ponies and cattle in the west

To stop them munching the bog asphodel

Martin

Garden warbler in car park today

Bubbling along without reaching any conclusion

Martin

Searching this blog --- martin

Some people say they have had problems searching for things in this blog.

I use a variety of browsers and do not have this problem.

The second 'box' down from the very top is a search box, where you can use the normal google techniques.  try putting "bog Beacon" into this line and pressing enter

But you can also just use your normal search engine with a little extra

ie
blogspot oldlodge "bog beacon"

and get the same items.

hope this helps

Martin

Tuesday, 30th April 2019 ... weekly volunteers

Present: Mike p, Mike m, Alan, Pat, Keith, Stuart, Ian, Terry, Ray, John b, Bernard,, Paul, and Martin Activities: - did the nest box survey - built a small dam in the swamp to slow flows. Moved ferns etc that could be swamped. This part of stream has been heavily eroded over time - continued the ditch work along the road - did some log splitting at the roller stand after lunch - looked the ponies Observations: - warm and windless. Some sun - green hair streak in the ditch - lots of bog beacon in all usual places and some new - pair of Dartford along the road - whitethroats - Henry parking incident, with Ray! - buzzard, kestrel, Reed bunting - mixed bag with nest boxes. Plenty of redstarts. Quite a lot of gaps at the beginning Martin

Tuesday, 23rd April 2019 ... weekly volunteers

Present: Jonathan, John, Stuart, Mike m, Mike p, Pat, Alan, Bob, Keith, Bernard, Mark, Paul, David w, and Martin Activities; - looked ponies - checked for the cornered leek. Just a few near pillars. Some wild garlic ransoms, in the car park ditch found - built Irish bridge on the most southerly branch of the swamp. Also one on the bird count route along from the tree creeper box, which still needs building up - cut young bracken in various places. Very patchy - continued work on brambles along the road - checked dampness for CTs - bit of work on our extended car park along the road - John did some rhody work on the Pippingford boundary - Jonathan did some pine pulling near chalet Observations: - cuckoo, Willow warblers, chiffchaffs, redstarts, tree pipits, wood larks, Dartford - nice warm overcast still day - holy blues, brimstones, a small dragon fly, lizard Martin

Tuesday, 16th April 2019 ... weekly volunteers

Present: Ray, Terry, John b, Mark, Ian, David a, Mike p, Keith, Pat, Alan, Stuart, David w, Bernard, Jonathan, Neil (visited), and Martin Activities: - inspected some of the reptile tins. Slow worms and lizard. No adders - ditch work getting rid of brambles - some peat dug up for perks - continued the log splitting at the roller stand - did a small berm as an exploratory exercise on sphagnum Heath - had a concerted effort to get rid of the three cornered leek in car park and near the stone pillars - improved the locks at the roller stand, following recent observations by Alan - looked the ponies who were being difficult to find - Mike p gave amazing demonstration of log splitting by throwing the log with embedded wedge, to the ground Observations: - warn, slight wind and largely overcast. Later it was spitting with rain - summer visitors are here. Blackcap, chiffchaff, Willow warblers, tree pipits, redstarts, cuckoo. - 2 woodlarks along the road - speckled wood - Alan brought early Easter eggs - Bernard's birthday with KitKat Martin

Tuesday, 9th April 2019 ... weekly volunteers

Present: Alan, John, John b, David a, David w, Keith, Bob, Mike m, Mike p, Ian, Paul, Ray, and Martin Activities: - checked remaining nest boxes. One had an egg in, but not sure it is viable at the present. Put one repaired box up, near cricket pitch - pulled three cornered leek from beginning of the path up to car park. There are many to be pulled there and in the car park - some splitting of logs at roller stand, but more work to be done - some sawing of logs in the shed - Ditch work continued with pulling and digging bramble out of ditch - some pine pulling near chalet and one taken as perk - looked the ponies, who were being very difficult to find - John cleaned tool room floor - David w trimmed the rough edges of the wedges at home and brought back. Fab Observations: - first redstart singing - Mike showed some aerial photos of the reserve - Keith brought some honey for sale - horrid weather and stopped soon after lunch. Drizzle and showers. Misty. - the dog poo bags have gone. Our tactics worked Martin

