Coppicing time

                        And so we enter a new year. This is my first blog of 2024

A Redwing, here from Scandinavia

                The last few weeks of 2023 delivered mixed fortunes to Crow Wood. On the plus side, winter feeding has brought back some old friends in the return of Redwings, Fieldfares, Blackbirds and a pair of Marsh Tits. Berries have been in good supply this year and were well used in decorating our home for Christmas. Redwings, winter visitors from Scandinavia, arrived late this year so our best Holly tree kept its berries until much later than usual and that meant we had lots of choice. The feeding station has seen good numbers of all the tit species eagerly stocking up on fat and seeds. The Marsh Tits are always good to see there, such fine little birds and quite rare these days so we are lucky to have them in our wood. 

              The weather has been particularly wet and mild this winter which has stopped me from visiting as often as usual and made work there that much harder. Parts of the wood are completely water-logged and with rain continuing it seems they will stay that way. The relative absence of human disturbance may have been instrumental in encouraging deer to be a little bolder this season, with clear evidence of their presence and their browsing activities.

damage caused by Fallow Deer

caught on camera

They are a mixed blessing. A few Fallow deer can stomp their way through a lot of new tree shoots and they are not adverse to rubbing their antlers against young trees denuding them of bark and breaking off branches. One of our young Redwoods has been a particular target, the culprit, a doe Fallow deer, caught on camera.

               It is not just deer that cause damage. Our cabin was broken into again in early December by persons unknown. We think they were looking for power tools none of which are kept there (there is even a sign on the outside saying this). The visitors must have spent some time breaking in as the door was damaged badly and needing repair, but part from a rather nice kettle and a hammer nothing else was taken. This is just the latest of a number of break-ins over the years and will not be the last. We will not let these events spoil our enjoyment of the wood..............

after the break-in

the Marsh Tit - a welcome visitor

raiding the Holly berries !