Bel's Wood

Planting areas in detail:- Having looked at the aerial shot I was able to bring together some thinking about my plan for the site (see blog 'Improvement Plans Taking Shape for aerial shot, considerations and schematic of planting plan). Since then I have had more visitors and developed my thinking further. Planting trees will need deer fences and gorse clearance. The impact on the site has sunk in a bit and I have wanted to keep the ‘feel’ of the site and the areas I enjoy spending time in throughout the development phase. The fences need to be in place for 10 years. I don’t feel happy excluding the deer entirely as they enhance the area despite the fact they would just wreck the newly planted saplings. I have come up with a plan to leave a corridor for them to pass through. I have chosen the most well trodden runs for them to pass through. I also don’t want to plant on some of my favourite areas (the Maydor and the areas around the swamp which give a good place to hang my hammock,...

Over the last month I have had 19 different people visit the wood with me and each visit has resulted in me learning more about my wood. I will keep bringing people to look around and while I am showing them the route I will pick there brains as well as seeing things through their eyes. One day I may have some expertise to offer but for now I am enjoying learning so much from others. New discoveries include:- What I had been calling an apple tree on the neighbouring land is in fact a pear tree (there is a very tall one behind that gives this away) There are at least 3 cherry trees on the site which are now clear as they are in full bloom but I hadn't spotted them before they were pointed out to me before their blossom arrived.   There has been a 'mystery tree' that I couldn’t identify in winter and it is a rowan -  I was curious that I did not have any as they are common in Cumbria * addition - I have found 3 so far. This is a good sign as I want to plant more as...

On a cold and clear night I met friends for a walk around Bel's Wood. The pieces of equipment I had ordered to enable cooking had arrived earlier in the day so this seemed to be a good moment to test them out.  Fresh from the courier And in action - sadly I didn't photograph the delicious meal! This will be the first of many Maydor in the evening light                                       Sylvan Corridor  Sunset 20.10

And all of a sudden the trees burst into life and tiny plants produce vibrant flowers. Nothing unique about that but having spent many hours getting to know Bel's Wood the changes in a couple of days are hard to keep up with. Different parts of the site are further on than others. This will be due to sunshine but also how high up the fell the trees are and how exposed to wind they are. Maybe the age of trees makes a difference too. I am enjoying the bare trees still as I can spot the birds more easily.  There is an excitement in the air with more bird song alongside the vibrant colours everywhere you look. The sun is higher in the sky and bathes the site far longer as it follows the contours of the fells opposite. I am going to work out how to cook there so I can stay longer. The sun dropped over the horizon 7.23pm (see pic below) this evening and the temperature dropped to 4ºc (according to my car). I don't know the temperature in the afternoon but it was warm enoug...