Tuesday, 2 April 2019 ... weekly volunteers

Description:Present: Paul, David w, Ian, Mike m, Mike p, Keith, Pat, Alan, Stuart, Jonathan, Terry, Ray, and Martin Activities: - checked out a third of nest boxes, from five bar gate to causeway. Did running repairs on some of them - cleared the boundary between the reserve and the car park, of bramble etc. No three cornered leeks found there - but were found on the path near the stone pillars. Pulled up and disposed of. - some pine pulling in front of the chalet nest box, but not too close. Terry collected some for the Brighton sapling operation - some bracken peat bagged and taken off site - more log splitting of the chestnuts near the roller stand - and some of these pieces were sawn up. Mike m took some pieces for turning - more ditch work along the road, pulling up bramble mostly - looked the ponies - put a long chain on the roller stand gates, as old one becoming difficult for some strange reason - wedges to be trimmed for safety reasons by David w off site - placed the discarded dog poo bags in prominent place, to emphasise that we will not provide a service to remove them. Watch this space. Observations: - 2 kestrels at the nest site - crossbills - chiffchaff - bog beacon in swamp - Queen wasp and hornet found in separate nest boxes. Hornet was huge - dire forecast for weather, and some rain towards lunch - almost did some gorse cutting and feeding, but rain stopped play - barn owl seen during the week at the chalet Martin

Tuesday, 26th March 2019 ... weekly volunteers

Description:Present: John, John b, Mike m, Mike p, Ian, Jonathan, Paul, Pat, Stuart, Mark, Bernard, Keith, Bob, David w, and Martin Activities: - looked the ponies - cleared the bank in the car park of some brambles. No leeks or handbags found - refurnished the dog notices from cottages to quarry - inspected the new dam. Some extra work probably necessary - inspected the chalet nest box. 2 barn owls flew out. Lots of pellets in the box. Selfie stick failed - some of the reptile tins inspected - John cleared some rhododendrons on the other side of the Pippingford boundary - quarry work included felling an extra tree and processing, splitting, debarking and pointing for fence posts - checked nest boxes up to west pond. One box broken, maybe by ponies and brought back for repair by Keith. no sign yet of any activity this year. One n3 record actually had 8 odd tit eggs slightly hidden under under the surface. Some small repairs done Observations: - 5 buzzards, 2 kestrels, 2 barn owls - wood Lark - chiffchaff - weather OK, when sun out Martin

Tuesday, 19th March 2019 ... weekly volunteers

Description:Present: Terry, Mike m, Mike p, Ian, Ray, Keith, David a, Pat, Alan, Jonathan, Stuart, David w, John b, Paul and Martin Activities: - build a barrage in a channel alongside ol1, with some alder logs cut in the coppiced area beyond the paddy field. Overflow was also built to the side. This should raise the general water table in the area of bog - finished the fencing work across the centre - did some more work in the quarry, making fencing posts out of coppiced chestnut - some ditch work was done along the road to reduce the infestation of gorse and bramble - looked the ponies - brought back some tins that had been in ol2 Observations: - first chiffchaff - crossbills, redpolls - stonechat, skylarks, woodlarks - weather fine. Got slightly more windy Martin

Tuesday, 12th March 2019 ... weekly volunteers

Present: Mike p, Mike m, Ian, John, Jonathan, David a, Paul, Keith, Alan, and Martin Activities: - Paul bagged up some peat and took as perk - Ian collected two smaller chestnut logs from the roller stand and split them with wedges - John did more ground work in the car park - Mike p checked the tree tubes, and reckons just two need attention - some of the last bits of fencing work on the central fence was done, just before the weather broke - two trees that fell during recent winds were cleared up and made safe. A pine that fell from ol2 onto the boundary fence, and a smaller chestnut along beeches avenue over the track. Log and brash piles made of the chestnut - looked the ponies. They came and nibbled some of the chestnut branches - did some log cutting in the shed while it rained - Mike p did some tool sharpening Observations: - very windy from the start. Rain largely held off until noon, when we had very bad weather and were confined to the tool store - lots of crossbills, redpolls - Bullfinch - Willow now looking greenish - discussed the Heath fires two weeks ago - chestnut will need an inspection for the longer term. Wonderful root plate and probably still alive Martin

