Pigs doing their thing

They're here! The pigs are out to pannage. This group were wandering about the wooded environs of Red Rise Brook (which as I suggested yesterday were back to normal, all the flood waters gone and the gravel bed of the brook exposed in places), and there was plenty for them to forage for. They were quite a friendly bunch, more interested in us than anything. I wish we hadn't sanitised our countryside, it's one of the aspects of re-wilding which most appeals to me, the idea of reintroducing once common, now absent wildlife.  Yeah, I know it would cause problems initially, but we'd get over it, we'd adapt. Other countries retain wild animals, some dangerous, and they get by. It's a real joy seeing the pigs out, if you're lucky, you'll spot pigs, ponies, cows and deer, all mingling together. I did. I say 'if you're lucky', as I've only seen that twice, it was cool, though.

Signs of a Heron

I've mentioned recently the misinformation around the forests bog woodland restoration project, the higher stewardship project partly funded by the EU, and how far from being destructive it is in fact encouraging diversity and has seen previously rarely seen forest visitors becoming more frequent. I mentioned commonly seeing Egrets along restored forest streams, which I don't remember seeing in the past and more, larger fish. Today I saw more evidence of the growing fecundity of the restored forests streams and the re-wilding of their environs...Heron (Ardea cinerea) footprints in the stream side mud.  A sure sign that the forests streams are well stocked and have developing fish populations. Long may it continue.

Mill lawn Brook

Mill Lawn Brook.

Holy cow!

The last few years have seen a marked increase in the frequency in which you stumble across cows in the forest. It's return to the past in many ways and a positive thing too. Pre industrial forestry in the New Forest saw cattle grazing as common practice, as attested too by the widespread use of pollarding, which is just coppicing put out reach of grazing animals. This practice was banned with the onset of industrial forestry as were the grazing livestock. It's good to see them back, it adds to the diversity, as well as adding an element of danger. What danger you ask? Well, I reckon cows have become more aggressive in recent years, we've been chased by them several times recently. On one occasion this led to a friend suffering a broken ankle. So, when a horny beast like this one pops up from behind the bracken in front of you, looking moody, you think twice about your next move.  That said, I say lets see more! Reintroduce more animals back into the landscape. I'd love to see wild pigs roaming the forest again, it works fine during pannage.  Yeah, it might create some problems, even dangers but the benefits to diversity would be widespread. I think it might make us more human too, having to think more whilst walking the land could reconnect us to our rightful place in the natural order of things, from which we are currently far too removed.

Misinformation

A petition came up in my Facebook feed to 'protect our forest stream', of course it caught my attention. It told of plans to destroy a 'natural' stream and 'ruin' the 'natural' environment, it had photos which it said reflected previous 'failed' projects. Moving stuff. Except, it was all disingenuous bollocks, probably done with the best of intensions. It just so happens I'd come across a blog post by a local MP from which the petition derived heavily, and which was so inaccurate and ill informed it beggared belief, although being from an MP had an air of authority, but was little more than nimbyism with an anti EU sub text.  The Bog woodland restoration project is a higher stewardship project partly funded by the EU, and it's been running for over 20 years now, I reckon. I'll admit that when I first came across the diggers in the forest remodelling streams I'd grown up with and loved, I was horrified. Although with some research my fears and doubts were allayed, and as the restored streams and their environs healed any lingering fears and doubts were dispelled. The truth of the matter is, all too often what we perceive as natural, is in fact far from it.  Many of the forest streams (pre restoration) were nothing more than Victorian drains to aid forestry, much of the streams environs were plantation woodland too, not natural. The Bog woodland restoration program has returned these streams to the pre Victorian meandering courses, restored a more natural woodland environ and through those actions benefited nature greatly. The Victorian straightened streams were quite sterile, or at best had limited diversity, the waters ran too fast and the drained environs inhospitable to the forests natural flora and insect life.  I didn't know that at the time and though it was how it should have been. Now though along the restored and well healed sections of meandering streams the increased diversity in flora and insect life is clearly visible.  The once empty streams teem with aquatic flora, a huge variety of insects are now present, fish have begun to return and with them an increased number birds such as Egrets, which I don't remember seeing pre restoration. The stream banks, now free from the scouring of fast flowing waters, host a myriad of plants, which also attract increased and diverse wildlife. The environs too have changed markedly, whereas the  straight drains (streams) channelled the water from the land and swiftly out of the forest, the restored streams slow that process down making the environ and the forest in general seasonally wetter, preventing flooding in the adjoining urban areas and increasing the fertility and diversity of the woodland. So, far from destroying a 'natural' stream and ruining the 'natural' environment, this restoration program is enhancing and to a degree (a tiny degree, mind) re-wilding a environment much diminished by human activity.

