Estate Trust September 2008 Update

Summer is marching towards Autumn and many of you will have visited Otterhead in the better weather.

A great start has been made on identifying heritage rhododendron varieties, with the help of Royal Horticultural Society expert, Dr M. L. A. Robinson. This means that invasive Rhododendron ponticum can be safely cleared in the winter.

It is hoped that the Himalayan Knotweed that is reaching the Otterhead House foundations can be sprayed soon. Himalayan Balsam is also being controlled this year.

The mink raft is regularly monitored but no traces of mink have been detected. There is otter activity between the two lakes. During the winter more clearance may take place to encourage water voles.

The meadows on the house terrace and the watered meadow opposite the Coach House will be cut and cleared away as last year to encourage natural flora.

Two daytime walks have been held; Dr David Allen led one on wild flowers in May and historian Roy Coombs on heritage features at the site of Otterhead House and nearby former gardens and lawns.

A bat walk was led by Mr Edward Wells on 1 September; in spite of a wild and eventually very wet evening, common pipistrelle and daubenton bats were heard using Mr Well's bat detectors.