The Pickering's Wildlife Garden Blog 2020 |
Click on photos to enlarge.
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13th July 2020 There have been many visits over the past few weeks, especially on a Monday, when some of the group have worked on the garden while others painted the fences; thus maintaining social distance. Julie in particular, has been busy with the weeding, but still the mare's tail keeps coming! With so much allowed to get a hold in the cornfield meadow it is not surprising. It seems to me that it has been especially bad this year, perhaps as a result of the very hot Spring. She was surprised at the numbers of butterflies present last week, especially the whites.
Another on-going task has been clearing blanket weed from the pond. Unfortunately during lockdown it was topped up with tap water which is not good for wildlife ponds (although marginally better than it drying out completely!) Now things have eased we are able to top it up with water that has been standing for several days to let the chemicals disperse - at least twenty four hours is imperative but the longer the better. Rob C has been busy with this task; leaving the weed on the side of the pond so that pond creatures can make their way back into the water. Last Monday he was rewarded when he found some small, black water beetles in the pond and a small frog just emerging. This is the first time that we know a tadpole from the pond has successfully left as a frog. Carol
Another on-going task has been clearing blanket weed from the pond. Unfortunately during lockdown it was topped up with tap water which is not good for wildlife ponds (although marginally better than it drying out completely!) Now things have eased we are able to top it up with water that has been standing for several days to let the chemicals disperse - at least twenty four hours is imperative but the longer the better. Rob C has been busy with this task; leaving the weed on the side of the pond so that pond creatures can make their way back into the water. Last Monday he was rewarded when he found some small, black water beetles in the pond and a small frog just emerging. This is the first time that we know a tadpole from the pond has successfully left as a frog. Carol
15th June 2020 Lockdown easing day. Seven socially-distancing friends returned to the Pickerings Pasture to resume the annual maintenance of the reserve and garden: an opportunity to catch up and discuss how the garden has fared and other reserve jobs. Three tended to the garden whilst the others set to repairing and painting the fences.
It is now just over a year since we started planting the beds, having cleared the site on the 3rd June 2019, excavated the pond on 5th and the first beds on the 6th. A lot of the perennials and shrubs have survived and have put on growth, and were giving a good show, despite the ground remaining baked dry regardless of the recent thunderstorms. It’s looking colourful and has matured. Needless to say the weeding of the mare’s -tail, grass and other uninvited guests feels relentless but with many hands we’re making a difference.
A further six sunflowers were added, some to replace those damage by the elements, and a couple of broad beans have been planted by the middle wigwam.
Moving towards trying to create a buffer zone between the garden and meadow, I started to clear a strip of vegetation on the other side of the fence, but will need the rotavator to complete the job on our next visit. Other works planned will be the construction of the compost heap by Gary and Paul, which will also involve tidying up and weeding that corner of the plot.
The bog garden has suffered in the drought and will need some thought and discussion on what remedial action will be required to put it right. The pond was topped up from all the rain water collected in the water butt and immediately its inhabitants sprang to life, with lots of water beetles darting about, and it was great to see quite a few tadpoles now sporting tiny back legs, soon to become froglets …something we will need to be aware of in future days - treading carefully.
After a couple of hours the team dispersed, leaving two die hard painters to finish their section of fence.
Another lovely day on the reserve, with many visitors, quite warm but also humid. The cowslips have now all gone over but the grassland shimmered, golden with waving seeds heads . I tarried a while in the grass, plundering some yellow rattle seed for my developing NoMow, wildflower meadow at home. Whilst wandering I was delighted to find some orchids in a field near to the control meadow. It is a hybrid marsh orchid but shows it probably had some common-spotted orchid in its lineage.
Till the next time. Laura
It is now just over a year since we started planting the beds, having cleared the site on the 3rd June 2019, excavated the pond on 5th and the first beds on the 6th. A lot of the perennials and shrubs have survived and have put on growth, and were giving a good show, despite the ground remaining baked dry regardless of the recent thunderstorms. It’s looking colourful and has matured. Needless to say the weeding of the mare’s -tail, grass and other uninvited guests feels relentless but with many hands we’re making a difference.
A further six sunflowers were added, some to replace those damage by the elements, and a couple of broad beans have been planted by the middle wigwam.
