catch up

I'd overlooked how long it has been since last writing anything in my blog...
(I post a few things on Twitter @meadowcopse although not always just on my meadow and orchard musings).

Since August, some extra distractions with extra time spent in relation to my proper job (not the most environmentally sensitive occupation) and a few social events, excursions and notably for 2012 interruptions due to rain.

Back to the field, trying to manage the grassland, particularly around the orchard trees in the wet weather proved problematic - particularly with an inundation from the River Dee at the end of September.
Again this year I've left a proliferation of meadowsweet in the open grass area to go to seed.

A noticeable quantity of voles were nesting, but also several owls locally and a fox.
I do wonder how wildlife survives and recovers after flooding? The plot is in a floodplain, but hedgerow and grassland wildlife is noticeable, although I have spotted a couple of drowned moles.

A modest crop of cider apples have gone off for a trial brew, It will be interesting to see how the larger transplanted trees perform next year.
A start on filling the gaps in the hedgerow with hawthorn, some blackthorn, dog roses and an occasional oak and ash. The latter are from my own local seedlings, although the Chalara fraxinea problem has some sobering implications on plant movements we take for granted in a horticultural context.

A couple of signs of minor anti-social activities along the access track, but otherwise quiet probably due to wet weather and poor ground conditions.

Still a few gaps in local history to fill between the Chancery Deeds from 1150-1450, the estate enclosures map of the 1700s and tithe map of the 1800s. At least one of the boundaries is 400+ years and a marker stone from between a corner tree roots was rather heavily hauled to Chester Grosvenor Museum for a look over.

Over winter a couple of projects to get on with, including a planting backlog of a few more heritage variety fruit trees.

Trips out and about have included walks in The Peak District, Wharfedale, Witney Wood Fair in Oxfordshire, Bristol, Derbyshire - interesting landscapes, historic houses and fine food and drink along the way.