So long - see you in the spring!
A really positive chat this morning with three members of the Environment Agency about how the brook is going to be managed in the next few months, to help both flood management and wildlife. It's crucial that properties are protected, but if the stretches where there is only one vole-friendly bank can be less harshly strimmed, perhaps with a narrow fringe left, then that will be helpful. The biodiversity officer also mentioned that he'd spotted Himalayan Balsam in some patches, so we need to root that out before it gets a hold.
Blog-wise I doubt there'll be any more water vole sightings till next February/March now, but I'll post about the hedgehogs and anything else that pops up over the next four months. In the meantime, feed and water your hogs and garden birds, check your bonfires before lighting them, log anything unusual with your favourite wildlife database, and above all, look after yourself. I have a feeling it's going to be a hard winter.
The EA do a difficult job (usually) well.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kate for keeping us so well informed and entertained.
Rob
You are right, and it was the EA who got the trolleys out of the brook six years ago, for which I'm still grateful. The upshot is that for next year's cut, they're going to look at leaving the stretches where there's only one vole-friendly bank because this will make a big difference.
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