The running of the Deer

I spotted the white deer as we came in the gate.  Managed to get the kids to stalk down and got a good view of them.  Later saw them grazing in the meadow in the front of the wood on the opposite side of the valley.

Windfall tree and new axe

Plenty of work to be done!!

Not sure why the ash went.  It had been dead for ages and didn't have any top to catch the wind.

Tried the axe out by sneading some of the windfall hornbeam - it works a treat.

Archery

Becky tries out her Crimbo present.

Common newt

Becky spotted this, dead on a sleeper.  Pretty sure it is a common or smooth newt.

Passers by

Carolyn spotted this slot

the trail camera revealed this fella cutting through the camp.

Second Hand saws

Carolyn picked up some second hand saws from Saffron Walden Market -  they need new blades but they should come in handy.

Young buck

A young buck down the peninsula

Ring barked tree

The grey squirrels have ring barked this hornbeam, it needs to come down.  Becky was keen to get started but it will have to wait for another weekend.

Sunday lunch

Water muntjac

Tiney's first Pheasant

Tiney did a classic, foot up point to indicate this pheasant.  Roded in about 10 feet very slowly.  Eventually the pheasant ran out of cover.  The best thing to say about the shot was it was safe, but I was determined to deliver after Tiney's hard work.

Badgers

There are definitely badgers in the wood!

Refurbished Sign

Jenny repainted the sign and it has been re hung.

The Locals

First Post

Here is a blog about our families stewardship of a 15 acre ancient wood in Essex.  Purchase was completed on 01-Nov-2012 and our first visit as owners was on the 03-Nov-2012.

The kids clears some paths and made a bow; we just wondered around looking at all the different trees. Also we looked fro Chalara fraxinea  but to our relief, no sign yet.