The good news is that the first wood anemones and a peacock butterfly appeared half-way through the month. The bad news was that two dogs savaged sheep in our neighbour's paddock. One was killed and left in a stream on the reserve, while the other was being cared for by a vet.

We - my wife Joy and I - have two dogs, but when owners let their animals behave in this manner, they should be banned from keeping dogs for life. No question. No argument.

But to happier events...

As you know, I grumble regularly about the weedy "Bs" about the reserve - brambles, birches and bracken. But there is another one, the big "R" for rhododendrons. Not your nice garden "rhodies", but the variety R. ponticum L. It is the most prolific introduced evergreen shrub. In many parts of Britain it can completely eliminate the shrub layer of whole woods. Not my words, but those of my bible, "Woodland Management and Conservation", by Charles Watkins, who is a conservationist of no mean repute.

So as part of our plan to avoid working in the wood - as opposed to the footpaths and rides - now that the birds are nesting, we spent some time grubbing up a couple of acres or so (one hectare) of rhodies in a chestnut coppice. If they are fairly small they are no trouble and pull out easily. But all the root centres must be removed, and every last one must be kept off the ground afterwards because they root very easily. Otherwise, one's work is in vain.

Another job was to remove two or three coppice chestnuts to use later for constructing "steps" down a steep footpath, and also to build a causeway over a footpath which is usually inches deep in mud for most of the winter.

Finally, the path through the heather needed cutting back so that passers-by will not run the gauntlet of a cold shower every time it rains!

We always do our best to keep our visitors happy...

Here's a thought. Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre say there are 18,479 ponds in Sussex, not including gardens. It counted them!

John Hall © 2002