We have tried to keep the 2.5 acres or so as an unbroken vista of, at best, a lovely shade of mauve. But when it blooms this year it will look very gappy, I fear. The traditional problem is that heather needs either to be grazed or burnt. I have said before that I think it is not practical to graze such a small area, while I will not risk burning it, apart from the fact that the owners, Sussex Wildlife Trust, would probably crucify me!

No, the only way of dealing with it is to cut sections year-by-year each winter with a brush-cutter, so that over the years visitors will be able to see its development both through the heather and the wildlife it contains. Unfortunately, we will have to carry on bracken-bashing each summer as now, because I am sure there will be a plethora of small and difficult plants in the wrong place in the early years.

I think Alice, our new reserves officer for this area, wants to do this, but in the meanwhile we are working again on the heather, which is a bit boring, hot, frequently fiddly, and now with the leggy heather, liable to sprain one's ankle. Never mind, we always enjoy the view of the Downs and if necessary we can withdraw into the trees and work on the footpaths.

We have done some small but necessary jobs in the last month, erecting a couple of bat boxes, servicing the mower by courtesy of our green team associate Arthur, and attended a refresher course on first aid.

Incidentally, we are not allowed to work on the reserve without a first aider, and woe betide we ignore our risk assessments and health and safety guidelines.

They are important but, I wonder, whatever happened to common sense?

At this time of year, pop along to the reserve, sit quietly in the sun on a grassy bank, and just look and listen. It will do your soul good and you may see something you didn't expect.

John Hall © 2003

P.S. Mistake. Last month I mentioned a Duke of York butterfly. That should have been a Duke of Burgundy butterfly. Sorry.