Moving towards trying to create a buffer zone between the garden and meadow, I started to clear a strip of vegetation on the other side of the fence, but will need the rotavator to complete the job on our next visit. Other works planned will be the construction of the compost heap by Gary and Paul, which will also involve tidying up and weeding that corner of the plot.
The bog garden has suffered in the drought and will need some thought and discussion on what remedial action will be required to put it right. The pond was topped up from all the rain water collected in the water butt and immediately its inhabitants sprang to life, with lots of water beetles darting about, and it was great to see quite a few tadpoles now sporting tiny back legs, soon to become froglets …something we will need to be aware of in future days - treading carefully.
After a couple of hours the team dispersed, leaving two die hard painters to finish their section of fence.
Another lovely day on the reserve, with many visitors, quite warm but also humid. The cowslips have now all gone over but the grassland shimmered, golden with waving seeds heads . I tarried a while in the grass, plundering some yellow rattle seed for my developing NoMow, wildflower meadow at home. Whilst wandering I was delighted to find some orchids in a field near to the control meadow. It is a hybrid marsh orchid but shows it probably had some common-spotted orchid in its lineage.
Till the next time. Laura
5th June 2020 Whilst Gary was at the Visitor Centre with the men fixing the alarm system Paul and I watered the trees again. We also did some in the garden, in particular the bog area. We filled the water butt and the comfrey bucket. Julie and Paul also did a lot of weeding. Rob C
2nd June 2020 The new trees are now watered, and just in time as they weren't too happy. Gary couldn't come to open the Visitor Centre but Eric had managed to bring 'a swimming pool of buckets' in his car! Thank goodness there's some rain in the forecast in the coming days, the land is bone dry. Paul, Eric, Rob and I did a bit of watering in the garden using the water butt as well Laura.
I went and weeded yesterday. The garden was looking great; so different to how it looked three or four weeks ago when I was last up there. I bumped into the waterers and CTV fitters too. So all busy! Julie
29th May 2020 Just back from Pickerings Pasture, far too hot for weeding and the ground was hard-baked. I did try for an hour and a half having got there early. I had to pull on the horsetails, maybe it will weaken them. By 10 o'clock it was 20+ degrees and people were piling in so I gave up and went for a lovely stroll. Sea breezes most welcome.
26th May 2020 Gary and Paul went on Friday and gave the garden a good soaking, using water from the butt to fill the pond. I did a bit of work this morning. It was amazing how dry the bog garden looked, though there was a nice patch ragged robin. Sad news - Paul found a very large, dead hedgehog by the garden fence. Possibly it had eaten rat poison or slug pellets and was trying to get to water.
20th May 2020 Gary and Paul went down on Monday: they watered the garden, flooded the bog garden and filled up the water butt. Rob C
2nd June 2020 The new trees are now watered, and just in time as they weren't too happy. Gary couldn't come to open the Visitor Centre but Eric had managed to bring 'a swimming pool of buckets' in his car! Thank goodness there's some rain in the forecast in the coming days, the land is bone dry. Paul, Eric, Rob and I did a bit of watering in the garden using the water butt as well Laura.
I went and weeded yesterday. The garden was looking great; so different to how it looked three or four weeks ago when I was last up there. I bumped into the waterers and CTV fitters too. So all busy! Julie
29th May 2020 Just back from Pickerings Pasture, far too hot for weeding and the ground was hard-baked. I did try for an hour and a half having got there early. I had to pull on the horsetails, maybe it will weaken them. By 10 o'clock it was 20+ degrees and people were piling in so I gave up and went for a lovely stroll. Sea breezes most welcome.
26th May 2020 Gary and Paul went on Friday and gave the garden a good soaking, using water from the butt to fill the pond. I did a bit of work this morning. It was amazing how dry the bog garden looked, though there was a nice patch ragged robin. Sad news - Paul found a very large, dead hedgehog by the garden fence. Possibly it had eaten rat poison or slug pellets and was trying to get to water.
20th May 2020 Gary and Paul went down on Monday: they watered the garden, flooded the bog garden and filled up the water butt. Rob C
16th May 2020 Friday and after nearly eight weeks of lockdown the Pickering's car park was open and the locals knew it, no longer was I to sit unobserved in the garden with only the odd cyclist or dog walker passing by.
