tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80713153632225036712024-03-29T03:28:14.848+00:00sustainable gardenOn the outskirts of Nottingham, England.
In the lonely ethical left field.
Developing beautiful organic gardens for wildlife..Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237472076391330187noreply@blogger.comBlogger1280125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8071315363222503671.post-76553566945833983312024-03-27T21:32:00.004+00:002024-03-28T07:14:29.151+00:00Scrambled ..<span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmYIqALZRp49FN33Brv-K4nmyUFIjcKr9NcxVCrFlOoMP8lpvi7Ko5w0cnGOYzsVOTgK90ziOf4v-6JB3GX_PyHed_Va0-x0Ol6cZe0ZjFMpV3548z1KOAA7-_DZejogydnn9lNBvHWNm_I4tfAN9HvfqAXx0vZXq6KNCVvt5l2NXQfSy5CfSpkY7QfA/s4061/DSC_0003.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1783" data-original-width="4061" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmYIqALZRp49FN33Brv-K4nmyUFIjcKr9NcxVCrFlOoMP8lpvi7Ko5w0cnGOYzsVOTgK90ziOf4v-6JB3GX_PyHed_Va0-x0Ol6cZe0ZjFMpV3548z1KOAA7-_DZejogydnn9lNBvHWNm_I4tfAN9HvfqAXx0vZXq6KNCVvt5l2NXQfSy5CfSpkY7QfA/s320/DSC_0003.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Day 280 #365DaysWild</span><script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript">
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</script><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Native primrose - primula vulgaris - is now beginning its best time.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Surely the prettiest of our native flowers..?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">These are self-sown seedlings are a scrambled-egg <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimW_uQFmF9_X2jnhMzU1QKn0DDXbuxFYiw9kXaycbjgeNjOWMPe_F6zf0G9qYyMzvdYwQNn7ysisGG_KelmtaE0WCztjys5GJX0ITLlJH96mCsL3ylCnbMo1w4ER3buzCm9eQKlXjtZRPf9WOQ0LFVDjDHeF92W9q_ysZyXdzp3ftIGb95mqEuMVo3K8E/s4458/DSC_0004.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2107" data-original-width="4458" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimW_uQFmF9_X2jnhMzU1QKn0DDXbuxFYiw9kXaycbjgeNjOWMPe_F6zf0G9qYyMzvdYwQNn7ysisGG_KelmtaE0WCztjys5GJX0ITLlJH96mCsL3ylCnbMo1w4ER3buzCm9eQKlXjtZRPf9WOQ0LFVDjDHeF92W9q_ysZyXdzp3ftIGb95mqEuMVo3K8E/s320/DSC_0004.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />delight for onlookers and for invertebrates too. Delighted that beeflies visited<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/8071315363222503671/1696855150307711602"> ‘pin’ and ‘thrum’ </a>forms of the flowers for successful fertilisation.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWyuiLCRYe12CZs2cTJqq7gPmCpJutGVydfgNICM89Jk_Xx0x6roSYqsqJrkjUVUigOuF40WpVG_gzB-zme5sro1VOUHUW9p4Bqje_UKTj1JJ532_Sq1QrsZKcOVUXqzN1QNpn_ZuGAUNs6pHVyxLsD3zI0_enCx0vPZu2Y6YnsjbK-YuAQmyAwwwl82A/s4928/DSC_0002.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="4928" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWyuiLCRYe12CZs2cTJqq7gPmCpJutGVydfgNICM89Jk_Xx0x6roSYqsqJrkjUVUigOuF40WpVG_gzB-zme5sro1VOUHUW9p4Bqje_UKTj1JJ532_Sq1QrsZKcOVUXqzN1QNpn_ZuGAUNs6pHVyxLsD3zI0_enCx0vPZu2Y6YnsjbK-YuAQmyAwwwl82A/s320/DSC_0002.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Once fertilised, the flowers will produce tiny round sticky<br />seeds which we hope will germinate and add even more of these lovely flowers to the springtime Birch Border.</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript">
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</script><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Tiny volcanic eruptions where vegetation is thinnest.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Tawny mining bees have emerged and are excavating their tunnels. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">These are solitary bees and not in hives.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The males serve their function early in the season and die , leaving the fertilised females to dig their tunnels and provision the eggs with pollen.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">We have a self-set flowering currant that is in full bloom at the moment. Currants are one of the flowers the tawny mining bees visit.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Little amber gems.</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript">
