Our blog an journal entries

It’s a bit overcast today and there’s rain in the forecast; the land needs a good downpour. On the approach to the pond the scrape in the opposite field is dry and just a patch of cracked mud now. I can see one of the Exmoor ponies at the gate, a quick glance at the app shows a cow near the water’s edge and two on the NW boundary. I’m going to see if the rangers are still trying to pump water to the scrape with their new solar powered pump, if not, we can open the southern bo

A new smaller pipe was trailing in front of the gates when I arrived today. I followed it back toward the pond and a new set up was in place. The large pump and generator have been removed and replaced by a smaller solar powered pump that was pumping away. The Heron flew over and landed roughly at the same spot as last time. I noticed from the gate that the fence had been removed from around the scrape, its pretty well dried up now, I guess the Avocets have succeeded or faile

The scrape looks all but dried up, I can see sheep footprints in the mud along the centre. I can’t see the cows so went for a wander around the site. I saw sky, the white heifer, eating reeds at the water’s edge. It’s obviously cooler to paddle and eat at the same time, the other two were sheltering from the sun in the willows.

I arrived to find the cows laid down under the Willow and Alder at the entrance shading from the sun. They continue to open more gaps toward the water, and the trampled area grows. Theres hardly any water left in the scrape, there’s a few Avocets on the wing but I’m unsure whether there’s any chicks about. The pumps going but I’m not sure how successful its being at pumping any volume of water. A bird in the reeds was singing such a varied and colourful song, I found out it

I knew it, the water level in the scrape is getting critical. I arrived today to see the NT staff trying to start a generator. They’ve laid out a long hose pipe to the scrape and attempting to pump water out of the pond to the that area. I left them to it. The cows were amongst the willows; there’s a block of willow on the western side of the site that they gain shelter from the hottest part of the day. I had a very interesting conversation with Linda, she tells me the Avocet

The cows are doing a great job. They’ve only been here a week or so and gaps are opening up in the reeds towards the water. Some areas have been well trampled, and they stand there reaching out to eat the green growth of the reeds. The hot weather continues but there’s plenty of water in the pond, not so for the scrape, the water is receding fast making the Avocet nests more vulnerable. I can see a Heron on the far side of the pond; confirmation there’s rich pickings in the s

Its collar changing day, at least it’s dry and warm again, this has been very dry start to summer, it needs to break, or these water bodies will start to disappear. I’ve picked up the new collar and got some food in the bucket. When I got to the site the cows were in the distance, but a shout and a rattle of the bucket was enough to temp them toward me. I put some food in the corral and the two red cows went in, the white heifer with the dud collar stayed back a bit, she’s at

One of the collars isn’t working at Low Newton, the app shows that the collar is stationary I guess the battery has gone flat for some...

I arrived to a bit of a commotion, some crows got too close to the Avocets nests, and they were seeing them off. Linda was keeping an eye...

On 13 th  June 2025 three pedigree highland heifers were delivered to the pond area, initially it will be grazed for three months to see...

Low Newton Pond, in Northumberland, is managed by The National Trust (NT). The pond supports many breeding and migratory birds that can...