Despite Gary giving the garden a good drenching with the hose three days earlier, the majority of the garden was like a dry river bed in summer, only the shadier areas by the visitor centre were easier to dig. Two and half hours later I wasn't convinced I’d made that much impression, but I had turfed out some clumps of grass, dock, buttercup and the pesky mare's tails; talking of which I’m afraid the reserve's cornfield meadow is now plagued with them, what hope?
The pond level remains low and congested and will need looking at once we get some useful rain, I’m afraid adding tap water which has high levels of nitrates encourages unwanted duck and blanket weed, but with our water butt empty it's a question of what to do? At home in times of drought I’ve added a liquid dechlorinator to tap water before topping up my own pond, so it may be something we’ll have to do if the fine weather continues.
The bog garden is a dust bowl, but I tugged out a lot of grass and weeds but, despite this, the cuckoo flower and water avens were flowering and other plants were appearing. The irises and mint by their nature always find a way and didn't appear to be suffering, more rampant actually.
Whilst I as there I decided to put to use some of the nettles I’d been removing and make some homemade fertiliser in the rubber blue trug on site, I chopped up a stack of fresh growth and steeped it in some water I had brought with me, I added some comfrey leaves from the plant on the other side of the fence, a bee's favourite and known for its high nutrient content, oh, and it's stink... after several weeks of rotting down..You’ll know about it...
Whilst I was looking at the comfrey I had a little hack at the burgeoning vegetation alongside the fence line, mmh, considering if would it be beneficial to try and keep a bare field margin strip along the fence to help with weed encroachment?
Hopefully as lockdown measures ease, we may all see a return to some sort of normality and we can once again meet up as a group and review how the reserve has fared in these strange times.
Despite Gary giving the garden a good drenching with the hose three days earlier, the majority of the garden was like a dry river bed in summer, only the shadier areas by the visitor centre were easier to dig. Two and half hours later I wasn't convinced I’d made that much impression, but I had turfed out some clumps of grass, dock, buttercup and the pesky mare's tails; talking of which I’m afraid the reserve's cornfield meadow is now plagued with them, what hope?
The pond level remains low and congested and will need looking at once we get some useful rain, I’m afraid adding tap water which has high levels of nitrates encourages unwanted duck and blanket weed, but with our water butt empty it's a question of what to do? At home in times of drought I’ve added a liquid dechlorinator to tap water before topping up my own pond, so it may be something we’ll have to do if the fine weather continues.
The bog garden is a dust bowl, but I tugged out a lot of grass and weeds but, despite this, the cuckoo flower and water avens were flowering and other plants were appearing. The irises and mint by their nature always find a way and didn't appear to be suffering, more rampant actually.
Whilst I as there I decided to put to use some of the nettles I’d been removing and make some homemade fertiliser in the rubber blue trug on site, I chopped up a stack of fresh growth and steeped it in some water I had brought with me, I added some comfrey leaves from the plant on the other side of the fence, a bee's favourite and known for its high nutrient content, oh, and it's stink... after several weeks of rotting down..You’ll know about it...
Whilst I was looking at the comfrey I had a little hack at the burgeoning vegetation alongside the fence line, mmh, considering if would it be beneficial to try and keep a bare field margin strip along the fence to help with weed encroachment?
Hopefully as lockdown measures ease, we may all see a return to some sort of normality and we can once again meet up as a group and review how the reserve has fared in these strange times.
11th May 2020 Today, with the cold weather and a brisk Northerly wind, I thought very few people would be out, so it would be a good time for me to visit Pickerings Pasture, to see the wildlife garden and do a bit of work. I was surprised how good the garden looked, obviously Laura and Julie's visits to weed has helped to keep it looking good.
The sunflowers seedlings seemed okay and have settled in. The cornflowers were just coming out and a lot of other flowers were brightening up the area, especially the pansies. Two honeysuckle shrubs are growing well and we should soon have flowers. The water in the pond is getting low, but still okay; though the poor bog garden was very dry and really crying out for water. (Is it possible to get the hose and flood the bog garden and perhaps at same time fill up the water butt, to allow us to top up the pond?) The bug house roof looked great, I think Maurice will be pleased when he sees it.
