Planning a pond

Well-- it's taken ages to sort out the Buckle's Wood planning application for  retrospective change of land use and  creation  of our wildlife pond, partly due to my aversion to filling in forms.
The forms were delivered today and I've just received an email from the planning department, thanking  me for the application. I shall be contacted if the paperwork lacks the right information and if everything is OK we shall know in 6 to 8 weeks if the application is successful.
Meanwhile, we need to relocate some of the trees that we planted in the south west corner to make room for our pond and put up some notices to inform our many woodland walkers of our plans!

Creating a pond

In 1993, when the playground was altered to  accommodate Elmsett School's Community Recycling Centre, the pond area was landscaped were made made safe for the pupils to use as an environmental resource. Wild flowers and additional trees were planted. The pond was cleared out and a  dipping platform was built.   When the new play area on the meadow was built last year, the surplus soil was used to fill in the pond.

The original design for Buckle's Woodincluded a pond. The plan was drawn by Greville from The Green Light Trust, using ideas from  the pupils and members of the community.  As all the trees have been planted, and the village has lost the School's pond, the management group have decided that this year will be a good time for a Pond in Buckle's Wood. 

With guidance from Juliet Hawkins, our pond will be safe, environmentally friendly feature that will attract a greater variety of wildlife into our woodland.



This is where the pond will be!



Waiting for news

I've sent this photo, with a few others, to The Forestry Commission and I think I already know what their reply will be, as there are a number of sites locally where many young Ash trees have had to be destroyed.

Now the guidelines have changed and only those trees  which show signs of the Ash dieback disease will have to be destroyed.   At the moment only few of the 420+ Ash trees that we have planted display obvious signs of having the disease.
 
The latest guidance says that mature trees can be left, even if they are struck down by the fungus. Experts are hoping that  there will be some native trees left that are immune to this fungus.

There are a number of old, coppiced Ash trees in our ancient hedgerow, so it's great that they don't have to be cut down.

Help with identifying Ash Dieback disease.

Ash Dieback

Farming Today on BBC Radio 4  this morning was all about this disease. A number of experts were interviewed followed  by a general discussion about whether should be done to keep our native trees free from imported diseases.

Ash Trees Dieback disease

The Foresty Commission has issued a warning about a fungal disease

that has reached our shores from the continent. A report on the Today programme this morning said that only trees in Norfolk were infected.

The link above gives more details and help with identifying diseased trees. It also gives contact details  of organisations that should be contacted if you are concerned about any  ash trees that are dying back.

The woodland is beginning to look very colourful as autumn approaches. It has been a good season for berries in the hedgerow and on the trees. Fungi are started to pop up along the rides and most of the flowers have died down and are displaying pretty seedheads.



Rose hips



Bryony



Ragwort