Well 2013 has been a year to consolidate the works of earlier years at water tower wood. Nothing spectacular happened in woodland terms apart from perhaps the reduction in the heavy limbs of the Beech trees that are the giants of this woodland. They sit atop the steep slope and are unbalanced. Limb reduction back to a growth point will help and perhaps further reduction can be done at a later stage. I understand it is a shock to the tree to cut a limb too drastically.
Some additional woodland native planting was carried out in November, lots more holly and beech. Yew cuttings planted. Dalkeith Estate "old oak" acorns scattered and buried. The latter thanks to Cameron.
2013 was more noted for partying. Gerry having reached the ripe age of 60 this year, decided to have a series of parties rather than host one big event. So many people to invite and he wanted to cook for groups of 20 - 30 at a time, no more. I couldn't let his actual birthday party go without some element of surprise and so the birthday party in August started with 30 people and at 10pm another 30 arrived as a surprise, nay shock, to Gerry.
The photos tell all and I have chosen just a few from the 1,700! photos. Those that will show the woodland in and around the house and not to impose on peoples identity without their permission.
Getting ready for the big party.
The photographer is a professional. Neat photo.
The woodland side, all set up and waiting to go.
Gerry's sister with Harris. Never mind the guests, what about those stag horn ferns.
As dusk fell the house lights, garden lights and candles take over.
Then the party lights. Subtle but magical, and the dancing starts.
Heels and a woodland floor are not a great combination.
There were party lights in the trees from Ian Hunter (aka The Singing Butcher) which added the most amazing effect to the surrounds and on peoples faces.
So all in all a magical event which we are all still talking about. But what of the rest of the year.
Well a major land slip has been a hot topic in our area. It is interesting that land slip and stabilisation of land has been levied against our activities in recent years when the opposite was the plan. When land slip then happens on a significant scale on council land next door to us, the irony is not lost on us. Lets hope 2014 see's the repair of that land and the re opening of the steps to ironmills.
This is a map showing the land slip area. Our land is the bit marked "private" so its pretty close to our land but not on our land.
Investigation of possible causes of the land slip was carried out by the council in March/April 2013. The shared septic tank (Midlothian Council, Bankfoot Cottage and Us) and its inputs and its outlet to the river was checked via a camera and in the process 2 rodding eyes were inserted at key points along the length of the pipe (to make it easier to check this outlet in the future). The council have responsibility for the drain pipe from the outlet because that pipe carries the street drains.
I remember when we first bought the water tower 25 years ago, the septic tank used to smell every summer. Gerry tracked the problem to the continual blockage of the septic tank because the road drains were emptying INTO the tank! carrying with the road drainage all the leaves and silt from the road. The septic tank clearly didn't operate as a septic tank at all at that time. The conditions in a septic tank have to be right for anaerobic digestion of biological material and I doubt that can be achieved with road drain effluent in the mix.
Some years of wrangling ensued with various departments. Eventually the use of blue dye proved Gerry's case and the council agreed to take away the road drain from the septic tank. However, with no where else for the road drains to go, they simply diverted the road drain to the OUTLET of the tank and so the road water flushes the outlet pipe and keeps it running clear. Gerry then put the septic tank maintenance onto a shared programme between the council, us and our neighbour in Bankfoot. So the checks this year were welcome but we didn't anticipate any issues arising from the good management of the septic tank and we knew all our drains were fit for purpose. The only blockage found was that from the council buildings that sit in the Cemetery. There's a loo there and I guess some sinks. Not sure what else. The blockage though was so old that a section of the pipe had completely disintegrated. I guess this effluent wasn't going into the septic tank at all. Most likely it was seeping into the ground. Yeuch. I took a photo at the time.
Ironmills meanwhile continues to blossom, literally, with a wild flower meadow this year and new paths cut through the park. I think it is beautiful.
But what about the hens? Well we have 2 new "Blues" and as I write they are each still laying an egg a day.
I would post more pictures but would rather keep this blog to woodland activities. If anyone would particularly like to read and see anything specific in the woodland, let me know and I can photograph and update accordingly. Otherwise it's a woodland, it tends to take care of itself and the tree planting on the slope will probably be the most significant change to see in years to come. There are lots of Cherry and all are doing well, apart from one which keeled over and died. The ash do exceptionally well and I gather ash die-back is no longer the threat it was thought to be. Beech of all sizes continue to be the year round stars with their autumn colour and leaves held over winter. The mature hornbeam was particularly beautiful this autumn, oh and the sweet chestnut. The twisty tree.
Goodbye 2013, it has been a great year.
Susan
Jan 5th 2014
From Cameron via Facebook
spring has sprung ,the crocus croaks
And in ma ain wee windae box
the crocus hings its little heid
is it greetin,naw its deid