Interestingly a robin was seen going in the second from ground level compartment, a nest or looking for insects? If a nest it must be well hidden as I could not see it but I did not wish to disturb them by moving things about. The blue tits were present although I did not see them go into the box. Very few insect were noted, but it was so cold and, in fact, I only did 15 minutes weeding before I'd had enough. I noted that we require some more leaflets about the garden for the information box. Rob C
The sunflowers seedlings seemed okay and have settled in. The cornflowers were just coming out and a lot of other flowers were brightening up the area, especially the pansies. Two honeysuckle shrubs are growing well and we should soon have flowers. The water in the pond is getting low, but still okay; though the poor bog garden was very dry and really crying out for water. (Is it possible to get the hose and flood the bog garden and perhaps at same time fill up the water butt, to allow us to top up the pond?) The bug house roof looked great, I think Maurice will be pleased when he sees it.
Interestingly a robin was seen going in the second from ground level compartment, a nest or looking for insects? If a nest it must be well hidden as I could not see it but I did not wish to disturb them by moving things about. The blue tits were present although I did not see them go into the box. Very few insect were noted, but it was so cold and, in fact, I only did 15 minutes weeding before I'd had enough. I noted that we require some more leaflets about the garden for the information box. Rob C
Perrenial cornflower
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Red & white campion and marigolds.
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Broom.
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Red campion & forget-me-nots.
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Bug-house roof.
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Red & white campion with pansies behind.
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7th May 2020 Just a spot of watering today for the plants recently put in, soil bone dry again. Columbines are nice, one more to come into flower. Laura
4th May 2020 Well what a glorious day I had for doing combat with mare’s tail! Iwas glad that I’d taken my hat! I got stuck into clearing as much of it from the back fence, especially the growth around the flowers, as I could. There’s plenty left though. In fact I hardly seem to have made an inroad.
I downed tools at about 11.45 and treated myself to a wander. Despite the sun there were very few people around, also very few birds. The ubiquitous Canada geese were there. No sign of the bullfinches that I’d seen on my last visit but I guess they are all busy doing other things. The one blue tit that came to the feeder looked bedraggled already. I guess she could have a big demanding brood.
It was lovely to hear the blackcaps but I was glad that I have already had good views of them this year as the trees are now fully in leaf and I couldn’t see a single one. I did come across a song thrush which was singing from a relatively low perch and how wonderful to actually witness those modulations coming out of the beak. The other highlight was some tortoiseshell butterflies which wouldn't keep still for long enough for a photograph.
It all looked very lovely, masses of heart lifting buttercups, and cowslips soon to come into full flower. I will endeavour to get back again soon to do some more clearing. Oh and they were my first tadpoles of 2020!! Julie Padjet
I downed tools at about 11.45 and treated myself to a wander. Despite the sun there were very few people around, also very few birds. The ubiquitous Canada geese were there. No sign of the bullfinches that I’d seen on my last visit but I guess they are all busy doing other things. The one blue tit that came to the feeder looked bedraggled already. I guess she could have a big demanding brood.
It was lovely to hear the blackcaps but I was glad that I have already had good views of them this year as the trees are now fully in leaf and I couldn’t see a single one. I did come across a song thrush which was singing from a relatively low perch and how wonderful to actually witness those modulations coming out of the beak. The other highlight was some tortoiseshell butterflies which wouldn't keep still for long enough for a photograph.
It all looked very lovely, masses of heart lifting buttercups, and cowslips soon to come into full flower. I will endeavour to get back again soon to do some more clearing. Oh and they were my first tadpoles of 2020!! Julie Padjet
2nd May 2020 Six days later I was back.
Midweek saw the return of some most welcome rain, and it lashed it down, giving my garden and no doubt Pickering’s a good soaking. Great for the plants, great for the breeding birds foraging for soil-based insects and great for me as now I could work the trowel into the ground, which previously had been rock hard.
Again the reserve was quiet, less than ten folk on bike or foot in the two hours I was there.
Determined to get them in as soon as possible I’d brought approximately twenty sunflower plants with me, they’re now planted along the fence line again and by the wigwams, I hope Brer rabbit isn't around. I then set about digging up clumps of grass and some of the larger weeds, it would seem our mulch of bark chips held back some weeds, but others like horse tails are going to be an ongoing problem.
It was a little easier to drag some of the grass out of the overgrown bog garden and in doing so I uncovered a lovely cuckoo flower and a clump of lily of the valley - sweet and dainty. I will have to consult our plant list to see what else might be hiding or emerging.
Pleased to see the pond level had benefited from the rain and rissen a little higher, some of the tadpoles had ventured out of the depths and were feeding where the water had covered the pebble beach.
