End of a long day

I got this bonfire going at the reserve at around 9am this morning, before a group from The Vale Countryside Volunteers arrived to tackle some scrub clearance and coppicing. We then worked hard until about 3.30pm and got lots done. My favourite time on these work parties is seeing the bonfire burn down at the end of the day as the light fades, the flocks of rooks and jackdaws start arriving noisily to get ready to roost in the wood and the tawny owls start calling. It's always a peaceful time when waves of tiredness and stiffness start to take over, but there's a great feeling of achievement.