Heathland Maintenance

Today I led a volunteer work day in a privately owned area of heathland, which is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest. We are clearing birch and pine seedlings that are threatening to turn the heath into woodland. After all the wind and rain we’ve been having, it was nice to have a calm sunny day and we got a lot done. As we walked into the heathland, a woodcock exploded out of the heather. Two greylag geese took off from the pond as I wandered past at lunchtime and two buzzards came over in the afternoon.

Birch seedlings are taking over
 
The seedlings are cut and burned...
 
...and the stumps are treated with glyphosate
 

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