Dunfarmin Blog

The weather turned wintry at last with a total of 150mm snow falling from the 8th Feb. onwards. It was very picturesque and proved no problem for travel once the roads were scraped but the wind started to rise on 11th Feb. rising to Full Gale with a maximum gust of 61.2kts (70.4 mph) on 13th Feb.

The result was severe drifting of the powdery snow with local roads being covered to about 1 metre. It was not until the 15th that the thaw started and roads were cleared.

Extra feeding points were put out for birds who appear to have taken very little hurt, but consumption rose. A large flock of more than 50 Goldfinches visited daily along with a flock of Siskins, Greenfinches, Yellowhammers and the 'usual' Sparrows, Dunnocks, Blackbirds, Chaffinches, Wrens, Robins and others.

It seems as if winter has finally arrived. There has been a good frost every night for the last 10 days or so and light snow showers. The snow is tending to lie above 100m, helped by the fact the soil temperature is only 2°C at 300 mm depth.

The garden birds are currently eating over 1 kg of sunflower hearts per day and 0.5 kg of mixed seeds plus about 0.5 kg peanuts. The Pine Marten still looks in daily for nuts and other treats but particularly seems to enjoy an egg.

Another 80 trees of assorted varieties arrived at the beginning of December but conditions are either too wet or too frosty to plant them out.
Some Grey Willow (salix cinerea) and Common Alder (alnus glutinosa), who like having 'wet feet' have been planted round the pond on the edge of the 'bog'.
The remainder consisting of Norway Maple (acer platanoides),Swedish Whitebeam (sorbus intermedia), Hornbeam (carpinus betulus) Oak (quercus robur) and Horse Chestnut (aesculus hippocastanum) will be planted on better drained land soon (hopefully).

Digging has almost been completed and most of the spoil has been graded and levelled with the road into the property.

Two piles of around 60t of topsoil have been kept to finish off the pond edge when it finally fills. Current rate is about 8mm/day with around 600 to go!