Bel's Wood

It's been a busy summer. This has been the key year for managing bracken to give the newly planted saplings the best chance of establishing themselves. The bracken started to emerge in May just as the trees were beginning to grow.  This growing conditions for both the trees and the bracken has been excellent this year.  I started to clear the bracken in mid May. Trees were planted across 4 hectares of this 8 hectare site in January. Some areas have been bashed for 3 years now and in those areas the bracken growth is somewhat stunted. There are some rocky areas which have had less attention and the bracken has been established for a long time and so has once again grown densely and has reached about 2m. I prioritised the taller areas but have also wanted to stop the bracken becoming too established in those areas that had gorse before hand.    First growth in late May and fully established growth in June           These photos were t...

The cameras have been picking up activity at the wood over the summer. This Tawny Owl has visited this pool created by a leaky dam over a number of weeks and I have some lovely footage of him drinking, washing and pooping. This Jay poses for the camera perfectly here showing off his amazing colouring and moustache:- I often see the sparrowhawk and always hear his threatening call. Here he is by the beck and below is a chick who looks a little less confident hopping around. I’ve slightly enhanced this photograph to show the detail - the camouflage on Sparrowhawks and the Tawny Owls is amazing and such a different approach to the blue coloured Jayl I have had this Mink visiting frequently. The pointy nose is an indicator that it is a Mink not an Otter. In previous years I have had both visit at the same time. I have one swift piece footage that may be Otter but so fleeting it is hard to be sure so I have not included it. I have this rather nice footage of a stoat slinking around the tree...

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...

This time last year we were experiencing drought conditions and the beck was at a standstill. I delayed planting for a year to try and get on top of the bracken. I’m not completely convinced that that worked but it means the trees went in the ground this January and there has been rain most days since then. Even on sunny days we have had a splash of rain overnight and everything has been growing well including the saplings. May 2024 and this dipper is loving the flowing water I am beginning to learn the 13 new species of trees planted. I am also learning the differences between species as to how quickly they grow and when they start.  The first away were the Spindle. These appeared above the tree guards rapidly and are easy to spot as they are planted in narrow bands along the butterfly rides and a few paths to give a bush sized plant before the big trees start.    Spindle April ‘24 Spindle June ’24 all above the tree guards and now in the sunshine  as the bracken ha...