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Well, I don’t know about you but I have been enthralled by Springwatch. The knowledge, skill and technology are, literally, marvellous. I wish we could set up a modest project on our Common but the money and expertise is probably inadequate. The show reveals just how much goes on beyond even patient observation revealing there is much still to know and learn. Two apparently opposing aspects reinforced for me were the tender dedication of parents to their offspring and the necessary opposite dedication to kill for those offspring. Plus, the fascinating prospect of a return of pine martens to the Chilterns one day to control the grey squirrels, making it possible for our reds to return.

In the spring, I borrowed a camera trap from the Mammal Society. On the first night it recorded a short film of a badger in the woodland but that encouraging start did not continue and, though I saw muntjac and foxes mostly, I saw that we had more rabbits than you can shake a stick at, so we and the foxes need not go hungry. Some of the footage can be viewed on the village website. I would like to do more of this monitoring and plan to attend a Mammal Society course on their use. Also we have put up 12 bird boxes of various types and have been watching to see if they are being used. Three grass snakes have been seen this spring, none having been seen for some time previously.

FOREST SCHOOL 2A long hoped for development has come to us at last as the Common is now being used for education. We have a Forest School from our school visiting the Common. Nina Arbuckle, the qualified Level 3 Forest School Leader, reports that: “A class have been out in the Common making fairy houses, mud painting and hunting for minibeasts over the past few weeks. The children have greatly enjoyed the Common with its open spaces, old oaks and areas of special interest. There is still a lot more for them to explore." (www.forestschoolassociation.org)

The winter work finished a few months ago and we have just been casually monitoring and enjoying the Common, although we still have our summer tasks to control some invasive vegetation. All that rain may be a trial to us but it has made the Common beautifully lush at the moment.
Graham Thorne

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