Country diary: The glory of a steaming pile of muck | Kate Blincoe

Caistor St Edmund, Norfolk: It's the engine room of the farm, both bringing life and killing it - and this one doesn't even smellLike a magnificent volcano threatening to erupt, plumes of steam rise from the mountain in the farmyard. Every day, about a tonne of horse muck and bedding from the 20 or so stabled horses is added to the muck heap - a small car's weight in manure.The heap is shaped and piled by the digger into its mountainous form, to encourage effective rotting. It's a hub for birdlife, rich in beetles, worms and insects. House sparrows flit over its surface, looking for tasty grains from horse feed, or soft arthropods such as larvae for their nestlings. Jackdaws forage on the craggy ravines, lending an air of drama. Pied wagtails hop about at base camp. Swallows skim its heights, feasting on the clouds of tiny cluster flies. Continue reading...