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End Of The Line
As they say, 'All good things must come to an end'. Sadly this has happened here.
The post of Nature Conservation Officer and therefore the Warden of this reserve has been deleted. In English that means I am being made redundant and this post will no longer exist. I do not know what will happen to this reserve, as far as I can see the maintenance work will be handed to the contractor who manages the cemetery, so you can expect that it will be 'Neat and Tidy' and scalped within a millimetre of its life. I have found myself another job and I live very close to the reserve, so I will still be visiting most weeks.
If you feel strongly about nature conservation being treated in such a cavalier fashion please feel free to contact your councillor about it.
Thank you to all who have supported me while I worked on the reserve and 'Goodbye'.
Warden
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As we begin 2010 the reserve is in the grip of ice and snow, it may be a beautiful winter wonderland, but it means that we cannot do the work necessary to keep this place looking as it should and preparing for the spring growing season...
For reasons beyond my control there is no blog for 2009, so I am going to leave the 2008 diary in place and add to this blog as I feel it necessary. If you see anything that you feel should be mentioned here; be it bird or bat, frog, toad, animal or flower, please let me know.
My email address is: natureconservation@sholland.gov.uk
13th Jan 2010
The reserve is slowly thawing but much is still gripped in ice and unmelted snow, the steps are still treacherous, as is the bridge out on the meadow.
A survey yesterday revealed that we have survived the freeze well and this maybe just what we need to kick start some of our native plants to show themselves this spring. Perhaps spring will be where is should be this year and we won't get some of the bunching up of plants showing as we have the last couple of years. As soon as the thaw is complete we will be starting work of the woodland path (The Tunnel) out to the back kissing gate. We will continue to thin out the hawthorns there and make access at the top of the steps wider.
One good thing about snow is the ease with which it shows up animal tracks and we have had quite a surprise. We have seen all the usual suspects, birds, foxes, and Muntjac deer but we have see quite a number of larger deer spoor as well. They have been crossing the Vernatt's Drain and coming into the reserve on that side - these spoor are far too big to be Muntjac and can only be Roe deer. We now know where they are laying up during the day and where they have been feeding. Fascinating stuff.
22nd Jan 2010
Yesterday we actually resumed work. We began thinning the hawthorn in the woodland tunnel walk above the steps from the meadow and we are pleased with the results. We have not quite finished there but it will not take much more - just need the man with the chain saw to tidy the stumps for us.
It is still very wet and the rain today is not helping, we will have to be very careful where we go now, making sure not to damage the plants that are already showing signs of emerging from the woodland floors. We will probably start thinning the vegetation and hedge along the path between the triangle and the small gate to the Vernatt's Drain.
Lots of Muntjac spoor this morning, they have obviously been crossing the bridge over Cemetery Drain. By mid morning the prints have been obliterated by people walking across the bridge, but early on in the day the spoor can be seen in the mud as you cross into the meadow.
The birds are still quiet, just the Robin, Wren and Great Tit making their presence known while we were working; the cheeky Robin coming right down to where we are working to see what we are disturbing for him.
No more Roe spoor, just the helicopter bringing the Princess Royal in to visit the new Johnson Hospital.
Remember any reports or offers of help please email me at : natureconservation@sholland.gov.uk
2nd February 2010
Well as of today we appear to be thawing out. Six degree C. recorded this morning an apparently getting warmer for today and through to the weekend. There is still a chance of a return to ice an snow, but my fingers are crossed.
The reserve can be a dangerous place and our risk assessments reflect this. Over the past weekend a lady who, knows the reserve well slipped and fell, breaking her leg. Please take care walking about on the reserve as the freeze thaws, the paths are very muddy and all the slopes and steps are extremely slippery.
On a more positive note we did manage to get some tree work done while the ground was frozen, and you will see some men with chain saws in the next week or so, taking out stumps and removing a couple of bigger bits of timber that need to be thinned out. So if you notice any trees wearing bright paint it is not some nutter gone mad with a spray can, it is me marking wood for removal. We have to remove wood, especially the hawthorn, so that the light can get in and keep the habitats we have as the should be.
If you see anything else of interest or want more information, do not hesitate to contact me at: natureconservation@sholland.gov.uk
8 March 2010
I know I do not have to tell you how bad the weather has been, or that the frost and cold has delayed the beginning of Spring. The news and weather forecasts have been full of the 'Late Spring', but it will soon catch up.
Local gardens are sprouting green with bulbs poking through and the reserve is also showing signs of life. The big weeping will in the meadow is almost ready to bud and many small plants on the woodland floor areas are showing signs of life. The Grebes are dancing on the Vernatt's Drain and birdsong is on the increase as they too begin to pair up for the early breeding season. the Robins have been signing for weeks, declaring their territories.
