trees & wildlife

A New Year and an afternoon at the field.
A quick check of the hedges and fences (a bit of work to do until stock-proof yet) - signs of small mammal and bird activity at ground level along the hedge and a couple of small burrows further out.
Along the track-way, a squirrel and in the field behind a heron again.
A few cobs of partly chewed maize here and there from the adjoining field. Most of the hedgerow berries have gone now though.
Walking along the south hedgerow, I'm mindful of a couple of mature hollow trees - a balance between wildlife and safety. They are far enough away from the footpath to be too much of a worry.
Today, in one of the hollow trees, something caught my eye...

From Meadowcopse 2011

An owl seemingly asleep!
Just shows the conservation value of hollow trees, something mentioned often by conservation groups and agencies.

From Meadowcopse 2011

A few items in the weekend papers about a bit of a turnaround for the fortunes of wildlife in the UK, particularly over the last 10 years - a shame that the very agencies with formal responsibility have a dark political shadow over them.

The rest of the afternoon was spent thinning a corner of the south hedge for layering and fencing preparations.
I'm hoping for a week without frost to get ahead with some tree planting from the native broad-leaf stock back at home.