More bird visitors dropped in whilst I planted, either on the feeders or scratching through the soil I’d overturned - our blue tits of course, but also blackbirds, goldfinches, chaffinches, robin and great tits. A couple of long-tailed tits were flying around the Visitor Centre roof, looking for insects or maybe spiders webs for their nest?
I still have some other plants to go in, so I'll probably call in again soon as good weather is set to return and with it the harder earth. If any one feels like a spot of weeding... Laura
Midweek saw the return of some most welcome rain, and it lashed it down, giving my garden and no doubt Pickering’s a good soaking. Great for the plants, great for the breeding birds foraging for soil-based insects and great for me as now I could work the trowel into the ground, which previously had been rock hard.
Again the reserve was quiet, less than ten folk on bike or foot in the two hours I was there.
Determined to get them in as soon as possible I’d brought approximately twenty sunflower plants with me, they’re now planted along the fence line again and by the wigwams, I hope Brer rabbit isn't around. I then set about digging up clumps of grass and some of the larger weeds, it would seem our mulch of bark chips held back some weeds, but others like horse tails are going to be an ongoing problem.
It was a little easier to drag some of the grass out of the overgrown bog garden and in doing so I uncovered a lovely cuckoo flower and a clump of lily of the valley - sweet and dainty. I will have to consult our plant list to see what else might be hiding or emerging.
Pleased to see the pond level had benefited from the rain and rissen a little higher, some of the tadpoles had ventured out of the depths and were feeding where the water had covered the pebble beach.
More bird visitors dropped in whilst I planted, either on the feeders or scratching through the soil I’d overturned - our blue tits of course, but also blackbirds, goldfinches, chaffinches, robin and great tits. A couple of long-tailed tits were flying around the Visitor Centre roof, looking for insects or maybe spiders webs for their nest?
I still have some other plants to go in, so I'll probably call in again soon as good weather is set to return and with it the harder earth. If any one feels like a spot of weeding... Laura
Cuckoo Flower - also known as Lady's Smock.
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Columbine or Lady's Bonnets
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Columbine
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Roof of bug house in flower.
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28th April 2020 I’d lost track of how many weeks we’ve been in the Coronavirus lockdown; checking my last blog my last visit to the Pickering’s Nature Garden was the 16th of March, when I‘d done a bit of weeding whilst being observed by the reserve’s adopted buzzard. Six weeks, and how many more weeks of lockdown to come? Saturday came and curiosity got the better of me, I wanted to know what weeks of inattention and very little rain had had. I figured an early morning twelve minute car journey was permissible; park on the main street, walk in, and lock myself in the garden, surely no different from a gardener on their allotment…
I got to Pickering’s before eight, with no complaint, the roads continuing to be remarkedly empty... good news for hedgehogs! On reaching the garden I was quite surprised at how good the garden looked, yes there is evidence of perennial weeds pushing through, and the bog garden was full of grass and bone dry, but a lot of our perennials had made it through and the little shrubs along the fence line were putting on fresh growth. Our wee pond was a little sad, full of blanket weed and the level of the water was low, I’d brought four litres of rain water with me specifically for the pond, not much but I couldn’t carry anymore as I also had a carrier bag of bird food with me to top up the feeding station. As a temporary measure I attempted to drag the blanket weed to one side onto the pebble beach and had a closer look for life, success, I was delighted to see that some of our tadpoles were still alive, hanging out in the deeper water by the flowering marsh marigold, hope for a future frog army—apparently that’s their collective name! Water duly added.
I refilled the empty feeders and was enheartened to see a robin, blackbird and the blue tits quickly home in. The blue tits appear to be nesting in the box we put up in the tree, no evidence of chicks yet though, as the pair weren’t glued to the nest. As I sat and watched, a female blackbird came down to the pond, I thought she may have been after something to eat, they do eat tadpoles you know... but she seemed to be after the wet plant detritus on the pebble beach, mouldable lining perhaps for her nest maybe?
No sign of our friendly buzzard today, but as I took some pictures I espied a familiar figure approaching, It was Paul, getting some exercise on his bike. For our pond this was a fortuitous event as a check of our waterbutt revealed several possible bucket loads for topping up... social distancing of course, Paul on one side of the fence, me in the garden, water bucket relay commenced.
