The lower field has a dry stone wall that adjoins some woodland. The woodland is largely protected by tree presevation orders (TPOs), but the undergrowth is now encroaching on our land and is starting to damage the wall. Jo decided it was time to start cutting some of this back in preparation for the wall being repaired (not quite sure when I am going to find the time for that!).
We haven’t touched any of the trees, but it is largely the holly that has been removed. There are a number of dead trees, or live trees with dead branches – that also need to be cut back. It is going to be a long job, but at least we have made a start!
All together, there is proabably 80-100 metres of wall hidden in this undergrowth. It didn’t take Jo long to clear some of it, but already there is an impressive pile of cuttings.
A very old oak tree with dead branches that has damaged the wall. This will be a case of removing the dead branches and then repairing the wall.
With some of the undergrowth removed, you can start to see the state of the dry stone wall. It doesn’t look brilliant, but we might be able to get away with not having to completely rebuild it. The wall in the centre of this picture has a few big stones too far up the wall – it almost looks as if it is upside down with smaller stones at the bottom and larger ones on the top!