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In their first year they flourished - <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQWjviUjFZJVLbuShn1aNivFj7PjPPqN1nKjYdK0zEjn0NEPCvv31Dp9q55cygNSJZlvhWJ1N5BusQjuHg6Wxg9-liri5_Y4PetuFlV-uM_8Ch59yiZFC0wdH8A184VZ_-DXHA7IUF-dq7VclmIkw8XPeXvam8_nRpma0dfo-p7rbuIzjePEP2pj036k/s3829/IMG_5928.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3829" data-original-width="2533" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQWjviUjFZJVLbuShn1aNivFj7PjPPqN1nKjYdK0zEjn0NEPCvv31Dp9q55cygNSJZlvhWJ1N5BusQjuHg6Wxg9-liri5_Y4PetuFlV-uM_8Ch59yiZFC0wdH8A184VZ_-DXHA7IUF-dq7VclmIkw8XPeXvam8_nRpma0dfo-p7rbuIzjePEP2pj036k/s320/IMG_5928.jpeg" width="212" /></a></div><br />but the increased rainfall has raised the pond level and flooded the bulbs, possibly rotting them.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">However, in the meadow, fritillaries have appeared on their own initiative and are now in striking, nodding bloom.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8nbgb5aF11YkBWf_9Ko_s_OQkL1r8HZVzsYL_s1BeIVcBJ-80XK3TDUoXPq96eGHBuN7Y4TU85Fqabtgyumb3aQboXFMei0vh7Re6N8sKSVlkcThBp5565WoqswvXMI7zoyQtJIYzVxnFD2g2Okj8Nt1vj5fK8ypNaIX7RF1wdxtvi8l-PW9iSzKsYSM/s3663/IMG_5925.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3663" data-original-width="2609" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8nbgb5aF11YkBWf_9Ko_s_OQkL1r8HZVzsYL_s1BeIVcBJ-80XK3TDUoXPq96eGHBuN7Y4TU85Fqabtgyumb3aQboXFMei0vh7Re6N8sKSVlkcThBp5565WoqswvXMI7zoyQtJIYzVxnFD2g2Okj8Nt1vj5fK8ypNaIX7RF1wdxtvi8l-PW9iSzKsYSM/s320/IMG_5925.jpeg" width="228" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Snakes head central is <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 16px;">Cricklade North meadow in Wiltshire.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 16px;">On the ‘bucket list’ as young people say.</span></div><div><br /></div>Our great hope is that the lily beetles that are their nemesis don’t find them and that the delicate flowers can go on to produce seed, increase our population to rival Cricklade.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript">
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</script></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">For several weeks I’ve been sleuthing.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Two years ago George’s Pond was croaking with frogs and their spawn.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">But last year we had no spawn.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">And this year we have had a few frogs but no spawn.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">I’ve found ‘star jelly’ (the unfertilised spawn) in the grass by the pond and I’ve found spawn on the grass. But none in the pond.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">This morning another suspect strode in. This one slender and elegant.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">A grey heron. We know his family has form for frog-eating.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">And it is now added to the list of suspects that already includes fox, badger, tawny owl, rat and mallard …</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript">
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</script></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Amongst the dark clouds of biodiversity loss there remain shining lights.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-hBePs7gpefBpg-P8HeAdV-k9grxDEanMfp_0puFhmx3rgg4Q-DCFuSkesuWmoryC39q-0nzihWDyx0FtLDIET7Vbkf8nmFPc5Rx8LK-A54-oWfJNqGCZXML_s5etoJcEtJ6IP5tAamogV35hGs4BwRpz05zTkhxD_JlrYPCN9Pzn_ftuf8xMjC-go3c/s7136/IMG_5923.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1965" data-original-width="7136" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-hBePs7gpefBpg-P8HeAdV-k9grxDEanMfp_0puFhmx3rgg4Q-DCFuSkesuWmoryC39q-0nzihWDyx0FtLDIET7Vbkf8nmFPc5Rx8LK-A54-oWfJNqGCZXML_s5etoJcEtJ6IP5tAamogV35hGs4BwRpz05zTkhxD_JlrYPCN9Pzn_ftuf8xMjC-go3c/w640-h176/IMG_5923.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Over to the corner of Lincolnshire to the RSPB Frampton Marsh reserve.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">To get there you travel through a barren landscape of glyphosated fields. Intensification of farming is a key factor in the current wildlife crisis that has been termed ‘the sixth mass extinction’ by the WWF. A local intensive poultry unit cast an olfactory shadow over us throughout our visit. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">There, beneath towering skies, using vision, creativity and imagination, the RSPB has created the kind of place so packed with birds that it is reminiscent of such places you’d find abroad.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Arrive to a raucous chorus of black-headed gulls. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">And there’s a slender animated gem of a bird to greet you that is underwhelmingly called a lesser yellowlegs. This trim beauty has travelled across the Atlantic to reside at Frampton. A real delight. Confiding too. None of this hiding in some distant corner. Only metres from the car park. Worth the journey itself.