I managed to get some men with chain saws from our Community Services Dept, and they have saved me hours of work clearing some timber and lots of bramble. I will be out this week clearing the brash and then we can look forward to the herbs and other plants beginning to show through. We had a good showing last year, I hope the work we have done this year will give us even better results.
If you see anything else of interest or would like more information, do not hesitate to contact me at: natureconservation@sholland.gov.uk
22 March 2010
A Rail or Not A Rail?
No, I have not become a train enthusiast, but have been alerted to the possible presence of Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) on the reserve. An RSPB member and local photographer has seen what he believes to be Water Rail on the reserve. They are certainly confirmed as being on the nearby Lincs Wildlife Trust reserve at Arnold's Meadow and I am almost sure I have seen them on the pool.
The Water Rail is smaller and slimmer than a Moorhen with a longer beak and no red or white marking on the forehead like the Moorhen or Coot. It has chestnut-brown and black upper parts, grey face and under parts and black-and-white barred flanks, and a long red bill. It is a shy bird, especially this time of year, but if anyone does get a confirmed sighting then please let me know, it will be a first for this reserve. Also seen by our gallant birder were: Coot, Mallard, Blackbird, Robin, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Goldfinch, Black Headed Gull, Sparrowhawk and Reed Bunting. I can add Grebe and Kestrel to that list and I hope it will not be long before begin to get the visitors returning.
The rest of the reserve is also poised, as you may have noticed in your gardens, all the bulbs appear to be coming into flower together. In my garden I have daffodils in flower, hyacinths and tulips well advanced, with almost everything else is busting into bud. The plants and trees on the reserve are also showing early shoots and some geranium and violet species already showing above ground. IF the weather holds we could have a very interesting, if short, Spring.
21st June 2010
Orchids, Turtle Doves and Grass Snakes!
Due to some time off on sick leave, some time off on leave and a busy schedule with the Local Wildlife Site surveys, I have neglected this blog, for which I apologise. I have not been neglecting the reserve though and everything there has been blooming, breeding and singing about it too.
Well the spring was indeed short and very sweet. Following on from the ice and snow we suffered, and even now in June are still suffering, from northerly winds. These winds not only kept the temperature down but delayed some of the bird migrations too. The Swallows, Martins an Swifts all arrived late and when the Reed Warblers eventually made it here there was very little reed for them to nest in. They have certainly made up for it since though. A week or so ago I saw young in the Swallow nests near the Vernatt’s that were about to fledge and by this week will be on the wing. I have not seen the Kingfishers on the pool this year, but they have been seen on Cemetery Drain, I have identified a burrow site and have no doubt that they are fishing in the pool; I have just not seen them there, yet.
The other birds have also been doing well and in full voice during the early mornings, no sign of the Kestrels nesting but they have been on the reserve. The Sparrow Hawks have been active too and I stood fascinated the other morning watching a Jay mobbing a female Sparrow Hawk; the resulting aerial ballet was a joy to watch. I am pleased to report that the Turtle Doves are back too, several sightings and their distinctive call can be heard across the reserve. No sight or sound of a Cuckoo though – has anyone heard one?
There have been lots of Grass snake sightings this year, I have seen 'Hilda' (the female pictured at the head of this column) outside her burrow and one of my regular reporters has seen some extraordinary behaviour in Grass Snakes on the banks of the Cemetery Drain. The behaviour he described is the mating ritual so we can expect to see the newly hatched snakelets in a few weeks time. Grass snakes mate between March and June, then lay their eggs in compost heaps and rotting vegetation and the snakelets hatch 6 to 8 weeks after egg laying. If you see Grass Snakes of any size, do not be afraid, they are harmless and will move away as soon as they detect you near. The Grass Snakes are the only snakes on the reserve.
The plants on the reserve certainly made up for lost time after the weather turned a little warmer, but that meant that some suffered, being over taken by something more vigorous that would normally have not grown up so soon. The Ramsons (Wild Garlic) was one such casualty, it grew and did not have a chance to flower before the Hogweed came into full leaf and took all the light. The Ramsons just yellowed off and disappeared, but it will be back next year, the bulbs are there and I am sure we will have a more ‘normal’ year next spring, whatever that is.
That apart, the work we did in the meadow last winter has paid off, the range of plants is back and even better than that recorded in previous years. The orchids have returned, in the meadow, by the pool and the Broad Leaved Helleborine that showed in a new location for the first time last year is back, in the same place.
Lots of the plants are going over to seed already, but there is still a chance to see the variety we have on the reserve and only this week the Grass Vetchling (Lathyrus nissolia) is in flower in several places across the meadow.
