We discovered the remains of an old orchard at the back of of our new site at Bury Farm. Underneath the ivy is a good collection of apple and prunus trees. Under the expert guidance of local conservationist, Kevin Hand, we plan to turn the area into a small nature reserve. In some places, where the health of the trees was threatened, the ivy has been cut back. In others, the ivy has been left and will provide excellent cover for nesting birds. Kevin recommended that most dead branches can be left in situ to encourage insect life and fungi. Some thinning has also taken place and the cut branches and vegetation formed into small stacks, which will provide ideal habitats for other insects and small mammals.
Thursday 25 February 2010
Nature at Bury Farm
We discovered the remains of an old orchard at the back of of our new site at Bury Farm. Underneath the ivy is a good collection of apple and prunus trees. Under the expert guidance of local conservationist, Kevin Hand, we plan to turn the area into a small nature reserve. In some places, where the health of the trees was threatened, the ivy has been cut back. In others, the ivy has been left and will provide excellent cover for nesting birds. Kevin recommended that most dead branches can be left in situ to encourage insect life and fungi. Some thinning has also taken place and the cut branches and vegetation formed into small stacks, which will provide ideal habitats for other insects and small mammals.
