All is not sweetness and light. There is a surprising amount of litter being left around the pond and in the woods. This can cause terrible harm to the creatures trying to survive in this small patch of ground. Each week drink cans, plastic bags, and bottles are found. One of the log piles has been dismantled and thrown into the water and the banks disturbed. The unusually wet weather has not helped. The pond has spread well into the woods flooding paths. This has caused annoyance to local dog walkers some of whom put the blame for this at our welly booted feet. The drain for the pond has been blocked for some time. We urgently want to clear this and regulate the level of the water so that the banks of the pond can be established and the last few saplings removed. However advice and permission for this has to be obtained from officials from the local Council. The repercussions of lowering the level of the pond and establishing where the water will flow are unknown.

We can now pause and view the improvements that have been made letting the birds build nests without the noise of chain saws, heavy breathing, and bonfires.