Happy New Year to everyone and I hope it will be a good one for you. 2018 was a good year for me at the woods. I had four fantastic camping experiences there, three with my pals and one alone. I rebuilt my shelter, got some good results on the trailcam and am now seeing some significant (though subtle) positive changes to the woods as a result of my coppicing and thinning work. Very encouraging. This year I hope to take down numerous small and sickly sycamore in the plantation which will give the others a little more light and food. I shall then re-assess the remaining large ones and plan to thin those in the coming years. I need to remove at least a third of the whole plantation eventually. A small pond might be constructed and more camping days.

I arrived early yesterday and it was still quite dark. As soon as I stepped out, a robin landed at my feet. It hopped around me, anticipating some food. It followed me as I walked down my path to the feeders. I have wanted to see if I could get one to take food from my hand and this seemed an ideal opportunity to try before putting the food out. I propped myself against the log store and held out my palm with some food. Robin landed on a small branch two feet away cocking it’s head this way and that, bobbed around me a few times before eventually plucking up courage to land and take a piece. It flew down to eat it. In a few minutes it returned, hovered inches away, then landed again on my fingers. It paused for a while, still assessing me, then proceeded to eat several pieces. It flew off and returned a third time. I was overwhelmed with pleasure. The thrill of a wild bird, trusting you enough to perch on your hand is incredible. That was treat one!

It was time to get on with the main job – bramble cutting. Next week, my pals are coming to help me fell and clear several of those weak sycamore, so I needed to clear the areas around them of bramble which are trip hazards and obstruct easy access. The petrol Husqvarna brushcutter does a great job of cutting and shredding them though it is time consuming and hard on the back. The bluebells (already poking through in places) and anemones will appreciate the extra light and food this spring.

Time for a brew. At home I am going through a sorting out phase and came across a lovely old paraffin (kerosene in the U.S.) camping stove. I bought it for a few pounds on a car boot sale a few years ago and although I once fired it up, have never used it to make a brew. Butane stoves do not work well in very cold weather, so could this be an alternative for boiling my kettle when I can’t be bothered making a fire? The stove dismantles and packs away in a tin. It only takes a minute or two to set it up. It has a brass ring cup around the nozzle which you fill with meths (de-natured alcohol) and light. It heats the nozzle tube, vapourising the paraffin. After a minute it’s hot enough and you pump it to pressurize the paraffin which blows ignited vapour out of the nozzle and provides a powerful, hot blue flame which boiled the kettle in no time. It’s fantastic and I love the retro vintage look and technology. Probably dates from the 1920/30s .

My neighbours, L&R arrived and presented me with treat number two, saying it was a bit of a joke, a bit of fun. The parcel felt like an item of clothing. Hoping it wasn’t a kilt or something more embarrassing, I opened it to reveal a fleece jacket with the name of my woods embroidered on it. What a lovely gesture and one I shall treasure. I now have my own corporate clothing! Thankyou.

I set my trailcam up in a new position after having dried it out at home but the display seemed reluctant to work. I think the recording aspect is working but we shall have to wait a week to find out. Disappointing. Whilst eating lunch I spotted a honey bee, unusual at this time of year. Another near neighbour has a beehive so maybe it was one of his. It was a mild and sunny day so the bees must have ventured out. The rest of the day was spent clearing more bramble then I returned home with an aching back but a happy heart.