoIUYxVEYDmqcOo_bA7MUc2lrJvw5EGpLsbBMR64CBoxwR8Sz4gEuJ_qcaq8ytf-y6PH8XNNHoYeVXBMpoTP_tobA9ABBbw4JnIYQyoXy0w/s1600/Lunch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh9_A8eTiaMon3jVVAn5hyV6E8pr8PJasROJoIUYxVEYDmqcOo_bA7MUc2lrJvw5EGpLsbBMR64CBoxwR8Sz4gEuJ_qcaq8ytf-y6PH8XNNHoYeVXBMpoTP_tobA9ABBbw4JnIYQyoXy0w/s400/Lunch.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Lunch</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0RbYHa0qs_D8WUhh-av35wgQ0_T9djUdo1qfHjSOdEL1xwW9zhwZgxhh_dNHAeLjxJmyLv32Vq3Pcv5G8cyPxMLWbtGUJeWhtn3ABOBjSxb4UxHvoXJVz376g5ENZmUEhWr1WkH-9YELP/s1600/Sunlight+through+the+smoke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0RbYHa0qs_D8WUhh-av35wgQ0_T9djUdo1qfHjSOdEL1xwW9zhwZgxhh_dNHAeLjxJmyLv32Vq3Pcv5G8cyPxMLWbtGUJeWhtn3ABOBjSxb4UxHvoXJVz376g5ENZmUEhWr1WkH-9YELP/s400/Sunlight+through+the+smoke.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkRQxx6vAnpcbZTp6TKa8Pe5gFlnZDwqwf8KQHKSAhi5tylFVpJN-1oYQl-uLIh8N5A6q9Le0dkgk3xE2H0zKNvqT4npz07Y2IJ7g7XXLlJets4kFNnjVtUD4VX-dstdqjrekNqVXeEVZ-/s1600/Supernatural.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkRQxx6vAnpcbZTp6TKa8Pe5gFlnZDwqwf8KQHKSAhi5tylFVpJN-1oYQl-uLIh8N5A6q9Le0dkgk3xE2H0zKNvqT4npz07Y2IJ7g7XXLlJets4kFNnjVtUD4VX-dstdqjrekNqVXeEVZ-/s400/Supernatural.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8uXO8pYWd42cIND35M5PV09NjTtOFDOE0CT0zczMoEzHfd16V5T2B9PsucAqL2Z7ASQ5sG3Arw0gC1nd8BEGKPXdUlDmNkTVX2u_FLKvg1zN3CCxCQFsajnl9N9lxupq7KK4rAoTe91K/s1600/rays+of+light.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8uXO8pYWd42cIND35M5PV09NjTtOFDOE0CT0zczMoEzHfd16V5T2B9PsucAqL2Z7ASQ5sG3Arw0gC1nd8BEGKPXdUlDmNkTVX2u_FLKvg1zN3CCxCQFsajnl9N9lxupq7KK4rAoTe91K/s400/rays+of+light.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Sunlight through the smoke</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;">Last week, before the snows came, we were back in Snipes
Dene – pulling out or cutting down western hemlock and larch. We ring-barked a
few of the larger larch. That is, by stripping bark from a small section in a
complete circle around the trunk, the tree will die off, still standing
upright. And dead trees standing create a different mini-habitat to dead trees
lying down. And we don’t have to move them anywhere.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_ezH6N0z1EVi6PLR-dsGkorO6Sh4jARuvldf-uZFsyaCPfU7BBN_0K3hpy4YhPEkVGJgetV5q3FQmNoSFHROD_uj4b0VpwkqiPmQj4kStIExqYuJEc9bROBhEwnQNWZjT99M1_4GFlVn/s1600/Gorse+%2528Ulex+europaeus%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_ezH6N0z1EVi6PLR-dsGkorO6Sh4jARuvldf-uZFsyaCPfU7BBN_0K3hpy4YhPEkVGJgetV5q3FQmNoSFHROD_uj4b0VpwkqiPmQj4kStIExqYuJEc9bROBhEwnQNWZjT99M1_4GFlVn/s400/Gorse+%2528Ulex+europaeus%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">Gorse in flower</span></i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ljOF9QymtSLJEbTfmycHXji_ujfFDEGGe_YmqDgne8GNroEldhHMri4Rbt0lhMAmeN3IyzWYHJCHL2ShuRvpy_EuvMT5Y9SPoxNK3dYJB9-HVzcS_jBNBSXMQgOljrdtzU19JDxdS0FY/s1600/Hazel+catkins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ljOF9QymtSLJEbTfmycHXji_ujfFDEGGe_YmqDgne8GNroEldhHMri4Rbt0lhMAmeN3IyzWYHJCHL2ShuRvpy_EuvMT5Y9SPoxNK3dYJB9-HVzcS_jBNBSXMQgOljrdtzU19JDxdS0FY/s400/Hazel+catkins.