The land is dressed in yellow – the ocean of gorse between the woods and the sea is in full bloom (and smelling deliciously of coconut), and the woods have put on a green dress once again – the fresh green of new leaves on the trees. Even the oaks are beginning to unfurl their leaves – they are usually the last ones to shed their leaves in the autumn and the last ones to show their new ones in the spring.
And the warming days are bringing a constant trickle of campers on our camping pads.
But as I mentioned the gorse – this is the last time we are doing the annual track maintenance in the spring – cutting new growth of gorse on firebreaks, paths and open areas like the Green Burial, around the wind-turbines etc with the topper. This year we’ll make the switch to an autumn cut – which makes more sense considering the growth cycle of gorse.
And once the topper’s work is done we follow up with the ‘brushcutter’ – a ‘strimmer’ or ‘bushwhacker’ with a metal blade attachment. And there is a lot of gorse to cut that way ! Following the topper as well as on places the tractor & topper can’t reach – uneven ground and slopes.
The firewood from the previous winter has all been sold and this winter’s ‘harvest’ is now drying in the woods in new neat stacks.
While I have been busy with the ongoing unglamorous ‘conservation work’ –
Gorse cutting with topper and brushcutter, tree-care, maintenance of our existing facilities, hand-cutting standing gorse on winter grazing areas etc. Jonathan has been working on one ‘special project’ after another – first it was to see the conservation hub completed, then the processing of fallen timber for the rebuilding of the new main community sanctuary, we now have a hay shelter for the ponies, and as I speak the ‘new loo’ – our second compost toilet is making good progress. Once that is done we are really excited to build a wee ‘shepherds hut’ on the base of one of our old trailers. It will be movable, warm and accommodation for one of our young committed volunteers. And speaking of that – we now have a volunteer living in a bell-tent on an extension eastward of the regular camping pads.
We’ve had a wedding, quite a few birthday parties for kids, a few other group bookings and burials with wakes at the shelter on the Green Burial Ground.
Every Friday morning half a dozen wee kids (Findhorn ‘fledglings’) and their parents gather at the ‘picnic table’ fireplace for ‘a morning of playing in the woods. Always a lovely sight!
Will Russel has patiently and thoroughly trained James Bryson and myself to take over the responsibilities to do with the actual committal of bodies to the ground. It is an honour to serve in this way.
We have ordered trees from the woodland trust to be planted in the autumn. Storm Arwen and the subsequent storms have created more open spaces in the woods which can welcome a new generation of trees.
And you might have seen it – we are offering a ‘wild camping retreat’ every month throughout the summer. Spread the word – last year’s retreats received great feedback from our participants!
Finally – enjoy the gentler outdoors of this season. Go slowly and watch closely, listen, and feel… There is so much magical beauty out there!
Many blessings,
Kajedo
News from the land – Spring 2022
The land is dressed in yellow – the ocean of gorse between the woods and the sea is in full bloom (and smelling deliciously of coconut), and the woods have put on a green dress once again – the fresh green of new leaves on the trees. Even the oaks are beginning to unfurl their leaves – they are usually the last ones to shed their leaves in the autumn and the last ones to show their new ones in the spring.
And the warming days are bringing a constant trickle of campers on our camping pads.
But as I mentioned the gorse – this is the last time we are doing the annual track maintenance in the spring – cutting new growth of gorse on firebreaks, paths and open areas like the Green Burial, around the wind-turbines etc with the topper. This year we’ll make the switch to an autumn cut – which makes more sense considering the growth cycle of gorse.
And once the topper’s work is done we follow up with the ‘brushcutter’ – a ‘strimmer’ or ‘bushwhacker’ with a metal blade attachment. And there is a lot of gorse to cut that way ! Following the topper as well as on places the tractor & topper can’t reach – uneven ground and slopes.
The firewood from the previous winter has all been sold and this winter’s ‘harvest’ is now drying in the woods in new neat stacks.
While I have been busy with the ongoing unglamorous ‘conservation work’ –
Gorse cutting with topper and brushcutter, tree-care, maintenance of our existing facilities, hand-cutting standing gorse on winter grazing areas etc. Jonathan has been working on one ‘special project’ after another – first it was to see the conservation hub completed, then the processing of fallen timber for the rebuilding of the new main community sanctuary, we now have a hay shelter for the ponies, and as I speak the ‘new loo’ – our second compost toilet is making good progress. Once that is done we are really excited to build a wee ‘shepherds hut’ on the base of one of our old trailers. It will be movable, warm and accommodation for one of our young committed volunteers. And speaking of that – we now have a volunteer living in a bell-tent on an extension eastward of the regular camping pads.
We’ve had a wedding, quite a few birthday parties for kids, a few other group bookings and burials with wakes at the shelter on the Green Burial Ground.
Every Friday morning half a dozen wee kids (Findhorn ‘fledglings’) and their parents gather at the ‘picnic table’ fireplace for ‘a morning of playing in the woods. Always a lovely sight!
Will Russel has patiently and thoroughly trained James Bryson and myself to take over the responsibilities to do with the actual committal of bodies to the ground. It is an honour to serve in this way.
We have ordered trees from the woodland trust to be planted in the autumn. Storm Arwen and the subsequent storms have created more open spaces in the woods which can welcome a new generation of trees.
And you might have seen it – we are offering a ‘wild camping retreat’ every month throughout the summer. Spread the word – last year’s retreats received great feedback from our participants!
Finally – enjoy the gentler outdoors of this season. Go slowly and watch closely, listen, and feel… There is so much magical beauty out there!
Many blessings,
Kajedo