And, I say all this not being a big fan of conservation per se, what with it myriad inherent problems, born of its species and arbitrary period specific methodology.  Want to know what I'm going on about? Check out 'Feral' by George Monbiot, he explains it better than me. 

Anyway, my point? Question everything, never take things on face value, no matter how emotive or well meaning they may appear. Misinformation in our information age is rife. But hey, don't take my word though.

Drain

There are few of the Victorian 'drains' which criss crossed the enclosures remaining, they used to be a common feature, until their remodelling, meandering and filling in the pursuit of re-establishing bog woodland, a rare environment.  Six or seven feet deep in places, these drains were essential if the New Forest enclosures were to remain dry enough for growing timber, still a vital resource at the time. You can tell a drain, they're usually straight, or run in straightened lengths, they're deep with a flat bottomed 'v' sided profile and there are spoil heaps along the tops of the banks from their construction and subsequent maintenance.  This one in Bramshaw Wood is a good example, exhibiting all the features mentioned (although not in the photo).  Whereas I thoroughly agree with rewilding (although it's questionable whether the re establishment of Bog Woodland is rewilding), I think it would be sage to retain some of these features, they are after all part of the forests history and archaeology.  The NPA and the Forestry Commission are not good in that respect as can be seen in, what I see as, their short sighted approach to the World War Two archaeology of the forest. I'm primarily speaking about the wholesale destruction of every period airfield and their associated features throughout the forest.  A great loss to the collective archaeological/historical/educational resource, both locally and nationally.

Rewilding

With no natural predators and a reduction in culling Deer numbers in the forest have risen sharply over recent years. And, as beautiful as the Deer are, and as wonderful as it is so see large herds of them grazing or sweeping through the stands, they a remarkably destructive. Naturally their habits and habitats would be defined, in part, by their predators as is well illustrated in 'how wolves change rivers' (see link below) as is how this would have a much wider effect on the natural environment. Today I climbed the 7 foot Deer fencing and entered one of the protected enclosures dotted about the forest. What a difference. I was given a tiny insight into how rewilding might work; of course in no way was I seeing the true magnificence of such a project, no, just a glimpse. The understory of the woodland was thicker, more vibrant, there were lower branches on trees (something all but missing from open areas of the forest where Deer (and ponies) over graze), but most noticeable were the numbers of saplings, again something of a rarity in open areas. The dense nature of the woodland gave it a wild feel, orientating yourself and negotiating the woodland were difficult and I'd imagine navigating in an extended wildwood would be difficult. As I said, only a glimpse of what could be, but it set my mind to thinking of what could be and how wonderful that might be.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysa5OBhXz-Q

Bog Woodland

For about a couple of decades or maybe more now the forestry types have been engaged in reinstating areas of bog woodland lost to drainage during the admiralty years. The straight drains and straightened streams which were for the most part the norm in the forest when I was growing up have been remodeled and where possible returned to their earlier meandering courses. This work has begun to change the face and nature of some areas of the forest. Areas which would only have been wet during the winter are now commonly wet throughout the year and other areas which were never usually wet are now seasonally impassible; the nature of the low parts of the forest landscape are changing. Though, I'm increasingly conflicted about conservation and the more I read the wider my concerns become. What's it all about?  The species selected for conservation or the period in which we set any selected landscape in aspic, appear arbitrary, as therefore are those species we don't conserve; it's certainly not returning said landscape to its natural state. No, it's almost landscape reenactment... just choose historical period. But who chooses and what's the criteria? Rewilding's the direction we need to move in and then allow nature to find her equilibrium

Feral by George Monbiot

George Monbiots Feral is a fantastic exploration into the state of our landscapes and rewilding, pointing out how unnatural our landscapes we often view as natural really are, how many species are missing from them and just how much of our natural environment we've lost.  He points out the damage government policy does, the destructive nature of agricultural subsidies, how ridiculous and unfair our farming and land use practices are, how conservation can be misguided, myopic and hide a multitude of sins; and imagines how this situation could be changed to the benefit of all (or at least the benefit of most). Archaeology taught me how man has manipulated, altered and in some cases effectively destroyed the landscapes I roam, and although I was aware, I had never really thought to what extent or how far and wide ranging our actions had been on the structures and interactions in nature. Monbiot provides examples which really make you think to what extent we live in a pale shadow of a what our natural environment should be, but more, it's getting worse.

Although I've made it sound a depressing read (and it is in parts), it's not all grim reading, not by a long way. It's full of hope and optimism. Things could change and as soon as we stop intervening negatively, either by choice or other agency, things will change and nature will heal herself and hopefully return to the diverse and fecundant state she enjoyed before our meddling. He gives examples of people and enterprises who are working towards that goal and other successes.  It's a book that sets your imagination soaring; a book about what could be.  Go on, read it, you'll enjoy it.