Nature on site
The weather may have turned cold but there are lots of birds and mammals out and about, searching for food. The robin has been in and out of the tea hut and the blue tits and wrens have been finding ways into the yurt to eat the spiders.
We’re hoping to set up remote cameras so we can monitor the fox and badger dens, to increase our awareness of their winter movements.
The other day I was shifting a log pile and discovered a whole nest of mice. I actually managed to stroke one. It stayed still while I ran my finger down its spine and tickled its ear – whether from pleasure or terror, I’m not sure.
The leaf litter is very rich this year and we’ve got some unusual species, like cauliflower fungus, growing there. We’re also in the process of developing a three-year research project, in partnership with several universities, to look into the role biochar can play in suppressing Ash Dieback.
The disease is now rife across the UK’s ash tree population and presents a very real threat. The ash tree is synonymous with the English countryside and we could lose it forever. There is some evidence, however, that placing biochar around the base of the tree could give it protection. We want to investigate further – watch this space for more information and ways in which you could get involved.
Conservation
We start our pond conservation project in January. We will be building a pond dipping deck in our clay pit, which – because there has been no human activity there for 40 years – has become a really interesting ecological site.
We will also be creating a new pond habitat, nature trails and boardwalks in several locations. We’re looking for volunteers to help us make signs and bird boxes, plant trees and hedgerows and generally help out with the boardwalk construction project. See our events section for more details.
Tenants
We still have the South Downs Angling Club, Hathor Farm, Anne Marie OSullivan (who grows willow) and Alex Croft (forest gardener) but we are welcoming a new tenant to the site in 2018. Charlie Butler will be our new poultry farmer, managing a brood of happy hens.
Woodland management
We will be sustainably harvesting winter firewood and doing some placement coppicing and pollarding for biochar production.
New garden area
We’ve had a member request the creation of a small community garden that we could use for gatherings and ceremonies. This would consist of an arboretum grown around a central space. This could be paid for by members with a small annual fee of around £25. Please contact me if you have any suggestions or feedback on this.
Planning
We have been successful in getting permission to build a large Nissan hut that will enable us to store our tractor, operational equipment and tools.
All in all it’s been a very positive year. Merry Christmas and we hope to see you at Sacred Earth in 2018.
