Mid-way through apple picking the Fieldfares arrive followed later by Redwings to scavenge the fallen fruit with numerous Blackbirds and Thrushes. Plenty of mistletoe now shows in the bare branches some is collected for friends but most is for the Mistle Thrushes.
While the flowers are dormant we take the opportunity to do heavy work requiring the tractor. Clearing blackthorn, bramble and bracken to prevent encroachment or pulling out stumps of sycamore and self-seeded plum, gradually we are winning back the edges of the orchard to its proper size. Much of the rotten wood which is found is placed in log piles to encourage invertebrates. Sections of hedgerow have been layed and gaps planted with whips of native species. The large ugly fence surrounding the adjacent reservoir has almost disappeared behind the hedge planted 5 years ago.