As I had no tools with me I left after an hour or so, not before Paul and I checked out the trees we had planted in the field over the road, the field was looking lovely, full of cowslips. I'd been a little concerned about the trees as new trees need to be kept watered until established, and we’d had practically no rain in the last 2 months. Happily on inspection they all seem to be doing well, with new leaves and in the case of the rowan, flowers... berries in the first year for the thrushes, which would be nice. Rain is forecast ahead which I’ll be grateful to see.
I had propagated some sunflowers and split some perennials earlier in the year with the hope of getting them into the garden earlier than last year, but as the weeks have gone by most of the sunflowers have found their way into my garden, not all though, and I’m thinking now, if we’re sensible and take heed of the restrictions, an individual friend maybe be able to visit and do a spot of weeding or planting or… Laura
I got to Pickering’s before eight, with no complaint, the roads continuing to be remarkedly empty... good news for hedgehogs! On reaching the garden I was quite surprised at how good the garden looked, yes there is evidence of perennial weeds pushing through, and the bog garden was full of grass and bone dry, but a lot of our perennials had made it through and the little shrubs along the fence line were putting on fresh growth. Our wee pond was a little sad, full of blanket weed and the level of the water was low, I’d brought four litres of rain water with me specifically for the pond, not much but I couldn’t carry anymore as I also had a carrier bag of bird food with me to top up the feeding station. As a temporary measure I attempted to drag the blanket weed to one side onto the pebble beach and had a closer look for life, success, I was delighted to see that some of our tadpoles were still alive, hanging out in the deeper water by the flowering marsh marigold, hope for a future frog army—apparently that’s their collective name! Water duly added.
I refilled the empty feeders and was enheartened to see a robin, blackbird and the blue tits quickly home in. The blue tits appear to be nesting in the box we put up in the tree, no evidence of chicks yet though, as the pair weren’t glued to the nest. As I sat and watched, a female blackbird came down to the pond, I thought she may have been after something to eat, they do eat tadpoles you know... but she seemed to be after the wet plant detritus on the pebble beach, mouldable lining perhaps for her nest maybe?
No sign of our friendly buzzard today, but as I took some pictures I espied a familiar figure approaching, It was Paul, getting some exercise on his bike. For our pond this was a fortuitous event as a check of our waterbutt revealed several possible bucket loads for topping up... social distancing of course, Paul on one side of the fence, me in the garden, water bucket relay commenced.
As I had no tools with me I left after an hour or so, not before Paul and I checked out the trees we had planted in the field over the road, the field was looking lovely, full of cowslips. I'd been a little concerned about the trees as new trees need to be kept watered until established, and we’d had practically no rain in the last 2 months. Happily on inspection they all seem to be doing well, with new leaves and in the case of the rowan, flowers... berries in the first year for the thrushes, which would be nice. Rain is forecast ahead which I’ll be grateful to see.
I had propagated some sunflowers and split some perennials earlier in the year with the hope of getting them into the garden earlier than last year, but as the weeks have gone by most of the sunflowers have found their way into my garden, not all though, and I’m thinking now, if we’re sensible and take heed of the restrictions, an individual friend maybe be able to visit and do a spot of weeding or planting or… Laura
Laura - hard at work as usual.
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Paul watering the succulents.
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The bug-house succulents.
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The pond.
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Robin.
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Hare's foot Inkcap.
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Rowan.
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The garden during lockdown 1.
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The garden during lockdown 2.
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Lockdown 3. Pansy display.
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The garden during lockdown. 4
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The garden during lockdown. 5
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Blackbird at the pond.
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16th March 2020 As the sun was shining and it wasn't blowing a gale I decided to take a chance that the one individual in Warrington with Coronavirus wasn't hiding in the Nature Garden. Needless to say the reserve was full of dog walkers and mindfulness and the dreaded Corvid -19 seemed a million miles away.
Gary will be pleased to know his frog spawn is still OK, in fact the little black specks are evolving. The garden seems reluctant to shake off winter's cloak but there are signs of some of the perennials returning from their sleep and the Lungwort (Interesting that this plant has a medicinal use and is used to treat people with breathing conditions, might come in useful with Coronavirus) is flowering alongside the pansies, crocus and hellebore. The wild daffodils are now starting to appear along the path.
I then spent the next couple of hours uprooting grass clumps from the beds, so if you're passing and you see grass sods all over the place it wasn't a mole, there's more to do by the way, especially around the bog garden, but that will be for another day.
