Acres Wood Observations

Acres Wood Observations.......................................................................................1

1. Site..............................................................................................................................4
1.1. Size......................................................................................................................4
1.1.1. Map Location.............................................................................................5
1.1.1.1. Outline Base Map.............................................................................6
1.1.1.2. GPS Measured...................................................................................7
1.2. Constraints........................................................................................................8
1.2.1. Designated "Green Belt"......................................................................8
1.2.2. Aesthetics of views.................................................................................8
1.2.3. Limited Vehicle Access..........................................................................8
1.2.4. Utilities........................................................................................................8
1.3. Topography.......................................................................................................9
1.4. Climate.............................................................................................................10
1.4.1. Growing Season UK..............................................................................10
1.4.2. Air Frost Days..........................................................................................11
1.4.3. Rainfall UK................................................................................................11
1.4.4. Rainfall......................................................................................................12
1.4.4.1. Key Rainfall.......................................................................................12
1.4.5. Ave Max Temperature..........................................................................13
1.4.5.1. Key Temp...........................................................................................13
1.4.6. Ave Min Temperature...........................................................................14
1.4.7. Local Weather Averages 1981 to 2010.........................................15
1.5. Water.................................................................................................................16
1.5.1. Stream.......................................................................................................16
1.5.2. Culvert Pipe.............................................................................................16
1.5.3. No Standing Water................................................................................16
1.6. Soil.....................................................................................................................16
1.7. Ground Cover.................................................................................................17
1.8. Adjoining..........................................................................................................17
1.8.1. Location Map...........................................................................................17
1.8.2. Area Map..................................................................................................18
1.9. Access...............................................................................................................18
2. Plants.......................................................................................................................19
2.1. Trees..................................................................................................................19
2.2. Old Fruit Trees................................................................................................19
2.3. Vegetation.......................................................................................................19
3. Wild Life..................................................................................................................20
3.1. Animals.............................................................................................................20
3.2. Birds...................................................................................................................20
3.3. Insects...............................................................................................................21
3.4. Amphibians.....................................................................................................21
4. Resources...............................................................................................................21

4.1.
4.2.
4.3.
4.4.

Skills..................................................................................................................21
Tools...................................................................................................................22
Materials..........................................................................................................23
Reference Books...........................................................................................24

1. Site

1.1. Size

Garden Permitter : 0.11 km

Garden Area : 0.19 Acres
Field Permitter :0.39 km
Field Area : 1.73 Acres

1.1.1. Map Location

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This map shows the position of the house in relation to the field.

1.1.1.1. Outline Base Map

Due to the of lack of clear line of sight and the undulating slopes on a vee shaped profile
the survey proved to be quite difficult. The ground measurements did not match up
with sufficient accuracy with those given on the OS maps.

1.1.1.2. GPS Measured

Due to ground measuring difficulties I used Smartphone GPS to validate the other map
data.

1.2. Constraints

1.2.1. Designated "Green Belt"

Little or no chance of building any residential housing on this land.

1.2.2. Aesthetics of views

Being next to residential housing we need to consider the aesthetics of their views.

1.2.3. Limited Vehicle Access

No HGV
Width and Weight Restriction

1.2.4. Utilities

The house has maines Gas / Electricity / Phone / Water / Drains

The field has NO utilities.

1.3. Topography

Valley Running Aprox East/West

Valley depth varies aprox 10 to 15 metres
Shade from tall trees on South side
Stream flowing west to East
Frost pockets along stream
Open sunny area on South facing slope
Mostly sloping

1.4. Climate

Prevailing Wind : West

Temperature Avg : -2C to +23C
Rainfall Avg : 750mm
Frost
Grow Season

1.4.1. Growing Season UK

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1.4.2. Air Frost Days

1.4.3. Rainfall UK

11

1.4.4. Rainfall

1.4.4.1. Key Rainfall

12

1.4.5. Ave Max Temperature

1.4.5.1. Key Temp

13

1.4.6. Ave Min Temperature

14

1.4.7. Local Weather Averages 1981 to 2010

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1.5. Water

1.5.1. Stream

The stream water runs all year.

Never frozen up in 20 years.
Good flow even in dry summers.
Occasional flooding in 20 years.
Cattle & Sheep in water up stream.

1.5.2. Culvert Pipe

1.5.3. No Standing Water

Due to the steep slope of the ground and its mostly sandy soil there is little or no
opportunity for even puddling of rain water.

