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Started by Peter Thompson at 02 Dec 2005 10:15 AM. Topic has 4 replies.
  
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 02 Dec 2005, 10:15 AM
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Peter Thompson
Joined on 25 Nov 2005
Posts 57
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Beech mast, Acorns & Hawthorn berries
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Down here in Hampshire the Beech mast and Acorn crop is virtually non existant, and the Hawthorn berry crop is poor - what is the situation elsewhere in the country? We already have reports around here of Brambling & Siskin on garden feeders which is fairly early in the season. Also Millet in cover crops seems to have almost run out, whereas normally it it still available well into January if not February. I would be very interested to know what you all are finding out there?
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12 Dec 2005, 8:57 AM
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richardwinspear
Joined on 09 Nov 2005
Posts 131
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Re: Beech mast, Acorns & Hawthorn berries
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In Cambridgeshire, the berry crop is probably average, but this follows a exceptionally high berry crop last year. I realise that the berry crop can be boosted by leaving berry-bearing shrubs untrimmed for two or three years, but do not know much about what other factors affect berry yields. The latest British Trust for Ornithology newsletter also states that last year was a very good year for beech mast.
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18 Dec 2005, 5:39 PM
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David Harrison
Joined on 18 Dec 2005
Posts 14
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Re: Beech mast, Acorns & Hawthorn berries
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No beech trees in the low weald, but plenty of acorns-more than 2003, with clouds of pigeons to match. Some cases of acorn poisoning of cattle in arrea.hawthorn average-less regular hedging helps. Plenty of shrivelled blackberries-are these any use for anything?
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26 Dec 2005, 9:53 AM
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John Walsh
Joined on 26 Dec 2005
Posts 7
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Re: Beech mast, Acorns & Hawthorn berries
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Here in Ireland, I also noticed this was a very poor year for Haws particularly in comparsion to last year. I did notice in early Autumn that the Hawthorns leaves has lost there colour very early. Im not sure if that was caused by having a very dry early Autumn but the production of Berries was very poor. I have seen plenty of hazelnuts and seems to have been a good year for them.
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10 Jan 2006, 11:39 AM
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alauda26
Joined on 10 Jan 2006
Oxfordshire
Posts 81
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Re: Beech mast, Acorns & Hawthorn berries
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We seemed to have a pretty good hawthorn crop early in the season here in the Midlands, although it's not as spectacular now. There's still some left, but the early flocks of redwing and fieldfare appear to have reduced somewhat now. Haven't really seen much in the way of beech or oak crops though, but am not really on the ideal soils for them around here.
Certainly a few blasts of harsh weather seems to really knock the seeds out of a lot of game cover, unless it's in a particularly sheltered spot.
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