Fantastic Mr Fox
Well not so for the rabbits. I have noticed rabbit droppings twice over the last year, so was wondering if the foxes had done a bunk. Then, this morning, whilst keeping an early eye out for the deer, some creature flashed across the veggie patch. Too big and fast for a squirrel, too fast for a badger. Not a cat or a dog, not that there are any around so maybe de Fox is back on de plot. Now I'm feeling bad about the rabbits ????
Invasive Plants 2011
Giant Hogweed, Japanese Knotweed Himalayan Balsam, and Ragwort
(in that order)
Giant Hogweed
To form, so far the amount removed is less than last year. There are two anomalies however: a) 3 in the flood plain and b) 5 in the far western ditch.
Updated 11th June
Two more in flood plain. That's 3 in the northern field and 2 in the southern.
Japanese Knotweed
In the first two years I dug out the roots, since then I only pull up as much as comes easy, apart from any obvious root rhizomes/crowns. Looking a lot better over the years.
Updated: 14th July 2011
Himalayan Balsam
Unless otherwise stated all plants are pulled by hand.
Sites 3 and 6
26th/27th June: Cleared sites 3 and 6. Total of 5 bags of weed.
Removal is working well as the seeds are only viable for a year or two. Once an area is cleared well, even by slashing, the next year pulling by hand maybe sufficient.
See Page 2 for updates.
Site 1
This is the updated map from last year which includes the area slashed (G)
8th July
Cleared (A and B). Only got half a bag weed. As the ferns are high I expect many are unnoticed and will pop up over the next few weeks and more.
15th July
Cleared (A, B, D, E and F)
25th July
Cleared (A, B, D, E and F)
28th July
Cleared (A, B, C, D, E and F)
Also pulled some from new area G. A small area in the field to the south of Site 1 always gets done but needs mentioning as it could be a problem if neglected.
Found young deer, dead, in path to the far fields. Moved it to high stone road for dispersal.
Will make new maps for plans of areas. I showing larger are for location and two for detailed identification. Area 1.1 being before Riverland and area 1.2 being part of Riverland
29th July
Went over with Gavin, primarily to start clearing Part G. It was better than last year, especially where the track between the upper nd lower field crosses the drain on the lower side.
5th Aug
Cleared same area as 29th above. Pulled a few that were missed. Chopped a few that were not really cut. Cut back a few regrowths and all stems that seemed a bit too proud. Also cut to the north a bit more, Reaching now about 20m from the bridge across the ditch.
Still have to work on it south of a line level with the entrance track.
21st Aug
Cleared most of parts B and E
28th Aug
Cleared all of parts A, B and E
29th Aug
Cleared all of parts A, C and D
30th Aug
Cleared part F, and half of part G
Page 1: This page. Intro to sites 1 to 6
Page 2: More on sites 3 and 6 (Merged)
Page 3: Ragwort
Feeding the Fauna
Well until now I have been silent on the matter, but with the addition of rabbit I feel I must squeak.
The current members that dine on my work are, Mouse, Rat, Mole, Deer, Rabbit, Pheasant, Blackbird, Thrush, Wasp and various colour (White, Grey, Green, Black) of Fly, Butterfly (White .... )
Himalayan Balsam 2010
Site 1
Aerial Photo(2005) of Site 1
The above photo is aligned, North to the top of page. The red outline is the approx boundary of work. The eastern limit follows the drainage ditch of the lower field.
Detail of Site 1
The letters are in the order that the site is being cleared.
The red line is the track between the upper field and the lower fen meadow.
The double 'yellow and green' lines are the western and eastern boundaries, respectively, of the drainage ditch separating the upper field and the fen meadow.
Sites 3 to 6
Map of Sites 3 to 6(2008)
Aerial Photo(2005) of Sites 3 to 6(2010)
Site 3 is extended a)to include the track leading north b) to cover the land between the bund and the drainage ditch, and c) to includes land belonging to Trekensa Gardens where it adjoins a) on it's western boundary and the SSSI on it's southern boundary
Site 4 is extended to about 30m to the west of the north-south bund.
October:
- 8th October: Cleared all of Site 1. (Collected only 185 plants)
- 8th October: Cleared Sites 3,6 and the top edge of 4 and 5. (78 plants)
- 25th October: Haven't checked since I've been away. Hoping the frost killed the remaining stragglers. May check tomorrow if it doesn't rain, else that's it for this year. Still intend to update the map of site 1 to show the area of the flood plain that was cleared.
Pages are {Oct,Sep,Aug,Jul,Jun}
Arsenic
Just a starter.
After reading about arsenic poisoning from ground water, I'm expanding info on contamination and possible uptake in foods.
Dear Oh! Deer
Just to say the deer are marauding. The day I went to town last week I returned to find they had eaten the hearts out of 7 fully grown lettuce and eaten the fruit and leaves of some 20 strawberry plants.
As if I didn't get the message on Sat 12th I went to the village to help with some computer issues, which I failed to resolve, only to find on my return that 12 perfectly good lettuce had been yomped again.
EDIT
Well twice more, today 19th being the latest.
I am not keen on fencing and will have to make my presence noted some other way.
The proper action is to just be here, but 24/7/52 is not going to happen.
So the alternatives are:
- Pee on trees to leave a 'mark'
- Hang a few shiny items from the trees, like old CDs to annoy they
- Place a few twigs in strategic places to make things a bit difficult in places
- Install some infra-red sensor to enable a sound and/or visual disturbance
Well some day, anyway. 
Update: 11th June 2011
The deer ate through most of my leeks, some hundred or more, so this winter/spring I did do a rough fence. Still over the last few weeks most of my lettuce 20+ have been eaten along with the 90% of chard and spinach and some bean tops.
Will add to the fencing and consider electronic proximity alarm
