The big project at RSPB Aylesbeare at the moment is to ‘restore’ habitat in an area called the Stockland turbaries.  Historically, the Stockland turbaries were areas of bog or lowland heath where peat was dug and used for fuel.  Typically these areas are dominated by heather and gorse (gorse was also used for fodder).  But the area that we’re working in is also a stronghold for bog myrtle in Devon.  The decline of traditional heathland practices has resulted in a reduction of the wildlife associated with heathland.

This is a contentious issue.  I don’t want to use this blog as a tool to promote or knock heathland, but I can see that there are good reasons for protecting heathland where it exists, and hence preventing species loss if those species have evolved to live in such a habitat.  I have found it a little more difficult to come to terms with the removal of semi-mature woodland in the name of habitat restoration.  Whilst carrying out the work Dr David Allen has been out to view our progress on numerous occasions, and his enthusiasm is persuasive.  But I’ve still a lot to learn about these habitats, and I hope to better understand both sides of the argument before I move on to pastures new in a couple of months.

In the mean time, the work itself is a lot of fun.  I’m spending a lot of time on the chainsaw, working out cuts, wind direction, safety, etc, and then hauling about big lumps of wood.  I’m tired at the end of each day (most of us fall asleep in the LR on the way back to base), but it’s a good tired, and I’m sure my general strength levels have improved enormously.

The site where we worked today used to be an old rubbish tip, in Exmouth.  The story goes that Brenda Taylor, whilst Mayor proposed that the site be set up as a woodland, and Toby, RSPB Aylesbeare warden, suggested that the RSPB could get involved by supplying work parties.  That was 10 years ago and a great variety of trees have been planted on the site since.  The RSPB still make time to visit the site at least once a year to check that things are ok.

Today, being Wednesday, was also the Wednesday-vols day.  Every Wednesday our  numbers are boosted with a group of local volunteers.  Some come along to gain experience for a course they are studying, and others have been involved with the RSPB for years.  As the work today was not the usual slash and burn, and with it being so close to Christmas, there was a festive spirit in the air, helped with servings of mulled wine, and Christmassy cakes.

The woodland has great views of Exmouth, but is currently closed to the public while the methane is vented from the site.  It will be interesting to keep an eye on it over the coming years, and should be a beautiful and worthwhile place for the people of Exmouth to visit in years to come.

For the last few days we’ve been trying to reduce the powers of some mighty runaway Laurel on one corner of the reserve.  This tree system seems to have been growing away unchecked for about 40 years, and has now swamped all the ground vegetation in the area, as well as some smaller trees.  It even seems to be contributing to the shape of a couple of Oak trees in it’s midst.

This job is an ideal role for me to practice my chainsaw skills on.  Plenty of leaning or lying compression/tension tests, as well as boring and dog tooth cuts.  Also, the Laurel is incredibly dense, and seems to be very weighty stuff, so misjudging a cut can lead to a stuck saw, or very dangerous kick back.  Thankfully, the biggest issue we experienced was trying to remove a number of branches tangled up in the Oak.  I’m sure the Oak was very relieved to see it go.

On Friday, I carried out the reserve’s winter bird transect, with Richard.  No Shrike this time, but we did get a little too excited when we thought we’d come across a Cirl Bunting.  Further research showed it to be a Reed Bunting with a rather more yellow than usual bib.  Still, that’s cool, we love Reed Buntings too.

So, it’s pretty cold on the reserve at the moment, and last night we had a proper hoar frost, making everything look very spectacular today.  The temperature was -6C last night and doesn’t get above freezing during the day.

In the last couple of days I’ve been working with Vlad, who is Polish and has some great stories to tell about his trips away from communist Poland.  Yesterday we were clearing up stumps, and felling a few trees at a place called Outer Hanger, where the Sunday volunteers had been working.  Today we checked on all the groups of ponies that we currently manage, and rerouted an electric fence to allow easier winter access to a bridleway.

My first week with the RSPB crew at Aylesbeare has brought on some mixed feelings.  On the one hand I’ve met a fine bunch of people, including numerous staff and volunteers from the South West region at the winter regional meeting on Thursday; seen a bird I’ve never seen before; and spent the week working outside.  And on the other hand I’ve been introduced to the details of the heathland management process.

Heathland has been around for a long time.  Maybe even thousands of years in this part of Devon.  So there are a number of flora and fauna species that are well adapted to live in it.  However, the environment is man made.  Nature is always trying to reclaim those areas that are suitable as woodland or scrubland.  In order to prevent this from happening trees and mature gorse are removed from the encroaching areas along with all leaf litter and other unwanted nutrients.  Wood is taken away to be sold, and the rest is burnt.  In many cases the most abundant trees in these areas are the silver/downy birch.  I’ve cut down plenty of non-native trees on TFL weeks, but this is, I think, the first time I’m having to remove native species.

Today I was lucky enough to carry out the regular bird survey with Johnny, the current assistant warden.  We saw plenty of tits, yellowhammers, dunnocks, etc, but the highlight was watching a great grey shrike chase what looked like a dartford warbler over some gorse bushes.  This bird is a predator to smaller birds and often creates a “larder” of it’s catches by storing them on spikes on fencing or spiky trees/bushes.  I’d already seen the bird on Tuesday, in flight and sat in the top of a tree, but watching it chasing a very agile small bird was a brilliant site to see.  Unfortunately, I was rather under-prepared, without camera in hand.