Freezing Friday

With the ground frozen this morning, we were unable to continue planting trees in the clear fell area. With snow forecast over the weekend this could get held up even more! Instead work was done strimming and clearing the orchid bank, this had become overgrown with brambles which would have choked the flowers come spring.

The Youth Justice Service helped us out today by filling all the hoppers, while Clive was in as usual filling the bird feeders.  The birds were obviously thankful for the extra food in this cold weather; the back garden was full of Chaffinches, Coal Tits, Brambling and Blackbirds feeding this afternoon!

Contractors were in to fix the 'floating' bridge down on Risedale Beck, new posts have been dug into the ground and bolted to the frame to secure the bridge in place.

Large flocks of Goldfinch, at least 80-90 strong were again seen around the Larch trees that border the lake.  With the lake completely frozen over there is not much activity, though I did spot this Coot sliding about on the ice inbetween the reeds.