Tuesday, 5th March 2019 ... weekly volunteers

Description:Present: Alan, Ray, Mike p, Mike m, Ian, Keith, Bob, Stuart, David a, David w, Mark, Pat, Paul, John b, Bernard, and Martin Activities: - looked the ponies - two bonfires of brash from Mark m-t cutting of birch on the pillow mound near stony pond - moved and stacked most of the logs - Mike p marked possible additional drainage channels for the path down from high beeches - made some berms from old log piles to slow run off down slope from the pond near high beeches - told a Lady off for refusing to put her dog on the lead - small amount of log splitting Observations: - Crossbills, buzzards, tree creepers, 100+ redpolls - nice weather, slight sw breeze - discussed the 2 out of control fires last week on the forest. Maybe right to protect the volunteers, but rangers must have been mad - hard work today, with a lot done Martin

Tuesday, 26th February 2019 ... weekly volunteers

Description:Present: John b, Bernard, Jonathan, Mike p, Mike m, Ian, Keith, Pat, Mark, David w, Stuart, Paul, and Martin Activities: - looked ponies - fencing work along the central line - Stuart did some work in the ditch while waiting for Ray - Mark m-t cut down and processed birch on the pillow mound near foresters cottage, helped by Jonathan and Mike m - some work on solving the water collecting at the cross road. Looks as if it was caused by a poorly sealed pipe inlet combined with reasonably steep slope. - made some more fencing posts in the quarry. A tree still needs processing. Some froe splitting of fire wood done - collected log pile from car park area, and part of beech pile on beeches avenue - Mike did some pine sapling work - the tube protection of the Hornbeam seedlings checked near the existing old hornbeams Observations: - buzzard hunting in woods, near the slope - Dartford warbler on sh - crossbills on cottage, possibly nibbling the mortar, males keeping guard - watched the two Heath fires, one on kids hill and the other at nutley. saw the start of the kids hill one. Spectacular. - reviewed Graeme's note with mark mt - lovely summer weather Martin

Tuesday, 19th February 2019 ... weekly volunteers

Present: Jonathan, Mark, Mike m, Mike p, Ray, Alan, Stuart, Bernard, Ian, David w, John b, John, Keith and Martin Activities: - looked the ponies. Nuts have now run out - John and Stuart did some work on the ditch along side the road - bark stripping and pointing of split chestnut logs to make fence posts - took out a lot of fence posts to the crossroads to repair the central fence. These supplemented by the new ones from the quarry - marked posts to be repaired and placed new posts as markers - repaired most posts along beeches avenue - restacked the cut birch log roundels, to make water proof and aired. Made reasonably safe for visitors - took the removed posts back to the shed - looked at sphagnum Heath for a site for a new pond - John did some earth/stone work in the car park to reduce the level of mud there - discussed the reasons for a lot of mud above the pipe at the cross road Observations: - unseasonably warm and not too windy. Too dry for any fires - buzzards - crossbills - some ripe bananas were refused and passed on to Keith's worms - a week older banana was eaten - the hedge cuttings were still mostly inside the cottage gardens. The ponies had nibbled the ones that had fallen outside Martin

Tuesday, 12th February 2019 ... weekly volunteers

Present: Stuart, Paul, Mark, Keith, Ian, Mike m, Mike p, Bernard, David w, John b, Ray, and Martin. Martin was traveling in the morning and arrived in time for lunch. Activities: - looked and fed ponies - put out new reptile tins and did some renumbering and repositioning of old tins - did fencing work from hunt gate to the corner along the central fence. Carried new fence posts from behind the shed out and brought back the old posts for firewood - some bracken peat was dug and taken off site - some more sawing and splitting of the old chestnut logs at the roller stand was done - Mike did some work on drainage in front of the shed Observations: - Mark birthday buns - crossbills - pony nuts almost at an end Martin

