My bafflement as to the restoration process of Manor farm continues; possibly plumbing new depths of confusion.

The recently dug drainage ditch, which I presumed (hah, when will I learn) would connect to Cormorant lake (north), has been filled in! Yep, another bit of odd work, undone by Inert.

A number of survey markers have appeared. They are metal rods, to which are attached small lengths of haz-tape. They are dotted about the site. I'm not sure what they are for. Perhaps to mark the extend of lakes, ponds and streams. Perhaps for banking. Perhaps put out to confused and bamboozle me. Who knows.

Cormorant lake (north) is now full of water, and has decided to drain itself. It's drainage strategy is for water to hug the north edge of the infill, and connect with a run off stream from the northern part of the site. This lake (or large pond) is now really nice. Water depth has improved, with nice shallows round its edges, with the possibility of mud flats.

The lake was never really popular with wildfowl. Possibly not deep enough, possibly as foxes would den in the north embankment. However, with the demise of Finch pond and Cormorant lake (south), this lake is proving more popular with wildfowl.  Though, birds still prefer the ponds, just to the west of the copse.

Inert have constructed a new land bridge. It is to the north of what was Cormorant lake (south) and runs westward to the latest levelling (grading ?) of what was Finch pond. From it, they have further extended the levelling of ground to the west, reaching about half way across what was Finch pond.

The scrubby nature of this area, and what was the land mass, is very popular with Lapwings. Large flocks of 100+ would congregate amongst the low, sparse vegetation. A few nested here, this past two summers.  Sky Larks also like this area. Quite a few has nested successfully over the past few years.

That's more or less it, from what I could see this week. Time will tell what happens next, though progress does seem slow. 

Weather wise, it is been dry, if a little cool. Ground conditions are, currently, rock hard. Though this can easily change with a deluge or two.

Well, here's a turn up for the books. I had a long, and interesting chat, with an Inert representative, who came to see what I was up to yesterday evening, as I wandered around Manor farm. He thought I was perhaps a contractor, who hadn't exited in a vehicle, prior to him locking the gates over the bailey bridge.

As we know, plans for Manor farm have been fluid for the past 30 odd years. Originally, Cormorant lake (north) was supposed to be filled in. A late change in plans calls for this lake (well, large pond, really) to be retained. It's quite a nice shaped pond, if a little small and shallow.

One mystery that has been solved, is that of the 'drainage ditch' to nowhere - which I mentioned last week. This ditch is set to be connected, at some point, to Cormorant lake (north) to allow it to drain. In turn, the east side of Cormorant lake (north) will be connected by a stream to Colebrook lake on Moor Green Lakes nature reserve. The connection point is under the footpath bridge near Colebrook hide. Thus the lakes on MGL can drain through Manor farm, and thence to Fleet Hill farm; via the culvert under Longwater road.

The aim is to 'flatten' the site, asap. I assume this means the embankments, plus to being some areas up to finish level. Thus, Inert have now brought the ground around northern and eastern parts of the copse up to the intended finish level - though there may be a cap of top soil. Much needs to be done to the western side of the copse, and possible what was Finch pond.

Interestingly, the plans for the western half of Manor farm may have changed yet again. The 'latest' plans I saw on Hampshire county council's planning site, calls for a long thin lake, approximately where the current ponds are.

I'm also not sure what is going to happen to the southern area between the copse and the pump station. One plan calls for a long lake connected to Manor lake. An alleged newer plan has this area turned into a wetland area, with small ponds - though it is hard to tell from the plans on the planning application site. These same plans allege that both Manor lakes are wetland areas with small ponds, when they are actually quite large lakes. However, what I have interpreted from the plans as being lakes are, in actual fact, deep areas of a wider wetland. Thus, the current Manor lakes are shown as 'wetlands', yet are quite large lakes, which may be shallow.

If this is the case, then the new, long Manor lake, will be truly spectacular, running from MGL to the copse, quite close to the southern (akak Blackwater river) footpath and with a hide/viewing area extending into the middle of it.  However, the bank between Manor lake (south) should have been removed by now. Currently, the area is occupied by the pump and a rather large heap of spoil.

