The Bog Meadow

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 This is the last in my series on the different habitats on our land. Today I am looking at the Bog Meadow.


In many ways this is the most interesting parcel of land. The ground is heavy clay and it is unsatisfactory for grazing. When we bought the place 14 years ago we decided to plant some water tolerant trees and dig a pond and let nature take its course. I cut wands of willow from a local hedge and just stuck them in the ground. Trees grew from these wands and they are now around 8m tall. (The latin for willow is Salix meaning to "spring forth" indicating how easily these trees propagate). I have also planted oak, silver birch and rowan. The pond didn't turn out as planned being leaky but there is enough water to have a good population of frogs and newts and it is frequented by heron and mallard occasionally nest there. This is my preferred spot for camera traps. I get roe deer, badger, fox, wood mouse, polecat, and once or twice otter.









This land immediately abuts the disused railway line so animals can  easily access it.
I think I have quoted the poet Gerald Manly Hopkins before in his poem "Inversnaid Burn" but I think it applies to this bit of land.

"Where would the World be once bereft,
Of wet and of wildness
Let them be left.
Let them be left wildness and wet,
Long Live the weeds and the wilderness yet"

Diary
A smaller flock of lapwing passed over today (50 or so). I had a fleeting glimpse of a stoat whilst I was tidying up in the garden.
I notice that the hazel tree in the garden is showing it's tiny male flowers. This is very early - last year it was the beginning of March before I noticed this. Temperatures dropping again - a frost is forecast for tonight.



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