Durham City: Left untouched, the pasture quickly turned to scrub, then near-impenetrable woodland. And the birds have moved in
About 15 years ago livestock grazing ceased in this field, on the southern edge of Blaid’s Wood, two miles south of the city centre. An aerial invasion from wind-borne tree seeds followed, and ash, silver birch, alder and willow seedlings appeared everywhere. Bird-sown seed of bramble, briars and hawthorn sprouted. A few oaks even arrived, from acorns cached by jays then forgotten.
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