Creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense) taken at dawn this morning by DKG.
Damsel fly or dragonfly?
It is easiest to tell the difference between the two when they are at rest; then a damselfly’s wings are folded along its body while a dragonfly’s wings are outspread, held at right angles to its body.
Continue readingFantastic Mrs Fox
No, we haven’t seen an arctic fox in the park; that would be silly. Instead, here is the irresistible story of a record-breaking journey undertaken by an arctic fox, which demonstrates the resilience and adaptability of all the vulpine species, our common red fox included. It also raises questions, pertinent to everybody, about the effects of the frighteningly rapid loss of arctic ice.
A broad bodied chaser
A male broad bodied chaser at the Dog Pond, seen and photographed by Ian Bushell last week.
Continue readingCitizen science
Wiltshire Wildlife Trust’s hedgehog citizen science campaign begins today. They are asking volunteer citizen scientists to record and report hedgehog sightings and to monitor their behaviour and activity.
Continue reading “Citizen science”Mail from DKG
” Took these early this morning whilst the butterflies were still resting. A Gatekeeper and one other which may be a Meadow Brown or may not. There were so many of them in The Triangle near the picnic area.”
Continue reading “Mail from DKG”
Help birds through the heatwave
The temperature has soared this weekend and the RSPB has asked people to help their local bird populations through the heat wave with a supply of clean, fresh water in a place safe from predators.
Continue readingThree magpies
A picture of three magpies by DKG
Haircut!
On Thursday and Friday most of the park’s meadow grass was cut for silage; a bumper crop this year and entirely free of ragwort.
Continue reading “Haircut!”
.….. and a small skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris), which is number sixteen on our list.
Image: Creative Commons
Three more butterflies for our 2019 list and two more peacock nests; things are finally looking better.
Continue readingGallery of colours
A gallery of colour to lift the sombre, over-grown greens of all the latest pictures on the home page.
DON’T FORGET THAT THERE WILL BE FARM MACHINERY WORKING IN THE PARK TODAY; STAY SAFE.
Work party report
by DKG
The FoSCP met in the car park on what was a damp start to tackle more tasks in the park but at least the rain had stopped. Richard from the Countryside Team suggested the day’s work.
Continue reading “Work party report”Hogweed
This has been a year of astonishing growth: more grass than we have ever seen, nettles at head height, trees and shrubs sagging under the weight of blossom. Our common hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium) is standing seven feet tall in places with flower-heads the size of dinner plates.
Continue reading “Hogweed”FARMING NEWS: The grass will be cut on Thursday.
Weather permitting, the grass will be cut for hay and silage on Thursday. Please take care while there is farm machinery in the park, particularly if you have children or dogs with you.
We will try to keep you updated
Thank you
Part three
Mail from Clive to Ian:
“ On my afternoon walk, I spotted these two butterflies in Village Green. I thought the first one is a Painted Lady and the second Holly Blue but I leave it to your better knowledge.“
Mail from Ian to Clive:
“ Yes, I’ll go along with both of those – Painted Lady and a Holly Blue.”
Part two of Ian’s walk
After he had polished the mud off his glasses, Ian Bushell continued his survey of the park:
Read on hereLambrok recovery
Mail from Ian Bushell:
Continue reading “Lambrok recovery”
Here is a fascinating little video of a peacock butterfly emerging from its chrysalis. We know that there are at least two nests of peacock caterpillars in the park so, by the end of July, we should see these beautiful adults.
A new species seen in the park on two occasions last week: A cereal leaf beetle (Oulema melanopus) spotted, identified and photographed by Ian Bushell.
Continue readingAsian hornets
Click here for facts rather than tabloid fictionsAsian hornet warning: Hundreds of killer insects set to plague the UK this summer
Daily Express
Beautiful images of a meadow brown taken in the park last night, at the end of the year’s longest day, by Chris Seymour.
A walk in the park
by Ian Bushell
Continue reading “A walk in the park”Inspector’s findings and advice
Inspector Stephen Lee, who oversaw April’s hearings into the Wiltshire Housing Site Allocation Plan, has submitted a preliminary report.
Continue reading “Inspector’s findings and advice”
Southwick Country Park Nature Reserve 