Eccentric

White-tailed eagles in Oxfordshire and caribou electrocuted by lightening strike; it is surprising what subjects turn up in an entertaining and inspiring walk around a few fields in West Oxon. The Wychwood Forest Project is large and successful enough to employ three full-time staff. The 'CEO' took us on a walk around their latest land acquisition on the outskirts of Witney. An able raconteur and something of a renegade, I could have listened to him for hours (actually, for 2.5 hours, I did, which was more than some of the group could handle!)

The 20 hectare plot of permanent grassland was bequeathed to the trust a few years ago. It had been farmed in desultory fashion for decades: a little hay cutting some grazing with hobby-farm cattle. No ploughing or replanting, a lot of 'weeds' (from a farmer's perspective)

He has resisted the two land-use plans that the trustees had proposed: tree-planting the whole site, complete with deer-fences and tree-guards, he described as "the worst possible way to establish a woodland"; managing the grassland to create wild-flower meadows would be "gardening on a large scale". By force of personality, backed by decades of expertise and experience, he has persuaded them to do almost nothing. Allow the thistles, docks and nettles to grow; allow the blackthorn to encroach from the hedges; leave the dead elm and the fallen oak branches to lie. Let the woodland plant itself

Notwithstanding that deer have access to the site, we saw many oak seedlings regenerating in the grass. This is not what the text-books say - oak 'should' be one of the last species to become established as woodland develops. Nature sometimes does surprising things - like sea eagles released on the Isle of Wight deciding instead to settle in East Oxfordshire

He has decided to create ponds, though. Part of our walk was across a moonscape of dried clay only recently left by the diggers. Only small pools of water have collected so far, but our walk was escorted by many dragon-flies and chasers, drawn by the water

Elsewhere, we encountered a roe stag skeleton. Inspired by a study of an incident in which caribou were killed by lightening, their rotting carcasses populated by fly larvae, and the presence of so many maggots kick-started an enduring population of insectiverous birds, he decided to bring in a road-kill carcass and see what happened. I told you he's an entertaining renegade! 

The first apples are ripe, and gloriously refreshing. I have never picked new-season apples in July before. This year is full of surprises