I have probably mentioned it in the past, that I participate in a Woodland Trust volunteering role. It’s called fixed point photography and the purpose is to monitor and record how certain areas of the woodland are evolving where active management is being employed. Photos are taken from the same spots every three months and uploaded to the W.T.s website to be used as they wish. I take a series of six photos giving 360 degree views from each of six different locations. Three of them are in my woods and the other three from the rides looking at neighbouring woods. So that was my man purpose for going on Saturday. It was dull and cold but the cloudy conditions actually help by giving more even lighting. At this time of year, any sunshine is low down and creates overly contrasty photos and often glare on the lens.

First job though, was to attempt hand-feeding the robin again. This time there was little hesitation as I stood still with food on my outstretched hand, it landed close by then onto my fingers to eat some food. This will be a regular event now when I visit. It is truly fantastic to have a little bird trust you and stand on your fingers. Next time I will try to set up a remote camera to photograph it.  I have also fixed the fault on the trail camera which was caused by damp on the switch. I have placed it in a new position so next post should have some more video footage.

This was the sight that greeted me when I arrived. An old hawthorn tree has been partly blown over and is lodged in another tree. The roots have been partly ripped up and as it’s an area I use a lot, is now unsafe. It’s going to be a challenge to bring it down with it still being anchored, but hung up at the same time. I shall have to give it some thought as to the method of dropping it.

One of the other plot holders has just bought a chainsaw and is starting to learn to use it to fell some of his trees. I had arranged to meet him as he wanted to ask me some questions. We decided to take a couple down together and I’m pleased to say they came down perfectly as planned. It’s quite exciting when they start to go and then hit the ground just where you wanted. I left him for a while to take another down on his own. He did a great job and I wish mine would all go as well as those three. I hope to do some more felling in mine next time.

I am rebuilding some of the walls around my composting toilet. The original ones were made from thin hazel rods from coppicing and they have shrunk and sunk giving very little privacy. I already re-built two walls with long logs last year but ran out of them. Last week’s felling has provided more material so I started to move them from this stack and started to work on it.

I took the opportunity to assess our felling operations from last week and take a few photos showing how thinning the weedy ones out is opening up the structure of the plantation. Still lots to do but it’s a good start. It looks more severe than it actually is as I have strimmed the bramble down and there is no ground cover at the moment. Come spring and this will look amazing as the bluebells and wood anemones take advantage of the extra food and light.