However, we have been lucky in the wood so far this year. We are pressing on with coppicing some largish alders close by a junction of two streams to (a) allow the ferns, mosses and lichens to see some daylight, and (b) allow visitors to see the stream below the ghyll. The area will eventually be interspersed with shrubby hawthorns, hazels and the odd spindle-tree or guelder rose.

It has been very slippery in the ghyll, but no-one has yet lost a boot in the water and thank goodness, no-one has sprained an ankle. Although there is time yet! We will have dealt with a length of 30 yards (27 meters) or so, of a total length of about 400 yards (360 metres) for this year - year three of an eight-year rotation which should ensure that there will always be two or three small views of the ghyll and stream.

We lost a newish volunteer recently. Vanessa was kind enough to write and tell us why. She has been looking for a job after gaining her degree in environment - such jobs are still few and far between - when any new experience is important. She has volunteered to work for six weeks in Wales studying the health of mammals. She'll be back after Christmas. She'd better - she's a good worker and team member.

As you know, the wood is owned by Sussex Wildlife Trust, and it is asking if anyone knows how some collective nouns - you know, a group of cows is a herd, while a number of crows is a "gathering" and so on - may have had their origin in Sussex or even elsewhere. If you know of any, contact Carol on our Conservation Careline: 01273 494777.

Finally, a dog attacked a sheep in an adjoining field recently. The dog's owner was horrified at the attack, particularly when the sheep had been so badly injured that it had to be put down. It just shows that risky dogs often have risky owners. And what about the poor old sheep!

John Hall © 2001