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Across the entire reserve the movement and noise fills the senses.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Long-billed black-tailed godwits are turning a rusty plum colour in anticipation of the move to their breeding grounds.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">In glorious breeding plumage too were golden plover, now many with black bellies and faces to contrast with their breeding uniform of laced gold.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">So many more treasures as we counted over fifty species of bird.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">But amongst it all, there was one crowning moment that will remain until my memory dims.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The reserve is separated from vast, grassy salt marshes of the Wash by a raised, grassed bank.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">We watched perhaps a thousand dark-bellied Brent geese grazing on the marsh.<span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Inter, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2); background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 34); color: #202122; font-size: 16px;"> Dark-bellied Brent breed on the Arctic coasts of central and western Siberia and winter in western Europe, with over half the population in England. Their migratory return journey will begin in days or weeks..</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">And then, as we watched, at an unseen command they rose and in a cacophony of calls flew low over us in a low black cloud to settle on the reserve. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Only nature can deliver such emotional hammer blows.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Congratulations RSPB Frampton Marsh. </span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript">
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</script></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 16px;">If St. Peter let’s me through those pearly gates, he’ll lead me into a place very like the walled vegetable garden at National Trust Felbrigg for an eternity of gardening with scratching bantams and white fantail pigeons..</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 16px;" /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I just hope I can explain to the BIg Guy that I won’t be cutting the grass so close..</span></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIHbtm_ekGfYhoJ_Ehs8MD5nGFETpDjYSqa-IuKc78YJ_QWPLcgIxsQ-QVl5H12g3F-PYMQM8LY1OkyK1ZONpuu9EsUtXqz2M8kaX5euQnKIouNgRULR7CYRlDrbh1vHxgrkIdCUZhg9CIhpaTqIyRZvFulho1APMeJDuZ2HFV13qwNUZ-QliMin-yGI/s2852/IMG_8453.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2329" data-original-width="2852" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIHbtm_ekGfYhoJ_Ehs8MD5nGFETpDjYSqa-IuKc78YJ_QWPLcgIxsQ-QVl5H12g3F-PYMQM8LY1OkyK1ZONpuu9EsUtXqz2M8kaX5euQnKIouNgRULR7CYRlDrbh1vHxgrkIdCUZhg9CIhpaTqIyRZvFulho1APMeJDuZ2HFV13qwNUZ-QliMin-yGI/s320/IMG_8453.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript">
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</script><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Catch ‘em young!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">My favourite little boy went around the garden with me in the rain using the Merlin app, identifying bird calls and songs.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">‘What’s that one calling Poppa?’ He asked.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">I couldn’t hear it. Roy Dennis remarked on the sad loss of the ability to hear bird song as he aged.. These days I struggle to hear redwings flying overhead. And treecreepers.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Before I could answer, up popped ‘Goldcrest’ on the app.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">That’s another whose frequency is too high for me to register.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">At home, our boy used daddy’s phone to ID garden birds and he sent me a list.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2GRQE4LkhpFLpKbdOolYmJ_HVo3oyzAeAGPDkCy7MasWcfhJ7N1o4GcQHWDhXlgH2W0XHicRPHcDHuf1IwoPjZlDOJvxkh6fROzOflN6mHQy333uMqtSLG9PeytxroYhgDiLlLuoi4oKKPp4XrQxe0FwErhQLe9GFFZjMP61VjPQDBmU9H2zbT2ojK0/s1600/9c181112-0a52-48b3-8208-11d8b622bdad.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2GRQE4LkhpFLpKbdOolYmJ_HVo3oyzAeAGPDkCy7MasWcfhJ7N1o4GcQHWDhXlgH2W0XHicRPHcDHuf1IwoPjZlDOJvxkh6fROzOflN6mHQy333uMqtSLG9PeytxroYhgDiLlLuoi4oKKPp4XrQxe0FwErhQLe9GFFZjMP61VjPQDBmU9H2zbT2ojK0/s320/9c181112-0a52-48b3-8208-11d8b622bdad.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">—————————————————</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">These posts will be part of a family book I am writing for my grandchildren’s children and other family members of their generation.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">What wildlife will be left by the time they grow up?</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript">