Gary will be pleased to know his frog spawn is still OK, in fact the little black specks are evolving. The garden seems reluctant to shake off winter's cloak but there are signs of some of the perennials returning from their sleep and the Lungwort (Interesting that this plant has a medicinal use and is used to treat people with breathing conditions, might come in useful with Coronavirus) is flowering alongside the pansies, crocus and hellebore. The wild daffodils are now starting to appear along the path.
I then spent the next couple of hours uprooting grass clumps from the beds, so if you're passing and you see grass sods all over the place it wasn't a mole, there's more to do by the way, especially around the bog garden, but that will be for another day.
Whilst I was there I was amused by three blue tits squabbling over the nestbox we put up in the tree: a couple with a hopeful interloper I think. Nesting should start any day now, well, going on my little blue tit pair at home, who started bringing in moss yesterday. These birds were not the only visitors today; as I sat eating my butty, I was happily surprised to see the Pickering's local buzzard land on the security cameras, methinks dinner was on her mind as well as five minutes later she swooped over my head and landed on a branch by the bird feeders over the road, she waited observantly, then launched down, landing with an audible thump, after a little stomping and wing flapping she rose from behind the hedge clutching a fine succulent rat, I like it when our feathered friends give us a helping hand, don't you? Laura
Blue tit
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The buzzard is clever: keeping just out of full sight.
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Buzzard
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Lungwort
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Lungwort Pulmonaria officials is the first perennial to flower in our Wildlife Garden this year. A reliable, spreading plant it is an excellent, early source of nectar.
Its white-mottled leaves make it an attractive addition to the garden well into the summer.
Its white-mottled leaves make it an attractive addition to the garden well into the summer.
18th Feb 2020 Spring stands at the gate with her finger on the latch. (Patience Strong) Isn’t that a fabulous saying?
Our February project morning dawned surprisingly mild and bright, why? Because over the last couple of weeks our kingdom has been battered by not one but two winter storms. Although I think we appear to have got off lightly compared to other flooded, toppled areas...hope I haven't spoken too soon
Our wee garden, naturally, is looking a little lacklustre at the moment, but there are positive signs, as I went around trimming back the dead vegetation, traces of new growth were there, hiding fresh greenery at the base of perennials, swelling buds on shrubs and climbers with emerging leaves. A chink of light in Nature's door indeed.
No sign of any frogs in our pond yet, but if they're about it shouldn’t be long, certainly in other areas of the country early frog spawn has been reported. Perhaps we’re a little too hopeful, as its early days for our pond, but desperate frogs can be remarkably determined in seeking out water; I once was sent a picture of frogspawn in a dogs water bowl.
Nice to hear that the birds are feeling at home in our garden, reports of a party of goldfinches drinking from the pond, and the nest box, only put up five weeks since, has two pairs of blue tits quarrelling over its tenancy.
As there wasn't a lot of work to be carried out in the garden this month, I joined some of the gang in a spot of tree planting. A recent donation from a relative put me in the happy position of being able to purchase some trees for the reserve; mindful of our resident and migratory birds I chose a selection of berry bearing trees - wild cherry, bird cherry, rowan, buckthorn and holly. We’ll have to be vigilant and keep them watered as spring progresses, but it will be lovely to see them bloom and bear fruit in the coming years. Thanks to the 'tree fellas' for helping me to suitably site and plant them.
Laura
Our February project morning dawned surprisingly mild and bright, why? Because over the last couple of weeks our kingdom has been battered by not one but two winter storms. Although I think we appear to have got off lightly compared to other flooded, toppled areas...hope I haven't spoken too soon
Our wee garden, naturally, is looking a little lacklustre at the moment, but there are positive signs, as I went around trimming back the dead vegetation, traces of new growth were there, hiding fresh greenery at the base of perennials, swelling buds on shrubs and climbers with emerging leaves. A chink of light in Nature's door indeed.
No sign of any frogs in our pond yet, but if they're about it shouldn’t be long, certainly in other areas of the country early frog spawn has been reported. Perhaps we’re a little too hopeful, as its early days for our pond, but desperate frogs can be remarkably determined in seeking out water; I once was sent a picture of frogspawn in a dogs water bowl.
Nice to hear that the birds are feeling at home in our garden, reports of a party of goldfinches drinking from the pond, and the nest box, only put up five weeks since, has two pairs of blue tits quarrelling over its tenancy.
