This is one of the tall trees we lost in the winter storms. Older and vulnerable hazels have fallen too, but this one is quite dramatically down a gully, the potential firewood will have to be left for the insects, as there is no way we could safely retrieve it for our own use.
Daffodils are out. These are the leftovers from a 1970's farm diversification scheme, called the Hebridean Bulb Venture.
This field has been well nibbled down by the Cheviots. Stock are out of the graveyard field now. Hazy light.
It has been a mainly dry and warm week. The fields have dried up sufficiently for Farmer to do some field work on his tractor, and he is contemplating putting the cows out on the hill again tomorrow.
Time had to be taken to walk through the woodland area above the Ensay Burn. The exotic Magnolia is flowering so strongly. Not quite so wonderful to see are the first bracken shoots - bear in mind please it is only March.
Something very unexpected about staring up at the sky and seeing this in a hazel woodland on the north west coast of Mull.
Our damp climate helps support abundant lichen and fungus. We manage the woodland to protect the hazel glove fungus in particular. This means trying to keep the deer out, but they manage to sneak in when we are not looking. Their tracks follow along the deer fence, down the bank to the Ensay Burn, and across the shallower bits, you can see their tracks continuing across our neighbour's field. And back up to the hill. Some browsing is encouraged as hazel glove fungus needs air and light as well as shelter - a balance.
The forecast is to stay good for the next 7 days..lets hope so. The spring season has started - cottages busy and lots of walkers coming through to enjoy the Headland walk.