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Unfortunately the herbicide passes through the animal and the resulting manure may be toxic to plants for several years.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: arial; font-size: 15.84px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: arial; font-size: 15.84px;">Our compost is made entirely of plants or products derived from plants such as cardboard or paper (with a few crushed egg shells added. Plant-based kitchen waste goes in. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: arial; font-size: 15.84px;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUlUHHe0VZWgf6V0RJ9sGECQ9mJO4jm290bQZhqzrG7ff5KLylxgPVemwviSpw3Bsmeuo1Sb2fRE9nPB0WyOXkEiNBKYMeatzOx4R8_Trm0vFHM_cG9YpSK8GQEgXBcrtXH2Pmbz8XGADMN8Qyswsn7IdjIx0hGnFrKiXghZ7izZ5FS2yruIptSidxka0/s3385/IMG_5846.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2893" data-original-width="3385" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUlUHHe0VZWgf6V0RJ9sGECQ9mJO4jm290bQZhqzrG7ff5KLylxgPVemwviSpw3Bsmeuo1Sb2fRE9nPB0WyOXkEiNBKYMeatzOx4R8_Trm0vFHM_cG9YpSK8GQEgXBcrtXH2Pmbz8XGADMN8Qyswsn7IdjIx0hGnFrKiXghZ7izZ5FS2yruIptSidxka0/s320/IMG_5846.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: arial; font-size: 15.84px;">It takes around a year to make what my old dad approvingly called ‘pure plant food’</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: arial; font-size: 15.84px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: arial; font-size: 15.84px;">Todays job was turning compost, adding cardboard and grass cuttings. By turning the compost into another of my pallett bays, air is incorporated which speeds the process. Fresh grass cuttings turbo charge the whole.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGCNNiIhXn-Kiff4EFy805WN2_Uw7w03cYfRc_OdJa1vqs86yJ8ccRHqbt9BXi9mzJ0QsJHjpIq0d8cbkmBQCBB_UvuQXPBazPX2JtX-crby9CEGl4lY03E2eKV58MR9wc1brmlAi5OUxU7ig9Z4k-CHA96gBHeG7A7-52tzNodOn8u5Na5WXBsxjX8Y/s4032/IMG_5847.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGCNNiIhXn-Kiff4EFy805WN2_Uw7w03cYfRc_OdJa1vqs86yJ8ccRHqbt9BXi9mzJ0QsJHjpIq0d8cbkmBQCBB_UvuQXPBazPX2JtX-crby9CEGl4lY03E2eKV58MR9wc1brmlAi5OUxU7ig9Z4k-CHA96gBHeG7A7-52tzNodOn8u5Na5WXBsxjX8Y/s320/IMG_5847.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: arial; font-size: 15.84px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: arial; font-size: 15.84px;">I use a compost thermometer to watch the temperature of the compost rocket to 70C.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: arial; font-size: 15.84px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 15.84px;">Finished compost is added to the soil surface.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 15.84px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 15.84px;">Compost is rich in invertebrate and fungal life. As a surface mulch there is no need to dig and so the soil ecology is undisturbed and more beneficial for plants.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 15.84px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 15.84px;">Healthy soil produces healthy plants.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 15.84px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 15.84px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: arial; font-size: 15.84px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: arial; font-size: 15.84px;"><br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript">
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</script><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: arial; font-size: 15.84px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: arial; font-size: 15.84px;">The warmest February ever recorded.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: arial; font-size: 15.84px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: arial; font-size: 15.84px;">Grey.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: arial; font-size: 15.84px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: arial; font-size: 15.84px;">And wet too.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: arial; font-size: 15.84px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: arial; font-size: 15.84px;">Unseasonably great growing weather and, my, has our lawn grown!