Tuesday, 5th February 2019 ... weekly volunteers

Description:Present: David a, David w, Pat, Alan, Mark, Terry, Paul, John h, Bernard, Mike m, Bob, Ian and Martin Activities: - looked and feed the ponies - bonfire of brash from the three trees that mark felled last week near the hunt gate. Stacked up the useful logs - made conservation log piles of the older trunks lying near the Pippingford boundary, that mark sectioned last week - investigated the central fence from hunt gate to the left bend, noting work to be done soon - cut some logs - mended some of the dog notices, along top and one near roller stand Observations: - foggy, damp, and breezy. Felt cold, but mostly wind chill. No views - buzzard heard, and possibly seen with prey - crossbills, possible marsh tit, bull Finch, redwing Martin

Tuesday, 29th January 2019 ... weekly volunteers

Present: Ray, Mike m, Bernard, Paul, Alan, Jonathan, Mark, John b, Terry, and Martin. Mark m-t on site cutting last three marked trees down and cutting the old felled trunks into manageable logs. Activities: - looked and feed ponies - bonfire below the crossroads of the felled trees. Stacked up some of the logs, and created some habitat piles - Jonathan helped mark mt , and we all joined in roping and pulling a pine that had decided to go the wrong way Observations: - baked potatoes from Paul - crossbills, stonechat, herring gulls, nuthatch and GS woodpecker - weather cold, but not too breezy. Rain held off. - a firelighter used by Jonathan together with the pre-formed kindling pile meant a quick start for fire Martin

Tuesday, 22nd January 2019 ... weekly volunteers

Present: Ian, Mike m, Mark, Ray, Bernard, Alan, Pat, Jonathan, Paul, Keith, Bob, John h, John, Stuart, and Martin Activities: - looked and fed ponies - bonfire of the brash produced near the cross roads - tidied up the various log piles - prepared for burning the other site of felled trees - did some small amount of tidying up old fallen trees - put up mended nest box Observations: - a bit on the cold side, but sheltered from the west wind there - noted that three trees remained to be cut down, and no work was done on the old felled trees on the boundary - Dartford on south Heath - Jonathan donated a large number of bow saws and blades, which had been discarded by the butterfly group - ground and bracken very damp and last weeks technique of starting the fire did not work well - crossbills Martin

Tuesday, 15th January 2019 ... weekly volunteers

Present: Ian, Mike m, Mike p, Stuart, Ray, Alan, Bernard, Paul and Martin. David a and Neil joined us for coffee, not being fit enough yet to work. Mark and Paul Copsey +1 were on site for felling work Activities: - looked ponies - bonfire of the old brash at the quarry on the Pippingford boundary. Plus extra brash from new work in quarry _ coppiced a number of chestnut limbs in the quarry, cut into lengths and split into proto fence posts, and stacked to dry. Also some logs and brash generated - Stuart took some bracken peat Observations: - photo of Mike's one match achievement sent to Keith - weather dry but mostly overcast. OK. - noted that there had been a wild fire on the common the previous day. The ground and bracken were unusually dry - Mark m-t brought bag of feed for us to give a couple of handfuls to the ponies, and some more fence posts delivered behind the store Martin

Tuesday, 8th January 2019 ... weekly volunteers

Present: Keith, Bob, Mark, Mike p, Mike m, David w, Neil visited, Alan, Paul, Ian, Ray, Bernard, John, Jonathan, Stuart and Martin Activities: - bonfire of Heather, gorse in the quarry on south Heath. Heather on the sides of the quarry removed to encourage insects in the sunny sand. Ling cut and pulled, but bell Heather left or pruned - Keith cut some ledges in the quarry walls for sunning snakes - some pollarding of birch trees in the corner - fencing work on the perimeter of the main reserve finished with rotten posts brought back for firewood - logs brought into the top store to dry - some log cutting - fire beater snapped due to wood worm. Mike p has taken to be repaired - looked the ponies Observations: - crossbills, stonechat - nw wind reasonably strong, but some shelter in quarry. Not too cold and some sun. Nice views - Ian and Paul going on first aid refresher - Neil visited with bad knee, which is mending - David a at home after complication with stent procedure, but should be visiting/ supervising soon - mended nest box awaiting being put back - more Christmas chocolates eaten, some new things in the shop, and some taken Martin

Tuesday, 1st January 2019 ... weekly volunteers

Nothing planned

martin

Tuesday, 25th December 2018 ... weekly volunteers

Nothing planned

martin

Tuesday, 18 December 2018 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

Keith, Pat, Allan, Mike m, Jonathan, Stuart, David w, Terry, Paul, Mark, Ray, Bernard, Ian, and Martin

