Gorse Clearance

On another frosty-blue-sky morning lacking cloud cover to lift the temperature, Jackie and I made a trip to Otter Nurseries to buy her

customary annual pot of primroses to grace the kitchen table until it is warm enough to let them loose in the garden; then continued into the forest for a short drive.

Just outside Sway we noticed what seemed like a frisky altercation between two of a

group of ponies on a stretch of moorland cleared of gorse.

On second thoughts they might have been spooked by flying debris

churned out by the tractor engaged in clearing an abundant growth.

We are accustomed to seeing the effects of controlled burning on the gorse, but this is the first time we have seen a tractor used in the process.

By the time Martin’s half-day’s work was done he had most of the sleepers in place and left the area as tidy as always.

This afternoon, following the advice of SueW, I recovered pictures for the following posts:

This evening we dined at The Sir John Barleycorn pub in Cadnam. The venue warrants much more than my customary coda, and it is now too late for concentration, so I will feature the event tomorrow.

67 comments

    1. I’m not really sure, Liz, but I imagine the latter – for nature, not buildings. Thanks very much

        1. In the New Forest National Park no new building is permitted unless it follows a previous footprint.

  1. Beautiful annual primrose, as well as the other photos.
    It’s too bad we can’t all come sit out on your patio once it’s finished.

    My husband and I will be waiting to hear about the pub. The name made me think of the song, so we just listened to two versions, Steeleye Span and Steve Winwood/Traffic. ?

  2. The patio is coming a long great. As for the violet, I had a ‘violet burial’ today. One of my plants committed suicide, it’s a cold winter. Interesting enough the plant right beside it, is thriving.

  3. I have a stirring in my head that there might be a new law against the burning of moor tops but not sure of the reasons given.
    The patio is looking good.

  4. Fire does a good job, but throws a lot of smoke into the air, not good for lungs.

    The primroses on the table look beautiful! I am glad to hear they are set free in the garden afterwards.

  5. I’m wondering why the gorse is being cleared and if it will grow back. It would seem a tractor would be safer and healthier than burning, but that’s just a guess. The customary annual pot of primroses is a sweet tradition.

  6. The pot of primroses is gorgeous with such detailed petals. My primroses grow back every year, but their petals do not have such fine features.

  7. I don’t know what gorse requires, but around here land managers often alternate burning and mowing. Each has its benefits, and especially when land restoration or preservation is the goal, decisions are made based on specific needs. Prescribed burns can restore nutrients to the soil, but mowing also allows additional sunlight to reach the soil and encourage the growth of diverse plants.

  8. Life goes on, yet there are surprises everywhere. The tractor has elicited much interest – here too several landowners appear to have resorted to mechanical means of clearing rather than customary burning. Is there something in the air?

  9. I do hope that not too much gorse is destroyed, because it plays host to quite a few specialist species, not least Dartford Warbler and a good number of snakes and lizards. If the tractor replaces the fire, though, that’s a better way of doing it in my opinion.

  10. Such busy good workers today! Especially Martin!
    The primroses are simply gorgeous! So delicate looking, but so bright and so bold!
    Love the owl in your last photo!
    (((HUGS))) ❤️
    PS…
    “Through primrose tufts, in that sweet bower,
    The periwinkle trailed its wreaths;
    And ’tis my faith that every flower
    Enjoys the air it breathes.” – William Wordsworth

    1. Yes, GP. These are really for newer followers who won’t have seen the pictures first time

      1. It doesn’t hurt for me to reboot my memory. I’ve always enjoyed your pictures and your poetic descriptions.

  11. Between your post and the comments, especially Shoreacre’s, I learned a lot about gorse and clearing land. Always good to start the day learning something new.

  12. Another productive day, I see. Saved recovered pictures, beautiful primroses, and a cleared field … always fun to travel vicariously with you. Hugs to you & Jackie ????❤️

  13. HI Derrick, I was hoping you’d have a picture of the gorse. I always remember it from Enid Blyton’s many books but I’ve rarely seen pictures of it. The primrose is beautiful.

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