After a peaceful (if wet) summer at Highnam there has been a little flurry of activity in the last couple of weeks. The dams that I have been eager to get installed in one of the coppice plots have finally been completed, and are holding water back nicely. While the contractors were working in the area I also asked them to complete some drainage restoration work on a couple of the paths, so we are hopeful that the coppice plot will become wet and splodgy, but that the paths will be less so - fingers crossed.
Most of the rides have been cut with a tractor and flail too, reducing the grass cover, allowing more space and light for wildflowers to pop up next spring. There will also be some additional work this autumn to trim some of the more woody bushes which are beginning to encroach and cast shadows over what we would like to be warm sunny areas. Some areas of the rides / path are too wet to access with tractors at the moment though and it is likely that even when we can get the necessary machinery in there will be a fair amount of churning up and mud production. I hope visitors will be patient with us and we have planned some restorative work to the worst affected areas with a digger to take place as soon as possible.
As autumn colours begin to dominate, the feeders have been returned, with some outside the hide and others by the carpark. As there is still a reasonable amount of natural food around in the area these are attracting a relatively low level of activity at the moment, it won't be long before they are busy though. I already frequently hear marsh tit by the car park and there are definitely a few great tits enjoying the seed at the hides.
Now is a great time to look for fungi, exactly what we will be doing on Thurs 11th October with a local enthusiast. If you are interested in joining this event please have a look at www.rspb.org.uk/highnamwoods and we look forward to seeing you there.
Winter work parties also start this month, with the first being at Highnam on 17th October, so if you fancy joining us for a little work and a bit of a natter come along to the carpark for 10am.
Hannah