Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2009 | Page 61

COUNTRYSIDE, WILDLIFE & FARMING

life

Brent Geese

Sweet Chestnut

Black Nightshade

Brent Geese start to appear in October
arriving in disorderly, loose flocks, rather
than the tight formations of some other
geese. They are quite small, similar in size to
our most common duck, the Mallard. Found
in estuaries and salt marshes feeding on eel
grass, mud flats and grassy fields. They are
with us all winter departing in March.

Believed to be introduced by the Romans,
some two thousand years ago. It is a useful
and profitable coppice tree. Growing
relatively quickly, the timber is durable
if used outside, but needs to be very
dry before burning on an open fire, as it
has tendencies to spit. The nuts can be
made into flour, but are now mor