On Saturday I was once again at Hatfield for yet another recce. I think at last I’m getting a good handle on the place and I’m starting to read where the deer and other animals move and lay-up.
I also wanted to concentrate on seeking out some of the really ancient trees.
This hornbeam is a pollard still in cycle.
This is an incredibly old field maple.
Drive through tree?
This is another field maple. This is thought to be over 1,000 years old. It might look like a number of trees having many trunks, but it’s in fact one tree having been coppiced for all these years.
My tracking took me to the north west of the forest to the Portingbury Hills or rings, a small Iron age settlement in Beggar's Hall coppice. According to the tracks, this is a favourite place for deer to congregate.
On Sunday, I paid my local woods and surrounding fields a visit. Bill came with me this time as I wasn’t looking for any wildlife. It was a beautiful sunny day, but the northerly wind was a little chilly.
We picked up a badger trail which led to the main sett complex, but I was surprised to notice that an entrance I thought was disused was, in fact, very much in use.
After a few hours, we turned to head home.
Thanks for the visit.
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