Talking to the tree surgeon at the wood I was told that there has been some trouble with such mishaps this summer. The problem is that some of the bigger branches hold the damp in flattish sections and later fill up with water, leading to the whole area becoming rotten over the years. This is frequently the case with oaks, and is difficult to check without resorting to a tree surgeon.

Then, during a dry spell, when trees conserve their water supply nearer the roots, a branch dries out and down it goes. Something like that anyway?

We have now finished work on the heather for the year so I will expect soon to welcome back a few more volunteers! So our trusty mower has been pressed into action again to mow the ride and trim the drive verges.

But with one wet day, and another one with no work because of an oversight in that there were no first-aiders available, it was good that on our monthly Sunday we had extra visitors. Thus we mowed a whole ride and raked away all the trash in the morning. Hopefully, three or so mornings will finish the job.

On one of the wet days our colleague Phil Bance, the Trust's volunteer manager at Bewl Water visited us with his butterfly net -- notwithstanding the weather! His "style" is so different, being a bug hunter, whereas I must be concerned with, in essence, controlling the rampant Wealden Forest.

Nevertheless, I ought to spend more time on my own interests. But which? I could immerse myself in dragonflies, or dormice, or flowers, or miner bees - or even lichens.

A sort of reverse Hobson's Choice, I think.

John Hall © 2005