Spike's Countryside Management Blog

Last week I spent a majority of my days weeding ponds (mainly dead reeds), which is a new task for me. All of the 4 separate bodies of water that we weeded were on two separate new-build housing estates [Terlings and Duck-Riddy] and all were used for drainage so I assumed we were carrying out the works as it was in the owners' interests to keep the water clear for that reason. A recently cleared 'Pond A' at the Terlings Estate More efficient drainage, however, is not the only benefit for removing reeds however and there are a multitude of benefits that it brings to the pond such as: Preventing aggressive growth/ spread - Like Japanese Knotweed, Reeds can grow out of any part of a rhizome, which leads to it spreading perpetually at an accelerated pace. This gives other aquatic plants a chance to establish themselves Habitat diversification - Open bodies of water on a pond are more likely to attract Waterfowl (e.g. Ducks, Moorhens, Coots), Amphibians, Insects and Bats as well...

 Today at Shuttleworth we covered content that fulfilled the following Onefile criteria: Surveys Land Management (Including Conservation, Ecology and Legislation) Common Farming Practices Surveying: Today we used a probing inspection camera to investigate gaps and hollowed sections of trees as one would typically use in a VTA (Visual Tree Assessment). These assessments are generally done to gauge the safety of a Tree, its overall health, i.e. is it diseased, how old is it, how secure is it. The use of the camera (OR DRONES) also allow for one to investigate whether animals use the tree as a habitat and check if the tree homes protected species or not. Land Management: Following on from the topic of protected species - if one is looking to develop land, work on a tree or remove a tree, it is important to survey it as there are often very hefty fines involved when destroying their habitats. With any type of Bat in the UK it is a fine of £5,000 per bat when a habitat is removed, distu...