Activities:

- bonfire of gorse, Heather and birch pollarding on south Heath. Heather is getting too dense and high, and we will now be cutting and burning patches as a regular item.
- put up two nest boxes, one repaired and one new ( tree creeper). One nest box repaired out in the field
- looked the ponies
- finished repairing the wheelbarrow
- cut some wood
- continued the fence repairs, and have now got half way back along the m1. Rotten posts brought back for firewood
- cleared the alternative path at the car park, to avoid the mud on the main track
- pruned the chestnut near the crossroads. Ponies had left rather ragged and a nuisance


Observations:

- rather windier than expected and fire had to be in a sheltered position. Rain later. Not particularly cold
- mulled wine and numerous goodies at coffee and lunch
- crossbills
- stonechat
- Ray had a couple of bandages for a cut



Martin

Tuesday, 11 December 2018 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

Keith, Bob, Ian, Mike m, Mike p. Pat, Alan, Ray, Mark, Jonathan, Neil, David w, John, and Martin. Andrew from Swt joined us

Activities:

- looked the ponies
- pony lick was put near the cottages
- bonfire of gorse and Heather just down the slope from behind the shed. The gorse was cut there, and the Heather came from the slit trenches
- small amount of pollarding of the birches near the fire
- helped Andrew with mowing on the reserve
- exposed the slit trenches on south Heath for safety. 6 along the top and 1 near the bonfire. There was another structure near the fire, not sure what it was
- wheel Barrow tyre taken away for a remend
- some log cutting in the shed
- penultimate bit of fence mending. The military road bit is finished
- volunteer Xmas trees cut and transported away
- some dirt track work in front of the shed done

Observations:

- 2 Dartford reported
- meadow pipits, dunnock
- probable Merlin. small falcon which did a stoop.
- crossbills
- fieldfares
- brambling
- fire went out, and restarted while keith was elsewhere.
- weather dry and just OK

Martin

Tuesday, 4 December 2018 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

Terry, David w, Mike m, Mike p, Pat, Ray, Keith, Bob, Ian, Bernard, Neil, John, Stuart, Paul, Jonathan, and Martin

Activities:

- 2 gorse fires along the top towards the corner. A chunk of gorse was coppiced for the second fire, which being green, burnt very well for a bit before putting itself out with large holes. Restarted after coffee.
- some Xmas trees cut and taken
- more fencing work. The fence along the boundary was obviously in a poor state. The crew decided to remove the old rotten posts and bring back to the shed as firewood. There is still the m1 to do
- some bracken Pat was dug and removed
- Jonathan brought back patched inner tube for the wheelbarrow. Reassembled and tested.
- some wood cutting in the shed
- 5 ponies seen near the cricket pitch, but later only 3 were visible. Gary and Andrew took 2 off the site.

Observations:

- black headed gull !!!
- herring gulls circling, not birds of prey
- crossbills
- 2 ravens
- concrete rails donated for wood piles, stored round the back
- we did not manage to make contact with the tractor. Next week
- Jonathan loved the mended wheel Barrow


Martin

Tuesday, 27 November 2018 ... weekly volunteers

Present:

John, John h, Bernard, Stuart, Alan, Pat, Mike m, Mike p, Mark, Keith, Paul, David w, and Martin

Activities:

- looked the ponies and cattle. Could not find ponies first time round. Later they were with us at the bonfire
- checked the ponies for any eye trouble that had been reported last week. All seemed fine.
- gorse fire along the top just beyond the ride junction. Some gorse had previously been cut, and we did more in that area, and some in a new area near the other path for a future fire
- John pulled birch saplings in the area
- checked for the best sources of Xmas trees, and marked some as bagged
- mended and sharpened a long bow saw whose blade had snapped
- some log cutting in the shed after lunch
- Mike returned bolt from kissing gate that he had managed to partially repair/free up
- Mike m brought 2 tree creeper nest boxes, and put one up near the shed
- fencing work still along the boundary. Just the m1 to do now

Observations:

- Misty, calm and cold to start with, then nasty rain and wind from lunch time
- corral up for moving the cattle this week
- crossbills
- gsw, ltt, goldcrest, herring gull


Martin