I promise to try and keep this blog up to date as the year progresses. Please remember if you see, or hear anything that your feel I should know about I can be contacted at the SHDC main number 01775 761161 or by email to: natureconservation@sholland.gov.uk
7th September
September is here and July and August seem to have flown by - the flowers peaked and most have now gone over to seed, the meadow has been cut and we have begun strimming back the path edges.
Most of the migrant birds are still here but they are diminishing in numbers. The Kestrel female that has nested on the reserve for the last few years raised a brood of three this year and the cemetery Sparrow Hawks raised at least two. The good news is that I, and others, have seen a lot of the Kingfishers, they appear to be using a different tree to perch in, but they are very active on both the pool and along cemetery drain,
Talking of the cemetery drain, there have now been to confirmed sightings of a Roe Deer doe along the bank and I see plenty of signs that the resident Muntjac are still with us... It may have been a cold late Spring but the conditions this year have been excellent for fruit. We have abundant sloes and damsons and even yellow cherry plums just off the reserve. The apple trees on the Hospital Cycle path and the brambles have all been awash with fruit.
Although the byelaws and the protection have not been extended we have now become responsible for maintaining the vegetation at the edge of the cycle path all the way to Pinchbeck Road. I have been supervising the treatment of two patches of Japanese knotweed along the path and will see be strimming back the path edges this winter. I intend to create 'scallops' similar to those along the woodland walk in the hope that we can increase the range of plant species growing there.
December 2010
I must apologise for not keeping this blog up to date, but my colleague and I have been busy finishing off the Local Wildlife Surveys for the Lincolnshire Biodiversity Partnership and I have been unwell having to take several periods of sick leave.
The reserve does not stand still just because the staff cannot get there. Fortunately the meadow was cut and the hay taken and we did manage to get the path edges trimmed along with the scallops along the woodland path. Quite a lot of time was taken strimming back the vegetation along the cycle track, the path is now over a metre wider and most of the overhanging vegetation has been cut back.
The plant species count was very good this year and the Broad leaved Helleborine spikes stayed right up to the first frost. Grass snakes were seen regularly while the weather stayed warm basking in their usual spots quite late on.
We now have confirmed sightings of Otter on the Vernatt's Drain within a couple of hundred metres of the reserve and I have found footprints, spraint and a slide very close indeed. This is a very good thing and and one benefit is a reduction in the overcrowding of fish in the pool.
Nothing truly exception in avian species but all the usual suspects were accounted for. No Cuckoos hear but several pairs of Turtle Dove nested on the reserve. Kestrel and Sparrow Hawk much in evidence and nest sites very near the reserve were identified. The King Fishers were also on site all season fishing in the pool and on the Cemetery Drain, although I have not been able to identify their burrow sites this year.
All in all a very good year, I hope that health and weather will combine to allow us to continue our winter maintenance after Christmas, and that 2011 will be at least as good, if not better than this year.
Please remember if you see, or hear anything that your feel I should know about I can be contacted at the SHDC main number 01775 761161 or by email to: natureconservation@sholland.gov.uk
23rd December 2010
Well, it's Christmas and another year is done, tomorrow I will be on leave until 4th January 2011. However, it may be frozen but life on the reserve goes on, I will be about most days during the holiday and if nothing else excising my dog or walking off my Christmas lunch! So if you see me, please stop and say hello.
Freezing it may be with the soil iron hard, but for those who know what to look for the signs of life are everywhere. Hilda (the grass snake pictured at the head of this column) her friends and family may well be sound asleep, but other animals are very much in abundance.
The birds are quiet but still about, the King Fisher has been seen, but life is hard for them. The Cemetery Drain is running but their favourite fishing spot on the pool is frozen solid. Other birds are about but in small numbers and the Reed Buntings have taken to local gardens, I have quite a few visiting the feeders in my garden.
If you have not done so please consider putting food, and more importantly water out for our feathered friends. Advice about what to do can be found on www.rspb.org.
The mammals are about too, the ground is too hard to show slots but deer tracks can still be seen in frost and what is left of the snow. The rabbits are active as well and the fox (their den is just off the reserve) has have been hunting among the warrens. Local cats can be seen hunting too, but I don't think they count somehow.
These last few days the reserve has looked beautiful with the trees dressed in hoarfrost. The big willow in the meadow has an especially fine suit of clothes.
Well that is it for now, I hope that we shall be able to commence work in the new year, not so much to do as we have had to in the past now we have the place more or less ship shape, but there is always something that needs attention.
Please remember if you see, or hear anything that your feel I should know about I can be contacted at the SHDC main number 01775 761161 or by email to: natureconservation@sholland.gov.uk
