According to the latest edition of New Scientist, beavers (as re-introduced to the UK at Lower Mill are exceptional hydrological engineers and eco-system managers.

English Nature claims that their activity creates habitats which support up to 32 endangered species including aquatic invertebrates which are vital to the freshwater food-chain: their dams filter and purify
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I went to Norfolk last week for the first time in my life.  A friend invited to pop along for a barbecue at his 3rd generation holiday cabin in the dunes of Heacham beach.  Got my EUA’s and flew up there with Ruby.  What I saw wound my watch back to the Hamptons in the 60’s (well what I was told it may have been like). Miles of beach, huge sky, moody lighting and a community of about 40 cabins huddled together, none with more than 3 bedrooms and all about 1m apart.

I loved the fact that the kids wandered from beach house to beach house calling on their mates and the parents did the same – it was a bit like I remember a local on a Friday evening when I was a teenager, long before the age of the catalogue pub. These beach houses “never” come onto the open market.  Except for once apparently. A city fella bought it for about three quarters of a million. That’s all well and good except HE ERECTED A FENCE AROUND his new acquisition.

It’s a fascinating fence.  It’s cut the community in half. It’s suddenly transformed a vacation living settlement into suburbia. “Don’t fence me in” is the cry of vacation architecture and anyone who wants to create a community.

And finally … three random images which haven’t got a home to go to.

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How to get wet: take six plastic barrels, five lengths of bamboo, some strong twine and a lake …

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 One of many frightening apparitions from underwater…

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The beautiful game: boys, girls and bald men.

One rope, 15 dads, 45 children …

Great sporting moments from the LME festival field events …

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I’d had a day of festivities on Saturday (including 45 minutes of 11-a-side football), then I’d had to disappear for most of Sunday, but I got back in time for half the hog roast.

About half the revellers were gathered in a circle round the bonfire. It looked like a scene from the Wicker Man (though far more good-natured). The rest were divided between barn dancing and sitting in groups on picnic rugs drinking, eating and chatting.

The size and enthusiasm of the gathering was a real tribute to the organisers. Many thanks to them all. Thanks also to Darcey Bussell who was staying with friends on the estate and had earlier presented prizes.
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Following on from the BBC story here’s a night-time picture of one of the three beaver kits.

Not easy to capture - definitely a triumph of content over quality - but possibly all the more interesting as a result.

As for this kit’s prospects - I can confidently predict that he will grow into a highly proficient water filtration engineer.