The first flowers, every year, are the hazel catkins in the copse next to the picnic place. Such a welcome sight.
Header image by DKG
No post today because there is a technical hitch that I don’t seem to be able to fix. Sorry.
It’s cold! Wrap up warm and stay safe.
Bulbs
It’s not just the snowdrops that are waking up in the reserve’s woodland. Our native daffodils and bluebells are stirring, too.
Continue readingHappy New Year!
Here’s a thing: a brisk walk in the reserve will help to increase your circulation, bringing more blood and oxygen to your brain and muscles, and help to offset hangover symptoms like headaches and achy muscles. Our best wishes for 2023 and our thanks for all you support.
Header image taken in the reserve by Simon Knight
A message from Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service:
“The tragic events in Solihull are an awful reminder of the dangers of going on to frozen ponds, lakes, canals etc. PLEASE keep children and dogs away from these areas as the ice may be incredibly brittle. Make sure you know what to do should the worst happen. Here is a link a page on our website called FROZEN WATER DANGERS“
The tragic death of three children in Solihull, has made us think of the dangers of frozen stretches of water in the reserve. Please be careful, keep off the ice, and remember that the new scrape in Lambrok Meadow is more than a metre deep at its centre.
Joan Jones (Chairman FoSCP)
Why walking, wellbeing and nature go hand-in-hand
by David Feather
On 2 November an event was held in Glasgow to review the benefits of walking in nature.
Continue readingWe apologise for the delay in posting. A series of errors, some mine and some from the organisation that registers our domain name, resulted in the webpage being taken offline for a couple of days. Sorry.
Fact of the week
According to the sort of scientists that count things, there is only one mammal in the UK more numerous than we humans: Microtus agrestis, the field vole. The latest estimates put the field vole’s population at 75 million while our own is only 67 million.
Header image: field vole by Sam McMillan (CC BY-NC 2.0) flickr.com
EDITORIAL ERROR
While driving a website without due care and attention, our editor has managed to permanently delete all comments made after September 5th. The comments section is important, particularly while so much work is going on in the reserve, and your opinions are valuable input. Please, feel free to repost if your comment has disappeared.
Please note that the date of the RSPB visit has changed. It is no longer scheduled for Wednesday September 14th but for Thursday 15th.
BEWARE
There is an active wasps’ nest near the wooden footbridge into Village Green at the bottom of the blackthorn tunnel. Walking towards the big pond on the main path, it is about 4 or 5m along from the bridge, on the stream bank close to the hawthorn bush.
There is a technical problem, the editorial laptop has chosen to spend the bank holiday weekend at the menders. We hope, with the help of public libraries, various borrowings and a recalcitrant phone, to keep the website up and running. If not, we apologise.
We now know who set the grass fire in the Heritage Orchard. The matter had been reported to the police. Our thanks for everybody’s concern.
Our apologies: there is a technical problem and we will be unable to post today.
LOST & FOUND: a Tesco clubcard
Elderflower cordial
read on for a recipe for elderflower cordialSong thrush
A song thrush singing from its perch right at the top of one of the reserve’s oak trees, photographed by Ian Bushell.
Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) recorded by David Bisset (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) xeno-canto.org
LOST
Somebody lost a pair of prescription sunglasses in the reserve today. If you found them, email me at friendsofscp@outlook.com and I will make sure they get back to their owner.
Blackcap
A Eurasian blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) photographed in the reserve last week by Cheryl Cronnie.
Audio by David Bissett from xeno-canto.org
A games controller has been found in the park today. If it’s yours, email us (friendsofscp@outlook.com) with a description and we will put you in touch with the finder.
Work party report
A work party report from Ian Bushell
Continue reading “Work party report”Storm damage
Julie Newblé has sent us pictures of storm damage in the reserve.
Continue reading “Storm damage”
Southwick Country Park Nature Reserve 