February -
As February started, the cows and horses were happily settled in, the fencelines and gates almost complete, and major scrub-clearance plans in progress.
14 and a half cows ;-) - 23rd February
A few of us met early to herd 14 cows along the hill for a health-check, but only 13 were found.
Having gone to the water trough to check the ice, I found the missing cow - and an extra:-)
The rest of the day was spent scrub clearing, with 2 major bonfires, and the destruction of an invasive holm oak - whose stump was later carved into seat.
It was an odd day - very cold with at least 6 snow flurries, but between the snow, clear blue skies.
3 days old- 25th February
Now strong enough to travel, the cow and calf were herded up to return to the farm and an indoor life.
This meant a 2 hour herd of them across the site, leaving a somewhat nervous cow. She was unwilling to enter the pen, and instead determined to get back into the deep scrub.
She was finally penned in (thanks to Richard grabbing the calf and running it into the pen - and vaulting out before an irate galloping lowing Mum reached him.
However, minutes later, the cow jumped out the pen :-o
But, with calf still securely enclosed, she did not stray away, and finally was taken "home" to a warm barn.
Richard's 10-year anniversary - 16th February
This week marked the 10-year anniversary of Richard working as ranger on Portsdown Hill. His volunteers decided to mark the date with a celebration lunch. We fitted it in, between driving cattle along the hill in the morning and burning scrub in the afternoon.
Scrub clearance begins - 7th February.
Today was the first days of contractor scrub-clearance kit arriving onto the site.
Work began at the west-most end of the land we manage (albeit owned and leased from the MOD), below Fort Southwick.
This area was, on the 6th february, almost entirely covered in scrub.
Thick scrub to the left in compartment 1
scrub-eater
The same path, with bare soil
Fences and gates - 2nd February, Wednesday task day.
Today the last field gate was hung (the last needed for all 10 compartments), the contractor's holding-pen fence was "rusticated" with a row of our home-grown holm-oak railings, fences were laid at pedestrian access routes, posts installed for a kissing gate, and 2 new volunteers joined to complete a working aprty of 17.
Rustic railing along netting bottom
Protective scrub along pen fence
Newly-laid hedge along footpath access
Pete turning the mega-post
Joe attaching rustic railings
Hilma in a hole (as usual)