</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 15.84px;">As a consequence our ‘lawn’ more-closely resembles rough grassland. Purists would throw their hands up in horror.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 15.84px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 15.84px;">My first ‘mistake’ was to sow a grass and clover mix. Insects love it. But our farmer friend shook his head in bewilderment as he walked across it. ‘I can give you something to get rid of all this clover’ he offered.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 15.84px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 15.84px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFRnKAM1U0ufj-FLVyp86kTqdd83VTlbrJE8RsF8LqtMKkxnDaVocaZq4boliJwVZB9djWM78CHYxYeSV08tX8pBQ7oYCbQEt7_ghzlX60z8RO9LCEDUrnFq3HmjR4PRkrr5NU59xCHVb9CQfxfezVnPzQdqmQ6DhzGn_LID3pp770TUKjA5f8Yg-PZrs/s2642/IMG_0395.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2642" data-original-width="2203" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFRnKAM1U0ufj-FLVyp86kTqdd83VTlbrJE8RsF8LqtMKkxnDaVocaZq4boliJwVZB9djWM78CHYxYeSV08tX8pBQ7oYCbQEt7_ghzlX60z8RO9LCEDUrnFq3HmjR4PRkrr5NU59xCHVb9CQfxfezVnPzQdqmQ6DhzGn_LID3pp770TUKjA5f8Yg-PZrs/s320/IMG_0395.jpeg" width="267" /></a></div><br />Of course, it’s a place for footballs and picnics and tents. It’s a place for burrowing through a long wavy jungle..</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 15.84px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 15.84px;">I never scarify or weed & feed. The lawn is bouncy to walk on, so thick is the thatch of moss and dead grass. Hopefully a home to the detritivors at the base of the food chain..0</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 15.84px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 15.84px;">Islands of unmown grass to give our sparse crocus the chance to build up for next year. And then, controversially, an island of unmown grass to protect a field vole colony.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHMFFaigqWKVS1KirXv5imfarhnYkCLK_pXYlSOMtr4g4ttgk4VIMPu_BhFH0RLqcp9QeVmdlLMZ8slKQjZOHjraLFCZbGMmB97S9_m9tdNso0s1njIWPzm_yMLZGcPioaQSLpgmvOsHDk7E5W8iv9lnPZAtm9HpK9azeeCHWNRPVHbS8unwgOXS35OWw/s4032/IMG_5842.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHMFFaigqWKVS1KirXv5imfarhnYkCLK_pXYlSOMtr4g4ttgk4VIMPu_BhFH0RLqcp9QeVmdlLMZ8slKQjZOHjraLFCZbGMmB97S9_m9tdNso0s1njIWPzm_yMLZGcPioaQSLpgmvOsHDk7E5W8iv9lnPZAtm9HpK9azeeCHWNRPVHbS8unwgOXS35OWw/s320/IMG_5842.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 15.84px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 15.84px;">What!?!?</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 15.84px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 15.84px;">My poor old late dad would have thrown his hands up in horror at all my nonsense but especially this -encouraging voles to live in the lawn!!</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 15.84px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 15.84px;">If we want kestrels and tawny owls, we need a flourishing population of small mammals.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 15.84px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 15.84px;">I asked mum what she thought of the lawn after I’d finished.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 15.84px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 15.84px;">She answered ‘Bloody awful’.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 15.84px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 15.84px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 15.84px;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript">
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<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It is always a pleasure talking to Norman Hayes. Norman is now in his 83rd year but his relentless recording of bird numbers continues. His long, uninterrupted recording of the birds of Bestwood inspired the Friends of Bestwood Country Park to create its’ hugely successful Wildlife Group. </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We chatted about his WeBS counts over the years.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl1KHLclni42LLiZxiQuoCmYeEJdTcM-Oy4WvGIoPRCDl7_02_mgxqFdJYGOEcrZ63UaN-QtiVkgwp90u6_wkZXA2wFWiSjSv5C4VQvnpWfrHc1JWCwFT__IORG7rAfqqbe8Jo2FqT7QWNPRgDFZlyiPGUk1BLq-Pamb8dLSC62Q5AUk-0PSzIK-7hUHk/s2662/IMG_5727.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2080" data-original-width="2662" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl1KHLclni42LLiZxiQuoCmYeEJdTcM-Oy4WvGIoPRCDl7_02_mgxqFdJYGOEcrZ63UaN-QtiVkgwp90u6_wkZXA2wFWiSjSv5C4VQvnpWfrHc1JWCwFT__IORG7rAfqqbe8Jo2FqT7QWNPRgDFZlyiPGUk1BLq-Pamb8dLSC62Q5AUk-0PSzIK-7hUHk/s320/IMG_5727.