Silviculturalist Richard Adams visited from Maldon Essex for one of his regular inspection walks, Silkie saw in hand. It’s becoming a beautiful plantation, with some gladed walks starting to blend into the countryside. We’ve got a few quite promising oak. Sycamore, alder, cherry, willow and field maple doing well. If even a few of the ash prove chalara-resistant we’d consider that major result. Beech are happy on this site, but the deer are feasting, keeping much of it hedge-sized. Cheeky Mr Hare has been feasting on some sapling bark. Recent rain was much needed.