March Journal: The Call of the Wild

4th March

Spring has arrived at Elmore. Last month’s teasing has given way to a definite shift in the seasons. Temperatures have climbed into double figures, and the woodland our treehouses are nestled in is carpeted with green shoots, the first of which are now flowering as indigo bluebells. The once skeletal hedgerows are a patchwork of blossom and fresh growth. A yellow brimstone butterfly flutters along one of these hedges, while small clouds of insects hover over the wetlands.

5th March

Birdsong is an ever-present soundtrack on the land. It ebbs and flows across the day, swelling at dawn and dusk. It is the music of the landscape, so when an unfamiliar and utterly wild cry rose above the others, my attention was immediately caught. This was something unusual — something I had never heard before. The haunting call came from a large bird flying overhead: a crane. These amber list birds have undergone a massive decline over the last 300 years due to the loss of wetlands, and only a small number pass through Britain in spring. We are so lucky to have been visited by one. I will now recognise their call anywhere; it is truly the call of the wild.

See our previous journal entry The Crane Call

7th March

Only a few days later, I hear another call that instantly transports you to wild and lonely moors. It is that of a curlew. Their high-pitched laments, which effortlessly give way to a bubbling cry, are instantly recognisable if you have heard them before. It is a sound you are far more likely to hear further north on upland moorland, and they are only very occasionally seen this far south. They are a red list species and their breeding numbers are in serious decline. We will listen out in the hope that a breeding pair might choose Elmore as their nesting site.

11th March

As predicted, the waterways are now swollen with gelatinous frogspawn. These will hatch into tadpoles from late March into early April and will provide an important link in the ecosystem’s food chain.

A possible predator wheels overhead, letting out oddly synthetic-sounding cries. This zig-zagging aerial display is part of the male lapwing’s courtship during the breeding season. We are lucky to have several breeding pairs in residence by our wetland scrapes, where they add to the richness of our spring bird populations. Another red list species that has undergone massive decline, we will do our best to protect these ground-nesting birds and keep this area undisturbed throughout spring.

18th March

We are enjoying unseasonably warm spring temperatures. The grass is lush and green, hawthorn is among the first to put out fresh leaves, and blossoms are coating the hedgerows in white and pink haze. Temperatures climb to 19 degrees and the animals are basking. The otter is seen by the wild swimming lake again, which during the day is full of brave wild swimmers. While the air temperature might tempt you into a dip, the water still hovers around 10 degrees, making for a bracing but refreshing experience.

20th March

Today is World Rewilding Day, and we have some incredibly exciting news to share. After a lot of hard work, dreaming and determination, we have been granted a beaver licence to introduce wild beavers onto the rewilding land. It is something our estate owner, Anselm, has been dreaming of for years, and now we are one step closer to making it a reality.

Beavers play a vital role in rewilding by slowing water flow and creating rich, complex wetlands. These, in turn, become home to hundreds — if not thousands — of species. Many will only flourish in the specific conditions beavers create, so their importance in supporting rare wildlife cannot be overstated. They can also help reduce and manage flooding, meaning their impact may extend beyond Elmore to benefit the wider landscape.

To welcome a family of beavers onto the land, there is still a lot of work ahead, including building a beaver fence that will enclose over 400 acres and stretch for more than 6km. It is a huge project, but an important one that we are excited to begin.

Today also marks the first day of spring. We enter the new season with renewed conviction and direction for the estate’s future.

21st March

Today we brought the cows in for one of their semi-regular checks: maintaining their no-fence collars, trimming any horns growing too close to the face, and carrying out general welfare checks. We are very proud of our free-roaming herd of Longhorns and try to let them live as naturally as possible; however, occasional handling is needed to keep them safe and healthy. They are a calm and easy-going breed, and spending time up close with them is always a pleasure.

26th March

This morning the grass was covered in a white crust of frost. Animal tracks stood out clearly, criss-crossing the fields as lines of melted green. March is truly a month of transition, one day temperatures push towards 20 degrees, the next they drop back to freezing overnight.

29th March

Today the clocks change to British Summer Time, a moment longed for by many who spend their days outdoors. It is also our Fare-well Wedding Fair, where we welcome hundreds of visitors to showcase everything happening across the estate, and how we balance hosting beautiful weddings while honouring and restoring the land. The wild calls to everyone who joined us today, and we are here to help them celebrate it.