Vexing vegetation
Monday, March 26th 2018
Came across the Roe Deer on my way up to see the ponies this morning. This is becoming a regular occurrence with the group spending a lot of time up that way and becoming braver by the day; today they barely paid me any notice and quickly returned to browsing.
If you couldn't quite spot them in the picture above I'm sure you will in the image below, it's surprising how camouflaged they are despite their white rumps!
Despite not getting anything I had intended to do finished it was a productive day nevertheless, with the entirety of the day spent tidying up fallen and falling vegetation.
There is still a bit of work yet to do on a large willow that has failed at the base and split in many different directions, with some branches leaning towards and over a nearby path.
Carring out any work on a tree such as this requires patience and is made a lot easier when you can remove most of the weight off the branches using a pole saw before making a cut nearer the base of the tree.
Another, nearby issue requiring attention was the tidying up of a long forgotten brash pile blocking light to the forest floor and preventing new spring growth from emerging.
After a lot of effort I was able to remove all of the brash, much of which had rotten down and was buried in earth, and create a more suitable deadwood habitat pile nearby.
We may have got to this job just in time as there were a few shoots trying to push their way clear of the brash pile.
(0) Comments:
There are no comments for this blog post yet. Why not start the discussion? - use the form below:
Help Support Foxglove

Friends of Foxglove
The Friends of Foxglove Covert is for those individuals, families and organisations who would like to support the reserve through an annual membership subscription. Friends receive a regular newsletter and invitations to attend our various activities and social events.
More DetailsUndergrowth Newsletter
View All The Newsletters
Recent Blog Posts
- A Virtual Tour
- Major (Rtd) Tony Crease
- Covid-19 Update
- Foxglove in the Snow
- Happy New Year!
- Dedication!
- Happy Christmas!
- Reasons To Be Cheerful!
- Mink Rafts and Marshmallows!
- A Special Glimpse!
- Weekly Round Up
- Spindle
- Christmas at Foxglove
- Working in the Willow
- Preparations
- Kestrels and Sparrowhawks
- Opening Up The Views
- A New Flock!
- More Fungi
- Coppicing Continues
- The Co-op, Thor and Straw!
- Let The Coppicing Commence!
- Some Good News
- Willows, Winners and Wildlife Houses!
- COVID-19 Update
- Larch
- Autumn Moths
- Owls, Trees and Pumpkins!
- More Meadow Management
- Extra Support
- The Fifth Kingdom
- Pumpkin Trail
- Things In The Pipeline!
- Volunteer Round Up
- Read All About It!
- Woodland Work
- Please Support Us
- Red, Yellow, Gold and Green
- Posts, Pathways and Prizes!
- Outwitted Again!
- Moorland and Meadow Management
- Autumn Tasks
- Staying Safe
- Insects In Flight
- Pillwort, Poaching and Planning Ahead!
- Bales, Bells and Bridges
- Warm Days
- Hawker Dragonflies
- Calling All Foxglove Covert LNR Supporters!
- Wonderful Webs
- Rowing Up
- Habitats and their Inhabitants
- September Sunshine
- Moths
- What An Achievement!
- Inspiration
- More Wetland Work
- A Very Busy Day
- Wanderers
- Autumn
- Busy Volunteers
- Butterflies
- Rain
- Late Summer Flowers
- Backgrounds
- Friends and Volunteers
- Family Fun
- CES 11
- Late Summer Jobs
- Ringathon!
- Wildlife Photography
- Minibeast Safaris
- Important Information
- Ducks!
- Reedbed Ringing
- Mulleins
- Summer Maintenance
- CES Preparations
- More Moths
- Bright and Beautiful
- Getting Stuck In!
- Dragonflies and Damselflies
- Shepherding Skills
- Walking Around
- Even More Owls
- CES Statistics
- CES Surprises
- Surprise Finds
- All Sorts
- The Foxglove Shop
- Weekly Round Up
- Pond Management
- Hawks
- Around the Reserve
- More Moths
- Honey Bees Return
- Wild Orchids
- Hebridean Sheep
- Moth Trapping
- Reserve Update