Have you noticed any water bowls tucked into hedges or by trees when walking in the park since that midsummer heatwave?
Thanks to two loyal creature/critter supporters these provide some water in what can be a very dry environment. Hard to believe at the beginning of 2021 but now…
If you would like to help, take a bottle of water with you when you walk in case they are empty. Especially when the weather gets warmer. (Stones are in there to hold down the dish)
THANK YOU!
Maybe you’ve noticed the two new plantings of hedgerow saplings on Rowton Road bondary. These are thanks to a few hardy volunteers who just completed the project started in early December. We still had to abide by social distancing but there will be future opportunities for larger group efforts.
There are now nearly 300 saplings p;anted including: silver birch, downy birch, crab apple, dogwood, dog rose, hawthorn, goat willow, cherry, blackthorn, hazel and rowan. We’ll have a Hedgerow ID Walk sometime in 2023!
Look for the native daffodils growing alongside the patch in foreground.
The longterm plan is to keep them alive and thriving and then manage the size in a natural way. This is to provide habitat diversity and links to green spaces across Plum Lane where there is a new school orchard. Remaining saplings (free from Woodland Trust) will be donated to a greening project in progress on Herbert Road. The oak saplings are going to be used in a Plumcroft project hopefully this autumn.
Spring is truly blossoming now and birds are busy everywhere. Spend some time rediscovering the bird boxes along Dothill path and the various holes in trees.
National Dawn Chorus Day is Sunday 2 May and the RSPB has an excellent ID guide to birdsong (for 20 species) for you to learn before then; or any morning you’re up at dawn…
So open your windows wide or scamper over to the Park at 5.30am on or around May the 2nd for a real treat. You may even see bats returning to roost.
BIrd song identification
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-songs/what-bird-is-that/
RSPB site for Dawn Chorus facts
https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/events-dates-and-inspiration/events/dawn-chorus/
Should be a lot on Twitter too……
