A lovely morning, sun streaming through the trees, what a fantastic place to be at 8am. Jobs for the day – collect some logs for home, finish the shelter rebuild and check my trail camera. Last visit, I set the camera up and was keen to see the results. I placed it in an area I use a lot, facing the junction of two paths. I figured that larger animals like badgers, foxes and deer will use paths for the same reason we do – it’s easier to get around. The camera has infra red sensors, two facing out from the sides and one in front. When something triggers it, I have it set to record for 15 seconds. Sometimes there will be nothing on the video, I think that’s due to a fast moving object like a bird passing by. The camera showed 58 video captures so that was promising. I eagerly trawled through each one. I estimate about 35 of them are of a grey squirrel. Not my favourite wildlife subject but nevertheless, it was interesting to see how much a creature of habit it is. The camera was under some oak trees which are shedding a few acorns and Mr or Mrs Grey obviously likes that restaurant. It would forage, then run off to a nearby log to sit and eat it.  Another few shots were wood pigeons – still pretty dull. But one shot made me smile, it showed a huge toad leaping through the air then plopping onto the ground as if someone had just thrown it into the frame. A night shot showed a tiny creature running along, only visble by the reflection from it’s retina. But the bonus shot and one I was hoping for was a fox. Just a few seconds as it walked left to right across the view.

Most of the morning was spent finishing my shelter. I’d bought another piece of plastic camo tarp to cut in half and line the front half of the sides. Basically I built rough frames from logs for the walls, covered them in the tarps, then covered the tarps on the outside with more logs. So the tarp is sandwiched between the logs to provide a waterproof membrane. The logs stop it blowing around and protect it plus help it blend into the surroundings.

It’s main purpose is a place to escape to when it rains. I can just sit and enjoy the experience or maybe do a bit of green woodworking. It’s a winter campfire site if I want to warm up and maybe cook a little something for lunch. I was about to try it out. Rain was forecast for midday and darkness and gloom foretold it’s arrival. I had just finished the sides when it came down. I took the opportunity to do some housekeeping, tidying up my firewood pile and organising the space. It needs a few finishing touches –  the water butt will go outside when I have fitted a gutter on the back of the roof. Maybe a shelf across the back where the long logs are piled and one or two “woodland ornaments”. It’s comfortably roomy for two people to sit with a coffee or for me to use the shavehorse for woodworking.