by Simon Knight
For me, the past few days in the park have been very special. Not only has it brought me joy through wonderful wildlife sightings, I have also seen how happy the park makes other people, which proves on so many levels that the park is hugely important and worth every effort spent protecting it.
Continue reading “The sun is finally here!”
These few warm days have brought the reserve to life.
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Ian reports that the bee swarm from the old ash tree at Fiveways seems to have settled into a hole in the tree we call the Owl Box Oak; a second honey bee colony in the reserve is very exciting news.
Read on for even more exciting news
There have been several reports this week of kestrels hunting over Kestrel Field.
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We now know the painted lady (Vanessa cardui), seen in the reserve in the summers of 2019 and 2020, makes the longest migration of any butterfly: 9,000 miles from tropical Africa to the Arctic Circle, almost double the journey made by the previous record holder, the famed monarch butterfly.
Continue reading “World record butterfly”
Invasive non-native species are one of the top five causes of biodiversity loss worldwide. Here in the UK they harm the environment, threaten some of our rarest species and cost our economy over £1.8 billion a year.
Read on to find out how you can help
For several years, we have been trying to establish cowslips in the reserve’s fields but with only a little success. The problem is timing.
Read on to find out more
Human activity has introduced more 3,000 non-native plant and animal species into Britain from all over the world. Most do no harm but some do irreparable damage to their new habitat and its native biodiversity.
Continue reading “It’s Invasive Species Week”
Cockchafers, more familiarly known as May bugs, are one of those things that go bang in the night.
Continue reading “Cockchafer”
Bugle (Ajuga reptans) photographed in the park by Julie Newblé.
Continue reading “Bugle”
Sign Up with the Wildlife Trusts to do at least one wild thing every day throughout the whole month of June.
by Simon Knight
The park is really coming to life now, with the grasses growing, trees in leaf and the fields dotted with yellow as buttercups start to bloom. My visits haven’t been as frequent as I would have liked, which makes me value the time I have spent in the park even more.
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Mayflower is the blossom of the hawthorn tree.
Continue reading “Mayflower”
The year’s first cuckoo was heard in the reserve this week.
Here are five facts about the pair of greater spotted woodpeckers that has been seen hanging around the Lone Oak this week
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Let’s focus on the environment this summer; let’s learn a little, make a contribution of some kind. Here are some ideas.
Continue reading “Things to do”
A message from Simon Henstock:
I spotted this growing in the hedgerow down the Country Park this evening. Is it Shepherd’s Purse? 
This year, there seems to be a robin singing from every tree in the reserve.
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There is a honey bee colony high in the old ash tree at Fiveways. Last week the colony swarmed and Julie Newblé, a regular contributor, was lucky enough to be there with her camera.
Continue reading “Swarm”
The extraordinary flowers of white dead nettles.
Last week, Ian Bushell found and photographed bush vetch (Vicia sepium) near Puddle Corner.
Continue reading “Bush vetch”
Last weekend brought reports of a mute swan and mallards flying over the reserve.
Continue reading “Water birds”
by David Feather
Did you know that this week is Mental Health Awareness Week? I didn’t until recently. You might well ask how it connects with the Park?
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A jay has been seen on several early-morning occasions, hopping about just inside the reserve’s main entrance.
Continue reading “Jay”
A meta-analysis of nearly 400 research studies has shown that pesticides are damaging the soil’s vitally important ecosystems. Researchers have warned that we must be more careful about considering the organisms that live in the soil when we assess the environmental impact of pesticides. A UN report published in December 2020 found that, without urgent action to halt degradation, the future of our soils looks bleak: it takes thousands of years for new soils to form.
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Southwick Country Park Nature Reserve 