There is a question mark over whether a car park will be built next to the Longwater road entrance. One plan says yes, one plan says no, another plan says may be. Shame if it doesn't get built. People will either bombard the small MGLG car park or simply park on the Longwater road clogging it up.

Another possible solved mystery is that of why Inert sometimes cease infill. They can't get suitable spoil. Which kind of makes sense, as there are only so many building sites; especially during lockdown.

Finally, I had a look at the Hampshire County Council planning application pages, and found some documents which describe the latest timescales for the completion of restoration. Unsurprisingly, Inert are running behind - partly due to lockdowns and unusual rainfall- we are in a La Nina year.  The main points are that a lot of the infill and basic restoration of Manor farm takes place by the end of this year, particularly the embankments being flattened by autumn.  Areas will then be shaped and landscaped, with reed/tree planting taking place spring/summer of next year.

Chandlers farm is scheduled to be completed by 2023.

I've placed the timescales plans after the slide show. Both are the same, except one was rendered in Microsoft Edge and came out almost illegible. I have put the diagrams text into readable boxes. The other was rendered in Firefox and came out better - though still a little  hard to read, as I have made it small to reduce download times.

'Curiouser and curiouser', said Alice.  Which basically sums up my feelings in trying to determine what Inert have been up to this week. I'm sure there is some technical explanation, probably involving surveyors.

This is a La Nina year. This means we can expect a coolish and damp summer. This meant it rained last weekend, and some. I did not expect to see Inert doing much this week, and I was right, to a certain extent.

Inert appear to have switched operations to the western side of the land mass, working between the ridge and copse. One obvious feature they have constructed is a new land bridge,  a spur of the existing, circular one. A sensible move, seeing as this side of the land mass is a little soft underfoot.

In comparison, the going on the north east side of what was Cormorant lake (south) is now quite hard. There are some tyre tracks here, a couple of lorries and van appear to have circled the end of one of the land bridges.

Apart from the new land bridge, it is difficult to ascertain what restoration has taken place. Inert appear to have simply scraped the top couple of inches or so off the ground, and sort of levelled it. Some stuff might have been dumped for infill, but I am not sure of this.

Shame that Inert have scraped off the vegetation. What was there (scrubby grass and low weeds) provided excellent food (seeds) and cover for wildlife, particularly Lapwings.

What was even more curious and obscure, was that Inert dug a beautiful ditch, from what is left of Finch pond up to a small pond near the ridge. There is no where for  the water to drain to. There is a considerable amount of infill from this small pond all the way over to the east side of the land mass. Not an impossible task to dig a drainage ditch to what is left of Cormorant lake (south), but a bit fruitless and wasteful. Mainly as the weather is set fair, for the next couple of weeks, with temperatures heading toward the mid twenties. Easily drying out the area.

Another curious piece of work, is that Inert have been asked to extend the scraping of the top of what was Finch pond, from the Longwater road entrance to the ridge. Now, I'm not complaining. This wide track (about two bulldozer widths wide) is brilliant to walk along. I don't have to fight my way through thigh high grass and weeds, which deposit their seed heads into my wellies. I just find it curious that Inert have carefully scraped the land surface. Not at all deeply, just surface, sufficient to scrape off weeds and grass, with hardly any soil.

I guess it must be a surveyor thing. However, the ground here is soft going. I was careful, in places, not wishing to sink into mud.  I'm probably over hyping the softness, but I know this area can trap the unwary. I don't wish to sink up to my knees in mud, again!

​Oh, I did not do a mid week visit.

Inert have been very busy over the past fortnight. 

Firstly, much to my surprise, they have filled in the drainage ditch between Cormorant lakes north and south. This gambit may pay off, a spell of dry weather is predicted from next Tuesday onward. However, it does mean that Cormorant lake (north) is very full, and looking very nice.