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span>Norman explaining the difference in the shapes <br />of elephants and mammoths backs ..</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />He’s done the WeBS at the Mill Lakes since the lakes were first formed in the 1970’s.</span><p></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">His WeBS records show several gradual but serious declines over the past twenty years.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In 1983, Norman recorded 23 little grebe. In 2023 this had fallen to five birds.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Ruddy duck are now extinct due to culling. His highest count of ruddy duck (formerly a breeding bird with us) was 26 birds in September 1991.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">He’s seen a big decline in pochard. In 1999 he counted a peak of 26 birds but this year zero.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Shoveler reached 22 in the same year but now he records only single birds.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In December 1999 his highest count for teal was 49 and now the highest count is up to 20.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The current highest count for coot is 15 but in 1999 the highest count was 132.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Little egrets are now present. </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Greylag have increased with the highest count being 156 birds in October 2023. Greylag were unrecorded in Norman’s first years of counting.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh18NR6vM01NgKmccmPJFsYr38nURpTP1vx-t-9NfTRz4_jX4cPcVKlZFjFqGws-guNow_uycGj9QH4KuvIAVhyLqI4mnLhK8ePFeAfngPmlh5QUJjf7-USuRUFrgbdKdPD5_z0dzxs-xbqgpnQYVAKGkO0RrzSr3sE9gxq-dl5er18dL3hlLsDCJLdgIw/s4032/IMG_4108.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh18NR6vM01NgKmccmPJFsYr38nURpTP1vx-t-9NfTRz4_jX4cPcVKlZFjFqGws-guNow_uycGj9QH4KuvIAVhyLqI4mnLhK8ePFeAfngPmlh5QUJjf7-USuRUFrgbdKdPD5_z0dzxs-xbqgpnQYVAKGkO0RrzSr3sE9gxq-dl5er18dL3hlLsDCJLdgIw/s320/IMG_4108.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span>A days birding with Norman and Ray Fox.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;">During his time birdwatching around the lakes he’s seen black swan and breeding heron. He noted four calling turtle doves at the Mill Lakes in June 1993. </span><p></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Marsh and willow tits bred here. Willow tits raised three young in July 2014. Hearing marsh warbler in song was a particular highlight.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Heron appear to be nesting with us again for the first time in years.<br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Norman’s unabated enthusiasm continues. As we sat reminiscing about his WeBS counts our conversation was suddenly interrupted as he spotted a pair of red-legged partridges on the lawn! </span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">✔️</span>His first for the year.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Norman Hayes: a Nottinghamshire birding legend.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Wildlife Group is currently working with the Rivers Trust and Severn Trent to monitor pollution in the River Leen and Mill Lakes.</span></p>
<p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript">
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font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">A fascinating, wide-ranging discussion on Wednesday.</span><span class="s1" style="font-size: 16px;"></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgICuJ5qas7dNXVi1lppvW_hWzsRFMFQNEvpMytfYST9c1PpSONglxfrJCIdKlKcxY6neKkYdNohqUusxKWgt0Tzgqvw0GYL616igmWsojmYZmGtUevpsfFqJWt5FPsoQ7EYIWVykeZrJzqqJ0jpmTb0nYPKL7e4Y87V4DfX_-DOnSLyV7_acC6XAYL6J4/s540/IMG_5840.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="356" data-original-width="540" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgICuJ5qas7dNXVi1lppvW_hWzsRFMFQNEvpMytfYST9c1PpSONglxfrJCIdKlKcxY6neKkYdNohqUusxKWgt0Tzgqvw0GYL616igmWsojmYZmGtUevpsfFqJWt5FPsoQ7EYIWVykeZrJzqqJ0jpmTb0nYPKL7e4Y87V4DfX_-DOnSLyV7_acC6XAYL6J4/s320/IMG_5840.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">In partnership with Erin McDaid (Notts Wildlife Trust) and Scott Blance (Derbys Wildlife Trust) we’d gathered a group of Notts & Derbys keenest wildlife activists together to discuss what practical steps the soon-to-be-elected East Midlands Regional Mayor could take to support and promote biodiversity.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">So much practical experience that could be harnessed by the new mayoral authority. