I am back for a few days over Easter and getting stuck in again to cutting back the Laurel and building rafts with the smaller branches and brash. My OCD kicked in at one point and I found myself picking up individual leaves and scattering them on the top of the piles. I even found myself trimming around the imaginary square boarders of each pile with secateurs. A neat row is beginning to form. I feel justified as I saw a flying speckled wood butterfly in the "scalloped" edge created by my clearance.
I have now mechanised and bought a chainsaw - I will post about that once I have read the instructions and assembled. `I am waiting for the last component - chain oil. For now though I am content with the hand technique which is ultimately mindful as well as good exercise.
I know what I am working towards. Clearing the understory so that one day you can walk for a circular 500 m through a carpet of bluebells in late April. At the moment I am restricted to about a 50 m section. This morning and yesterday it was beautiful in the sunshine.
I get a bad headache when I am cutting the stuff. Either I am dehydrated or the cyanide is kicking in ! I will have a real go this week and then take another picture of the front of the wood to compare. The wood is buzzing with bees and hoverflies and some migrant warblers are back so I will continue the gentle bio-blitz I started a few weeks ago. I `am 50 this week and would not be anywhere else. It is heaven here.
There are more excitements in the form of a BTO survey that needs completing ! I could fill everyday with things. We managed a walk this morning, Easter Sunday at nearby Brockhampton Lower Manor which is a National Trust property. Its not quite on the doorstep but a 15 minute run which is very easy on the eye. Herefordshire is just stunning and I think we have made the right choice to keep heading South. Brockhampton is beautiful parkland and wood - a real inspiration. Its time to get back in the wood !
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