Thank you to a number of supporters who have been in touch over the past couple of days asking if they can help with the impending Storm Ophelia due to arrive this afternoon/evening.

In reality, all I have needed to do in preparation is to repair two of the gates, check on some of the residents (who have already taken shelter - clever things!), and pretty much leave the reserve to Mother Nature. Thankfully I am off work this week so on-hand to attend to whatever happens.

The storm hasn't properly arrived yet, although we do have a couple of boughs down, and I'm expecting more to follow. I thnk we may have a few hours chainsawing work to go at after this...

Anyway, I have judged it unwise to linger any longer on the Reserve, so we have come back up to the top. The weather will do what it chooses and we'll pick up the pieces afterwards. Always interesting to note that any sign of bad weather will see the reserve totally devoid of any birdlife as they roost up to weather out the storm.

The picture shows the relative calm this afternoon before the main storm onset. Alas with the number of leaves still on the trees, there may be some tree damage, unless the trees are able to shed their leaves pretty sharpish.

Nigel