Devon SSSI nature reserve and eco lodges - Maggie's Blog
30 January 2010
January hedge laying...
January jobs... I've been doing a bit more of the hedging Tom Hynes started for us when he ran a demonstration day last autumn. It's slow work, but will thicken up the growth on top of the bank, making it a much better habitat for wildlife. As I worked, a robin came to check out the leaf litter I had stirred up - hoping I'd incovered some food.
Many of our hedges are overgrown, and hedging will be a never ending task for the forseeable future. This one is on the southern boundary of Popehouse Moor, adjoining a field sown with thatching wheat. Our neighbouring farmer flailed his side last year and although that's not ideal, in a way it made the hedging easier. I only have to do one side, and it's relatively easy to get up on the bank and work.
Now's the time to do it anyway. In the picture you can see some 'steepers' - youngish wood cut almost through, then laid flat along the bank to provide new growth. The big tree will become a hedgerow standard. Behind that you can see how overgrown the 'hedge' had become - almost a line of trees!
Walking back home in the afternoon sunlight I found the Canada geese back on the pond. Three of them for now - they may or may not hang around long enough to breed this year. Two cock pheasants glided in, and the rufus-backed kestrel was hunting over the tussocky grass. January isn't my favourite month, but it has its moments!