1.6. Soil
For this Acres Wood project we only require a general idea of what the soil make up is, but
for the detail level designs I will need to increase my knowledge and skills to do the level of
analysis needed.
Current observations show:
Arid Dry Areas
Boggy Areas
Leaf Litter
Gravel
Silt

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Clay Pockets
Rubble (bricks and concrete)
Sandy

1.7. Ground Cover

1% Orchard
13% Scrub Bramble
24% New Trees
30% Rough Pasture
32% Old Trees

1.8. Adjoining
Conservation Site - West
Woodland - North
House -

East

Paddock - North
Pasture - North & West
Arable -

South

1.8.1. Location Map

Acres Wood is located in the village of Kingsley in Cheshire.

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1.8.2. Area Map

1.9. Access
Through House Drive / Garden
Double Gate - Vehicle
Single Gate - People
No HGV
Width and Weight Restriction

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2. Plants

2.1. Trees

Current observations show:

Oak
Cherry
Silver Birch
Hazel
Elder
Horse Chestnut
Scots pine
Willow
Beach
Holly
Hawthorn
Sycamore

2.2. Old Fruit Trees

Current observations show:

Apple
Plum

2.3. Vegetation
For this project only requires a general idea of what the range of plants are, but for the other
detail level designs I will need to increase my knowledge and skills to do the level of analysis
needed.
Current observations show:
Dock
Hogweed

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Fern
Dandelion
Broom
Field Rose
Brambles
Bluebell
Plantain
Buttercup
Nettle
Others (need identification)

3. Wild Life

3.1. Animals
Current observations show:
Rabbit
Fox
Mole
Mouse
Bat
Badger

3.2. Birds
Current observations show:
Pidgin
Crow
Pheasant
Blackbird
Robin
Woodpecker

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Others

3.3. Insects
Current observations show:
Bee
Butterfly
Slug
Dragonfly
Worm
Beetle

3.4. Amphibians
Current observations show:
Frog
Toad

4. Resources

4.1. Skills

For this design I'm only considering my own skill resource because there are no other people
how would be working on it.
DIY
Woodwork
Metalwork
Plumbing
Electrical
Other
Photography
Websites
Business Analysis

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Hunting
Field Archery
Shooting Airgun & Shotgun
Traps & Snares

4.2. Tools

Power Equipment
Petrol Mower
Petrol Strimmer
Chainsaw Long Reach Pole - Elec.
Shredder - Elec.
Trailer Caged
Portable Generator - Petrol
Elec Drills & Drill Bits
Belt Sander Elec.

Hand Tools
Axe Felling
Axe Splitting
Axe Hand
Splitting Wedges
Bowsaws
Pruning Saw Long Reach
Pruning Saw Folding
Secateurs
Grafting Knives
Grafting Cutter
Slashers
Scythe
Billhook
Machetes
Spades
Forks
Pickaxe
Sled Hammer
Workbench Folding
Stepladders
Surveyors Measure Tape
Laser Level
Spirit Levels

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Woodwork Tools
Saws
Claw Hammers
Chisels
Brace & Bits
Rasps

Metalwork Tools
Ballpeen Hammers
Shears
Hacksaws
Files
Drill Bits

Other
Airguns
Recurve Bow
Fishing Equip.

4.3. Materials

Existing reclaimed items:

Paving Slabs
Aluminium Greenhouse Frame
Car Tyres
Wire Mesh
Scrap Wood

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4.4. Reference Books

Over many years I'd amassed quite a range of useful reference books to the extent that I've
thought of establishing my own local learning library resource.
I have a few hundred very practical reference books that cover a wide range of self-sufficiency and other related
subjects.
These are a some I've referenced during this project design.
Permaculture Design, A Step by Step Guide : by Aranya
Edible Forrest Gardens Vol 1 & 2 by D Jacke
Forest Gardening by Robert Hart
How to Make a Forest Garden by Patrick Whitefield
Aquaculture by T Pillay
Hydroponics by Nicholls
Bioshelter Market Garden by D Frey
The Market Gardener by JM Fortier
Living On an Acre by U.S. Dept of Agriculture
Self-Sufficiency by John Seymour
The Trifty Forager by Alys Fowler
Eco-Refurbishment by PF Smith
Heating With Wood by A Reynolds
Solar Electricity Handbook by M Boxwell
The Passive Solar House by J Kachhadorian
Homeowners Energy Handbook by P Scheckel
The Transition Handbook by Rob Hopkins

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