The clocks went back; the nights, which have been getting longer since the autumnal equinox, will seem extra long and especially dark now. We cosy up in front of the fire and crave stodgy puddings but out in the park, the ratio between daylight and dark triggers many natural processes.
Continue reading “Daylight hours”
There are two badger setts in the park, hidden away in its quiet places; here are some interesting badger facts.
Continue reading “Badger facts”
We have precious elm saplings, resistant to Dutch elm disease, that will need to be planted out in the park soon.
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Please, don’t do handbrake turns in our car park!
Continue reading “Handbrake turns”
At the end of 2020, the protection afforded to the UK’s wildlife by the UK Post 2010 Biodiversity Framework will end. The Environment Bill 2020 does not make clear exactly what will replace it.
Continue reading “Protecting the park”
Build a hibernaculum to help the amphibians and reptiles in your garden through the winter.
Here are ten things you may not have known about Sciurus carolinensis.
Continue reading “10 facts about grey squirrels”
A late-season speckled wood (Pararge aegeria) photographed last week, basking in the sunshine on the edge of the copse between Sleeper Field and Sheep Field. They are creatures of such woodland edges, camouflaged by the dappled light.
Continue reading “Speckled wood”
by Ian Bushell
David Feather found the caterpillar of a Garden Tiger Moth in the heritage orchard.
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There are silk button galls on the underside of oak leaves all over the park.
Continue reading “Silk button galls”
Salix is the genus name of willow, trees known and cultivated for millennia for their medicinal properties.
Continue reading “Salix”
New fencing at Puddle Corner.
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Daldinia concentrica: known as King Alfred’s cakes or coal fungus grows on the park’s trees, in this case on a dead ash tree.
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A long tailed tit photographed last year in the park by DKG.
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The Wildlife Trusts has stepped into the controversy surrounding the government’s proposed changes to planning regulations; they have concluded that the changes will damage nature, increase air pollution and leave local people with no say on protecting urban wildlife corridors.
Continue reading “Wild belt land”
Simon Knight has sent us a beautiful picture of one of the park’s tiny creatures in the wet grass.
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Yesterday’s post about oak apples prompted questions. Here is more information about some of the oak gall wasps that induce oak trees into producing such strange growths.
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More about our oaks.
Continue reading “Oak gall ink”
Chris Seymour sent in pictures of the flooded Lambrok tributary, yesterday,
Thanks, Chris.
Wiltshire Council must not miss this opportunity to lead the way in developing a local Nature Recovery Network around Trowbridge.
Continue reading “A missed opportunity?”
The nighttime temperature is dropping and soon we will see the first frosts. The reserve’s invertebrates are preparing for hibernation.
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The picture is a cheat, taken from the internet’s public domain. We haven’t seen a mole in the park, only lots of recent molehills in The Arboretum.
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Above is the Parameter Plan submitted by RPS with planning application 18/10035/OUT. If you look carefully, there are two grey dotted lines that run from the red site boundary, over the Lambrok Stream, and into the park. Right at the bottom of the key, they are labelled potential foot/cycle links and we assume that a foot/cycle link that crosses the Lambrok will do so on a bridge.
Continue reading “No bridges, please.”
Southwick Country Park Nature Reserve 