YSG Site Visits Spring 2024

Our YSG were on site in March and April and we got a lot done ….

From checking how the Galloways and Tamworths were getting on with grazing and rooting – we had an interesting and useful time learning about how they affect the ground in different ways. The pigs were great at breaking up the ground and really clearing the rushes and grass, while the Galloways left big hoof prints which collected and held water well.

We put out a lot of audio moths to record bird song and tested the best timings and settings for this. As our land isn’t densely wooded we decided the best setting was to record 5 mins each hour from 4am – 10am and from 4pm – 10pm. They can be left in situ for months and then we’ll have a lot of data to analyse.

We also looked at good spots to site the owl/kestrel nest boxes we made in January

We did some moth trapping and visited Maurice and Glenis Wearing’s farm to meet them and see how they prepare for lambing.

The cow dung was already attracting some great yellow dung flies and the ponds were looking good!

Our trustee Paul Brady let a talk on bird surveys and upland birds – what we have and what we’re missing

We walked a transect to record birds and also did some fence repairs in one of our 1 acre plots

There were some signs of spring – even though the weather was mostly cold and wet!

We walked to the top, checked the ponds and recorded what we saw along the way – fox poo, butterworts …..

We repaired a lot of holes in the dry stone walls …..

And we enjoyed the view from the Old Man of Garsdale cairn

We put up some wooden nest boxes and some woven nest pouches – so that we can compare which are more popular with the birds and which species

We put up a red squirrel box with a camera to record who visited …..

We even had the occasional lunch break in the sunshine!!