Until the New Year

Not much time at home or to spend at the meadow the last few weeks due to work and weather delays.
The lack of leaves has opened up the hedgerows a bit - a lot of the rosehips have signs of being nibbled by something - both on the stems and loose ones at ground level.
Quite a few residual maize cobs half chewed along the hedge line and in the middle of the grass - I suspect a fox or something reasonably large finding these and bringing them into the field to eat?
I've scattered a quantity of hazelnuts along the south hedge line - if any are left by the time I get home, the way in which they are gnawed into might indicate what small rodents are there (not sure if dormice completely hibernate, or have some winter activity)?
There are a couple of grey squirrels in the hollow parts of the ash trees (although one less in Bristol, as I acquired a prepared one and ate it in a casserole last week).
A heron has been particularly noticeable in the adjoining field and along the brook / trackway and a thrush and blackbird in the hedges.
Quite a few large fresh mole-hills and something else small has been burrowing a short distance out from the west hedge - too small for a rabbit - a hole nearly 2 inches diameter and soil scattered behind?
Seemingly a bit more wool strands on the fence wires - so I suspect neighbouring sheep are still straying, more fencing to do before the main push on tree planting...

Despite the cycle of thawing and freezing, the River Dee remains at almost drought low level - will be interesting what time towards spring it peaks again.
Someone has been in and partly cleared the main ditch though with a machine - I'll be spending a bit of January sorting the channel along the main road boundary as the Council / Highways haven't seemed interested for a decade or more.

In the post, there was a small selection of seeds to add to the grassland - they've gone in the fridge until the ground is more easily prepared for sowing.
A spell down south - a wander through the tree-lined waterways around Salisbury and it's meadow systems for a few 'compare & contrast' observations.
Still trying to determine if a few large poplars in one of the parks (Churchill Gardens) are specifically black poplars?
An afternoon at Thornhayes Nursery in North Devon for a handy fruit tree training and pruning course.
Also whilst down south, a cultivator head picked up for the Stihl multitool - will do for ground clearance around orchard trees and a few other preparations (Scats Countrystores had a 10% Xmas discount evening - although a bit strange talking plant and machinery to someone dressed as one of Santa's Elves...)