Secondly, Inert have continued the infill of the drainage ditch and remaining mud flats all the way east up to the first major stream of run off from the grasslands and ridges. Virtually all the mud flats are gone.

Thirdly, Inert have continued to infill the north east corner of Cormorant lake (south), working their way southward. There isn't much left of Cormorant lake (south). The remaining fragment is roughly the shape of Great Britain, oriented the same way. I estimate that this fragment is some 30m-40m long (north-south), about 8m-10m at its narrowest (Scotland), and some 20m-25m at its widest (Wales/Cornish peninsula - but without the Bristol Channel).

If the weather stays dry, and if Inert and Co. have at it, I reckon it will take a month or two for this last fragment to be filled in. However, the depth of infill is quite considerable - see accompanying photos.

It should be interesting to see how Inert fill in Cormorant lake (north), if that is the intention. I don't think the water will drain away any time soon. I guess one strategy is to simply infill and hope the water soaks away! However, it would be nice if this lake remains. Though it is so shallow, it will fill itself in very quickly.

Going on the site was surprisingly firm - given all the rain we've been experiencing. Even the latest infill (i.e. drainage ditch and southward push) was quite firm underfoot. Usually, freshly bulldozed earth can have the consistency of quicksand. I know, as I've sunk up to my knees in the stuff often enough.

The vehicle tracks were so hard, I was able to stamp my wellingtons on them to get rid of mud. This is not to say that the top surface of the vehicle tracks weren't a little 'greasy' from the deluge that hit the site 30 minutes before I arrived. Several days of continuous torrential rain, will soon return the site to a quagmire.

I think the area has been a lot drier than I have assumed, given all the rain we've had. As I made my way back to my car, I decided to stick to the south vehicle track. Between the copse and my mighty hill, there is a dip in the track. This area has been my nemesis for months. The bottom of the dip used to fill up with silt, that would overtop my wellies. Many a times I've had to abandon walking along this section of track, having to retrace my steps and walk around it, up on the embankment (which was quite soft going as well) or even having to get onto the south footpath.

Finally, as I approached the Longwater road entrance (for a speedy exit, as there were dark foreboding clouds, above - which did pour, torrentially, as I drove home) I noticed that either a bulldozer or digger had chugged around here. Which ever it was, it chugged northward, along the west ridge, up to the north embankment. I did not investigate, due to said impending deluge.

The pump was chugging away. Not much left for it to pump, apart from the considerable quantity of run off from the grasslands and ridges.

I must say, that as Cormorant lakes north and south near their ending, I do feel a twinge of sadness. I've been recording the process of restoration for over 4 years now. These lakes have become very familiar to me, and it is almost like losing a friend. 

Sorry for late update. Somewhat busy.

Rain continues to disrupt restoration on Manor farm. I popped along on Thursday, after a moist week of continuing deluge. Inert were working on their default restoration prep of  pump station mound. It seemed a half hearted affair, tinkering around the edges. Afterall, the mound is very large, dominating the area around the pump station.

Curiously, Inert shut up shop at approximately 10:30am. On my return leg from MGL, the gates across the south footpath were now wide open for foot traffic.

Inert had been working on Manor farm during the first part of the week. I could see that the three mounds of spoil, left on the tip of their infill last week, were now gone. The north east corner of Cormorant lake had a slightly more infilled feeling.

I did not do a proper site visit, partly as the rain continued, and partly as I knew the south vehicle track would be fairly difficult to negotiate.

This week's weather is much drier. Indeed, footpaths around our area are beginning to dry out, with half a dozen spots, notorious for their quagmire muddiness, actually quite firm. I use these spots to gauge how bad Manor farm will be.

There is no doubt that it has rain more frequently this year, compared to the previous two. This would not normally present a problem. Afterall, sunshine and showers is a standard cliché for describing a British summer. What is different this year, and why Manor farm is turning into a quagmire, are that any showers are deluges on an epic scale (i.e. think tropical/Amazonian rain) and they are slow moving. We have had so many windless days, this year; in contrast to last year, which was notable by frequent windy days.