How to Avoid Close Encounters with Brigadier Bernardo Brigade
The True Custodian Entails Real Responsibilities
There are many simple truths in the countryside.
Flowers bloom.
Mushrooms emerge overnight as though they have received secret instructions.
The Duke of Cork and his many cousins stretch their roots deep into the earth and their branches high towards the sky.
Birds build nests.
Foxes patrol their territories.
Bo the Boar wanders wherever Bo believes he should wander, which is usually somewhere he shouldn’t.
And Harey, having achieved enlightenment several times already this year, continues to stand in unexpected places contemplating life.
Together they form the wonderful tapestry of the countryside.
A Living System
That has existed long before us and, with a little care, will hopefully continue long after us.
But occasionally we forget something important.
Nature is remarkably good at growing.
Everything grows.
The trees grow.
The grasses grow.
The brush grows.
The shrubs grow.
Even the paths seem determined to disappear if left unattended for too long.
Where Stewardship Begins
Because while we may enjoy the shade provided by the trees, the songs of the birds, and the beauty of the forests, the true custodian of the land also accepts certain responsibilities.
One summer morning, Harey announced to everyone that she had finally achieved complete enlightenment.
“Ha ha ha,” she nodded wisely.
Unfortunately, she had reached this conclusion whilst standing in a patch of dry brush taller than herself.
The Duke of Cork looked down from above.
“Enlightenment is admirable,” he said.
“But a firebreak is also useful.”
Harey nodded.
Whether in agreement or disagreement, nobody could tell.
Bo the Boar wandered past shortly afterwards.
Unlike Harey, Bo appreciated a well-maintained firebreak immediately.
Fresh grass appears.
Acorns are easier to find.
The walking is better.
And one can generally see what one is about to walk into.
Bo considered this excellent planning.
The Duke considered it responsible land management.
Both, surprisingly, arrived at the same conclusion.
Because maintaining rural land is not about making nature neat and tidy.
Nature has little interest in tidy.
It is about helping nature remain healthy and resilient.
It means trimming trees when necessary.
Pruning lower branches.
Removing dead vegetation.
Maintaining access tracks.
Clearing excess brush.
Creating space between the forest and buildings.
Protecting the homes, habitats, and landscapes that everybody values.
And perhaps most importantly, helping reduce the risk of wildfire during Portugal’s long, hot summers.
Brigadier Bernardo Brigade
Is a highly respected member of the wider Acorner community.
He drives a very large red vehicle.
Often accompanied by several equally impressive red vehicles.
They arrive with flashing lights, sirens, urgency, and a great deal of professionalism.
Brigadier Brigade performs an invaluable service.
But he would be the first to admit that he much prefers spending his afternoon drinking coffee in the village than arriving at somebody’s gate because a preventable problem has become an emergency.
The simplest way to avoid close encounters with Brigadier Bernardo Brigade is therefore remarkably straightforward.
Look after the land.
Good Stewardship
Because the countryside that provides so much beauty also requires care.
The forests need management.
The paths need maintenance.
The brush occasionally needs a haircut.
And the true custodian understands that ownership is not simply about enjoying a landscape.
It is also about preserving it.
For neighbours.
For wildlife.
For future generations.
And for all the characters who call Acorner home.
Including Harey.
Especially Bo.
And even Mr Brigade.
Who is perfectly happy remaining on standby.
Notes From The Coast
Firebreaks, Stewardship, and Rural Land Management
Living in the forests and countryside of the Alentejo Coast comes with responsibilities as well as privileges.
Portuguese regulations generally require owners of rural properties to manage vegetation around buildings and maintain safe access for emergency services.
Typical land management includes:
• Creating and maintaining firebreaks.
• Removing dead vegetation and debris.
• Pruning trees where necessary.
• Clearing excess brush and undergrowth.
• Maintaining tracks and access routes.
• Reducing fuel loads around homes and structures.
These measures help protect:
• People and property.
• Cork oak forests.
• Umbrella pine woodlands.
• Wildlife habitats.
• Neighbouring landowners.
• Emergency service access.
The Alentejo Coast remains one of Portugal’s most beautiful and preserved landscapes, largely because generations of custodians have understood that conservation and management go hand in hand.
A healthy forest is not a neglected forest.
It is a cared-for forest.
One that can continue providing shade, shelter, biodiversity, and inspiration for generations to come.
As the Duke of Cork often reminds visitors:
“The forest takes care of us remarkably well.
The least we can do is occasionally return the favour.”
Enjoy More Tales
Meet Bo the Boar, Head of Unrequested Earthworks for this corner of ACORNER, and his wife Mrs Sow Bo, who as Head of Security & Piglet Protection, is one you will wish to keep a distance from when she is out in the woods with her piglets.
Learn why there is more to rice fileds than just rice with Icef, Gatekeeper of The Flooded Pines or consider how a gentle act of unselfish kindness helped to Save Ed from certian disaster.
Published June 2026.
Author: Ronald Wayne
Founder – Private Real Estate Advisory, Comporta, Alentejo Coast, Portugal.
Ronald Wayne has spent almost two decades documenting the evolution of Comporta, Melides, and Portugal’s Alentejo Coast through independent research, photography, and regional market analysis.