Pesky critters!

For the first time we discovered damage to field maples in the wood (we've had some on the field maples at home).  Acer campestre are the wonder trees of our local clay soils.  Whereas elm, ash and oak are all succumbing to various imported diseases, the field maple and hornbeam remain the hope for the future (although they do not grow to the same majestic size as the first three).  However, the threat from deer and squirrels to these two hardy disease survivors is greater than ever before.  The squirrel pic. is one of our own trail cam shots.