But if it is a den we will be a bit worried about it because it is right in the middle of an area which we know is inhabited by dormice, which are an endangered species. The fox is mostly partial to rabbits and voles, but I would not put it past it to nick a dormouse or two. After all, my neighbouring free range poultry farm is plundered regularly - so what's a succulent morsel of dormouse to a fox. Watch this space...

About 15 of our Sussex Wildlife Trust members turned up for our walk: indeed one couple made it from Peacehaven, and I was particularly pleased to meet several locals who did not know the reserve. It was a warm afternoon full of the sights and smells of flowers and not too muddy underfoot. Much of the scent came from the bluebells which, for the first time since I have known the reserve, were quite magnificent. When we cut the brambles on one of the rides just three or four weeks ago, there was now a sea of blue. We little realised that these plants would develop so speedily after being given access to more light.

Given enough volunteers, the reserve could rank with any of the famous Wealden bluebell woods, but I fear that the great bramble cover-up will again bring about a decline before we can work around to the ride in another three years or so.

It is a similar story along the footpath on which we are now working. About three years ago we widened it to about 1.5m wide ( four feet or so), but by the end of the following summer the brambles were like barbed wire entanglements (and nearly as tough) sprawling across the path. Thus we had to spend a lot of time on more important jobs than trimming off each long shoot to avoid tripping up or scratching our visitors. So now we are cutting wider. Truly is the bramble included in our "three Bs" - Birch, Bramble and Bracken.

Yet, as I wrote about birch last month, so too there is a plus side for brambles. They are very important as cover for birds and their nests and need blackberries for their food - not to mention human predators! It's just that there are just too many plants. Like the gardeners who say that a weed is just a plant growing in the wrong place.

But I could be really despairing about bracken!

John Hall © 2000