New growth hazel.

I desperately needed another woodland therapy day and was keen to try to find the knife I lost last time. It really bugs me when I lose something, knowing it is still there somewhere. I had an inkling as to where it might have fallen and spent a long time searching to no avail. I carried on to other places and decided to have a look at my bees. As I waded through the bramble to get back onto the track, there is was. the orange cord was showing through the undergrowth but I must find a way of making it more secure. this is the second time I have lost it. It’s so good when you find what you lost though. Almost worth losing something on purpose just to get that mini “high” when you find it again.

The last few trips have been low key, taking it easy and just absorbing it all. Yesterday was a step forward to getting more active again. Covid 19 has sapped motivation and had a big negative impact on my mental health. Earlier in the year I was looking forward to doing some camping but it takes a fair bit of planning and a sense of confidence to spend a night alone in the middle of the woods. I’m thinking about doing another one soon and for me, the key to feeling confident is planning and preparation. There were a few small jobs that needed attention. It is a year since my last camp there and I only managed just one last year.

First up, check over the composting toilet. I gave the seat a good clean up (there are all sorts of creatures that will use it as well as humans ha!) Next, stock up the log store. When you have made a fire, you should think about your next one. So whilst it’s dry, collect kindling and small logs, give them some shelter ready for the next fire. It might have been pouring down the night before.

I have a new spot for my tent which I had cleared earlier in the year but my old tent area needs to be kept clear for potential guests and it was looking a bit overgown with small brambles and bracken. So an hour spent pulling them up and a general camp area tidy-up was another useful job done. There were a few things needed tying up with new cordage as the old natural fibres had rotted away. It’s satisfying to get a lot of small jobs done which you might tend to put off normally.

It was a good day for amphibian spotting. While working in the area I must have disturbed a small toad and watched it crawl away to safety. I also spotted a small frog hiding near my fireplace – not a good place for a frog, so I picked it up and transferred it to the edge of my pond. This one I found earlier and just let it be (look away now Lynn).

Did I mention last time that I think a Tawny Owl is roosting in my shelter? Well more poo and “pellets” were evident. When an owl swallows an animal like a small bird or mouse, a part of it’s stomach (the gizzard) digests the flesh and then turns the bones and fur into a ball which is then regurgitated. They are very light and don’t smell of much. I found a large one and opened it up. It was full of tiny bones. I would say the contents of three mice judging by the number of easily identifiable jaw bones. The brown bits are fur. Strangely there were no skulls and few vertebrae. At first I thought maybe they bite the heads off but if that were the case, those jaw bones wouldn’t be there. If you have any theories please leave a comment.

My final encounter with animal life worthy of mentioning, was a young robin. My very friendly “Bertie” disappeared in Spring and I fear he was either predated by a bigger bird or just died. I haven’t seen many adults around since but yesterday a young and rather scruffy looking Robin was hanging around where I was working. So hopefully, it might learn to trust me and take food from me. Winter time is when they get bolder, when food is scarce, so I shall look forward to a new birdie companion. Overall it was a very satisfying day, lot’s of wildlife interest and useful jobs done.