Bel's Wood

I’ve been working hard up at the wood since February - initially laying mulch mats and now deep into bracken management. I’m loving spending so much time up there but have not paid as much attention to the wildlife over the last months. I thought I would collate the footage from the cameras and try and capture the rhythm of the wood as I experience it though videos and stills. These were collected in May and June 2024. Despite the land having been farmed and used for rearing pheasants for regular shoots, there have always been some wild feeling areas that I treasure and I aim to expand them with more  trees and less open space engulfed with bracken and gorse. I have both cameras on the beck just now as it is always a good place to pick up wildlife. Young fox crossing the beck There are always badgers out and about in the evenings. I often hear them but rarely see them in the flesh. I have been hoping to see the otter again this year as he has visited in June the last two years. I t...

Having done 4 blogs on different themes this month I thought I would do a generic one with some recent pics and video footage that I have captured later in the month. It has been hot and dry and the beck retained very little water. It is interesting to see the areas that remained boggy and these will be the best to convert into scrapes to try and have standing water all year round. There are flowers flourishing and insects buzzing. The aim will be to increase the range and quantity over time through planting a wider range of species and keeping rides open particularly in south facing areas.                 White tailed bumblebee                                    Green vein butterfly - female Red deer browsing Young red deer bouncing! (wait for it!)                Less stitchwort   ...

Over the last weeks, while enjoying plenty of time at the wood and enjoying the display of blossom and flowers and managing the camera traps (see last blog) I have a clearer plan for creating a wood. I have had six areas of focus to enable the establishment of a new wood and they have all moved forward.  1. The new Woodland Creation Grants have been announced to replace those that came under the auspices of the EU. These are marginally more generous and I can now start the application process. I plan to plant about 3.5ha of land with about 3,500 trees. This has taken some plotting - working out where to plant to optimise planting and biodiversity by leaving some areas open. The plan is still very broad brush but the areas have been identified, measured and plotted so that feels like progress. I have given little thought as yet as to what to plant and that will be something I need to work on over time. It will be a mixture of broadleaf native decid...

Another visit and so much to take in. Martin Wain, Conservation Officer, came to help me consider options for when I am planting my wood that would encourage invertebrates. He introduced me to flowers and trees I had not identified (or indeed spotted) before. So much to take in and here are my take aways. He has offered to come again when I am nearer putting a detailed plan together and when I have seen more seasons unfold. Current diversity From the land being grazed over the years, it lacks diversity of plants and flowers. The difference from the roadside to inside is quite stark and shows that the land needs to recover from being grazed and to be stimulated by adding plants from neighbours in the Gilpin Valley.    Bluebells outside in a cluster while inside they tend to be solitary. This should improve now that grazing has ceased.   The variety on the verges is greater Variety of land within the plot There are many different areas which present opp...