We’ve been keeping things super green here at The Roost this year and really enjoying the gains in flora & fauna as a result.
The nature pond is looking very healthy and it’s been great to see basking lizards and slow worms on the rocks and stones. They, like all our wildlife inhabitants, really respond to our “no mow” policy – No Mow May & June & July & August & September too! Just one annual cut and hay gather in October – the benefits to the wildlife cannot be underestimated.
Pond Life
Wild Meadow
Basking lizard
The sheep have finished their early spring visit to our upper field – their poo provides food for lots of lovely invertebrates and they, in turn, make tasty snacks for our local bats! The fleecy flock will be back again in July to have a second graze and produce lots more poo.
Bat Sensors
Appreciative of all our efforts, the Bats are back! The warm weather is keeping them super busy and it’s great to see their wonderful flying displays at dusk – they sure are nippy! This week, special sensors have been placed around the site so we can see how many different species of bat we have visiting site and their numbers. We last did this two years ago so we’re really looking forward to comparing the results to see how they are doing.
Do you realise what an amazing tree the humble Willow is? There’s lots of them growing all over the site and it is now officially my favourite tree! It grows so fast in a season and we have been able to cut it in November and use to make our very own willow structures. The fire pits look so lovely with their living canopies, the gateways into the cabins and all the repairs and enhancements to our numerous willow hurdles have all been done using our very own willow – this really is a “circular” plant and a gift that keeps on giving. We plan to use this year’s cuttings to add further arches & “fancy fencing” ideas.
Willow shelter
We planted new hedgerows all around the site in the spring of 2019 but this year, for the first time, the dog roses, hawthorn & elder have given us a beautiful floral display and filled the air with their heady scents.
Dog Roses
At the end of 2022 we had solar panels and battery storage fitted on the site barn.. It has been amazing to watch all the electricity being produced by the sun over the last few weeks – I can’t stop looking at the app on my ‘phone and marvelling at it!
Solar Power
Finally, it’s been lovely to welcome back this year’s Travel & Tourism Students from Gloucestershire College. This is the second year we have welcomed the students to The Roost. These young people are the future of our tourism industry and it’s so good to seem them get enthused about sustainability, accountability, inclusion and ethical business practices. It fills me with optimism.
Student Digs
Roll on summer and I’ll report back on the bat survey soon!
