Two visits to our wood last week…. Wales has now partially lifted the lock down…. much more partially than England and thus more sensible. You can drive up to 5 miles to visit friends or take exercise. So our wood is only 3 miles from Bigswier bridge which is the border so I think it is OK for me to drive that short didtance.

First trip was just a look see and what I saw was that the trees had really grown and it was really quite dense. Also the average height of the young Silver Birches is now about 4 to 5 meters. There are large areas which without the paths would be quite impenetrable.

Second visit was with the brush cutter and I spent 4 hours cutting back along the paths, only got about a quarter of the paths done and they will still need more attention with the secateurs and pruning knife.

New species! during a short break to fill up the brush cutter with more fuel, I heard some unfamiliar chirping and saw some young birds hopping about quite inexpertly among the undergrowth, obviously having left their nest only days or hours ago. I took some photos but was not sure what they were. Young birds often look a bit odd.

Later I spied the adult and it was a Garden Warbler…. not seen one of them before at the wood, obviously the dense vegetation was to their liking.

Also spotted a Linnet perched high up in one of the thinly leaved Oaks that seem to be making slow progress. Some of the Oaks that escaped the felling are now coming good and developing into quite leafy specimens but just a few of the taller ones seem to be just hanging on in there and I suspect will die in a few years. Still they provide a roost for some birds. Also spotted a young Buzzard, heard Chiffchafs and of course Mr Robin was about.

Oh yes and just before I left Mrs Peahen came walking past, picked at some of my wildflowers, seemed to like the Birds foot trefoil most, she did not seem at all bothered by me taking her photo.