Monday, May 26

Have You Met Arnold?

Arnold is the squirrel that lives behind the Chalet. Last autumn the Work Parties gave his home a make-over. Here’s a picture of the new look.

             I’m not sure if he likes it, but his neighbors sure do. What we did is called coppicing: the Work Parties cut down a part of the trees and bushes at the base. In the next years, new stems will grow from the roots. After a few years we’ll do the same to the other trees in the picture.
With more light reaching the ground, more plant species will grow there, followed by more animals like butterflies and other insects to pollinate them.
The branches we cut will be put in a long pile. This attracts beetles and gives protection to mice, hedgehogs and little birds. (Watch out for Olave and Von Bon!)
The Pinkies in the offices also really like it, as we get more light inside now, and we don’t have to be afraid of trees falling onto the Chalet!

Dries (NL)
Grounds Manager

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