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Hazel catkins</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiEVQQTHTAau27utuXeOrCrcVs7lFKUo5VKT881sVyclGn1-1cHYBQSWzPrBrqcfhyphenhyphenLY1UVw_aaE-bcpbXOUk9iD1sNaDiDv3gKIGNdhbSpWU6gRDsANwzckCQnHIZuslK0v3XuGOjfRqd/s1600/Laurel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiEVQQTHTAau27utuXeOrCrcVs7lFKUo5VKT881sVyclGn1-1cHYBQSWzPrBrqcfhyphenhyphenLY1UVw_aaE-bcpbXOUk9iD1sNaDiDv3gKIGNdhbSpWU6gRDsANwzckCQnHIZuslK0v3XuGOjfRqd/s400/Laurel.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Laurel flowers</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHyvVURgklscXN2vTlyrR2vvKDA6kzqV12FTIYaCYTb9EuywLy_f2QVZvwXqgD-WlC2FiUrHfq5AomMOltGFydPvdQbkY-5RPWPnaEwOZ_ofAXDwoMtS6t8d-nhWtnPVn6ChkvS2UUz8Up/s1600/Snowdrops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHyvVURgklscXN2vTlyrR2vvKDA6kzqV12FTIYaCYTb9EuywLy_f2QVZvwXqgD-WlC2FiUrHfq5AomMOltGFydPvdQbkY-5RPWPnaEwOZ_ofAXDwoMtS6t8d-nhWtnPVn6ChkvS2UUz8Up/s400/Snowdrops.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Snowdrops</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_2jQ0KAVBv3KnMZJ0EfUlYOn1IalRIbibxEiWlff4q5ttmyO-OJFu9rHh8zRvGsIxJiUIMgogMggZjmVElhWJJ532Miv8Z1JRbZtkhVf5lww3Zl0GhhoLWoS87dG8tLq-OfChCj_xOx3/s1600/Jelly+fungus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_2jQ0KAVBv3KnMZJ0EfUlYOn1IalRIbibxEiWlff4q5ttmyO-OJFu9rHh8zRvGsIxJiUIMgogMggZjmVElhWJJ532Miv8Z1JRbZtkhVf5lww3Zl0GhhoLWoS87dG8tLq-OfChCj_xOx3/s400/Jelly+fungus.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #222222; display: inline !important; float: none; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.28px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Auricularia auricula-judae</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i><b><u><sub><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></sub></u></b></i>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoRyv16ovtUS7OEkmGS9491UVzVHW2sr-V5UD0cgyFwv8yLlccHHUqCD1ngDITxwlgDlNY2JPE6fT5p0MKWrUbiu86GhACfWt8I0WWQhvaohmCtZxUGdP2qfyEj-Cx-2ENn_qBgHj3zR7l/s1600/Cones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoRyv16ovtUS7OEkmGS9491UVzVHW2sr-V5UD0cgyFwv8yLlccHHUqCD1ngDITxwlgDlNY2JPE6fT5p0MKWrUbiu86GhACfWt8I0WWQhvaohmCtZxUGdP2qfyEj-Cx-2ENn_qBgHj3zR7l/s400/Cones.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Western hemlock cones - seeds for future work!</span></b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<br />
<div align="right">
<b>Steve Wootten & Phil Coyne</b></div>
Phil Coynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01344249046943617558noreply@blogger.com0