Fencing water vole habitat
Next week, work will begin on fencing part of the tributary stream that runs at the bottom of Village Green.
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Turtle doves
It’s Saint Stephen’s Day, the second day of Christmas, when an 18th century carol would send us two turtle doves.
Continue reading “Turtle doves”On the second day of Christmas
my true love sent to me…
…two turtle doves. We have collared doves and woodpigeons by the dozen but no turtle doves. Sorry.
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It’s garden-tidy-up time.
Keep a look out for hibernating amphibians as you tidy up your garden ready for winter. Frogs, toads and newts will find sheltered places to hibernate in hedge bottoms, compost heaps, under stones and in log piles and are best not disturbed. Take particular care if you are planning to clear out a pond: frogs and newts will sometimes overwinter in the mud at the bottom.
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Oak lutestring
During last week’s moth trapping in Village Green, Ian and Hugo identified an oak lutestring (Cymatophorima diluta), a UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Species, classified as scarce and local. This is the thirteenth BAP priority species of Lepidoptera identified in the reserve: the hard work we put into our woodland habitat is paying off!
Continue readingOn the second day of Christmas
my true love sent to me…
…two turtle doves. We have collared doves and woodpigeons by the dozen but no turtle doves. Sorry.
Continue reading “On the second day of Christmas”More about toads
The common toad is no longer common: its population is in decline and it is listed as a Priority Species in the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework. So, we are returning for a closer look at the toad we found and photographed in Village Green on Wednesday, the first toad-sighting for some years.
Continue reading “More about toads”Water voles
Lambrok Stream is home to rare and protected water voles.
UK BAP Priority Species
While reviewing our species lists, we found that eleven species of our Lepidoptera are UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Species!
Continue reading “UK BAP Priority Species”Small heath
While rummaging through our species lists looking for ammunition to throw in the direction of Planning Application 20/00379/OUT, we found a 2018 record of a small heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) hidden in the Lepidoptera section. The small heath is the park’s third UK BAP Priority Species of butterfly.
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Southwick Country Park Nature Reserve 