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 16px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 16px;">I hope Claire Ward (The Labour Party candidate) found it helpful in understanding how complex and fundamental are the issues impacting biodiversity - and how these, in turn, are fundamental to the health & wellbeing of our communities and landscapes.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 16px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 16px;">I’m sure I speak for everyone in saying that we hope that the newly-elected mayor will embed nature and biodiversity at the heart of the raft of policies she will develop for the new authority.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 16px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: 16px;">This was a first discussion. I hope it can become a springboard for something really powerful in the future.</span></p><script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript">
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</script><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">It’s prospecting season.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Yesterday, stock doves were sizing up the garage gable nest box.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Today, a male kestrel was doing the same. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxY37Xo0Vh0ShWPHkKN7IoLcj0bW-_SXvM54M_VmhuoQqTCElHa1sfxBtJPg8WGzKuYpCDH-yQhMTggx9V6yg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">So, there’s the possibility of a series of broods of stock doves in there.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Or kestrels, their young and the decomposing remains of their dinners and pellets …</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">My tiny granddaughter has gone through a stage in which she describes many things she doesn’t like as ‘stinky’.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Wait till she gets a nose-full of the garage fragrance in a hot summer..</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Of course, it will be the female who makes the final decision..</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Same as it ever was..</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript">
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</script><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The Barry White of the pigeon family? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Here’s the love song of a stock dove.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxqRBqIOaBoQqe9i9wD2xCEfnJ8xuXPpHZ2j9w-nmd4AEcfr8p29e_fYqeiyRGhiL_xxW18YDl4E-Ig1kktUw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript">
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</script></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">I think I must now be up to ten ponds in the garden. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">All are filled with rain water.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">They're places for drinking and bathing. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Midges and their subsequent larvae congregate.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Some ponds are no bigger than old washing-up bowls.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">George's Pond is a big boy with a diameter of twenty metres.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">I converted a friends little vegetable garden beds (that were going to the tip) into mini-ponds.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">This one is in the Woodland Garden and is snapshot from yesterday.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='536' height='446' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyZFoRKRyhbB-1obPZ4a95oYMtUFUJajdX6ttqLOoZ8YVLubT8DxP3JIuvC6J200r1By680HnV3i9dsgNvIvw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">I bought a pond pump from the auctions and on collection found I'd bought a lump of concrete in the shape of a water pump painted black. What it lacked in quality it made up for in quantity. A huge heavy lump to get in and out of the car.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Part of the partnership felt that this rash purchase vindicated her concerns about my buying strategy.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">I hid my mistake in the ivy that grows in the bulb bank in and put this little pond underneath it.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The birds don't seem to mind!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Here, wood pigeon, wren and male blackbird transitioned clunkily. What do expect - Spielberg?!</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript">
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