As there wasn't a lot of work to be carried out in the garden this month, I joined some of the gang in a spot of tree planting. A recent donation from a relative put me in the happy position of being able to purchase some trees for the reserve; mindful of our resident and migratory birds I chose a selection of berry bearing trees - wild cherry, bird cherry, rowan, buckthorn and holly. We’ll have to be vigilant and keep them watered as spring progresses, but it will be lovely to see them bloom and bear fruit in the coming years. Thanks to the 'tree fellas' for helping me to suitably site and plant them.
Laura
The planting area.
Eric planting a tree.
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Laura with a cherry tree.
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The 'tree fellas'
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The garden in February.
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1st Feb '20 A honey bee was seen in the garden today. I was putting peanuts into the holder when it landed on my hand, inspecting it for several seconds before flying onto the pink top of the feeder. Unfortunately it flew off while I was getting my camera out but hopefully it will find some flowers with nectar soon. There are plenty nearby. CAC
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6th Feb The bulbs are beginning to show in the wildlife garden. LB
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Our top ten birds.
28th Jan '20 This weekend saw one of the RSPB's main events of the year. The 42nd Big Garden Birdwatch running from 25th to 27th January 2020. For four decades, the Big Garden Birdwatch has highlighted the winners and losers in the garden bird world.
To take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch you just watch the birds in your garden or local park for one hour, at some point over the three day event. You count only the birds that land, and record the highest number of each bird species you see at any one time.
I decided to visit our Nature Garden with its little feeding station to see what it was attracting. This is the garden's first winter and although birds have been observed rooting through the plant debris and woodchip on the floor, we decided to install a few feeders at the back of the garden. The Nature Garden is only across the road from the reserve's long serving winter feeding station, a popular lifeline to many of our feathered friends and naturally we expected them to quickly find the new site.
I didn't quite manage a full hour of observation as I arrived late in the afternoon, and although I managed to sit quietly adjacent to the back of the visitor centre, it was pretty cold, the light was fading and I was aware of the reserve closing time.
And the results are in -11 species were recorded visiting the garden within the hour:
Blue tit 4, Coal tit 1, Great tit 2, Long tailed tit 5, Goldfinch 9, Blackbird 2, Song thrush 1, Chaffinch 3, Magpie 1, Collared Dove 1, Robin 1
Not a bad count for a short visit with easily spooked foragers, I'm sure with time our bird species list will grow; we just need to be patient, the planting and wee pond should attract a good variety of wildlife. Just sitting and watching the bird interactions can be quite amusing and absorbing, an activity I am likely to repeat.
Laura
To take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch you just watch the birds in your garden or local park for one hour, at some point over the three day event. You count only the birds that land, and record the highest number of each bird species you see at any one time.
I decided to visit our Nature Garden with its little feeding station to see what it was attracting. This is the garden's first winter and although birds have been observed rooting through the plant debris and woodchip on the floor, we decided to install a few feeders at the back of the garden. The Nature Garden is only across the road from the reserve's long serving winter feeding station, a popular lifeline to many of our feathered friends and naturally we expected them to quickly find the new site.
I didn't quite manage a full hour of observation as I arrived late in the afternoon, and although I managed to sit quietly adjacent to the back of the visitor centre, it was pretty cold, the light was fading and I was aware of the reserve closing time.
And the results are in -11 species were recorded visiting the garden within the hour:
Blue tit 4, Coal tit 1, Great tit 2, Long tailed tit 5, Goldfinch 9, Blackbird 2, Song thrush 1, Chaffinch 3, Magpie 1, Collared Dove 1, Robin 1
Not a bad count for a short visit with easily spooked foragers, I'm sure with time our bird species list will grow; we just need to be patient, the planting and wee pond should attract a good variety of wildlife. Just sitting and watching the bird interactions can be quite amusing and absorbing, an activity I am likely to repeat.
Laura
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Goldies
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Long-tailed tit.
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Long-tailed tits.
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Mon 13th Jan '20
Do you ever have one of those days when you know you’re truly alive? So it was this morning as I gathered rotten logs in the woodland, the wind whipping through the trees of Pickering Pasture, strengthening with the oncoming high tide.
Today was our first project day of the New Year, and storm Brendon was racing across the Atlantic to embrace us with a less than convivial greeting, mmh, was climbing ladders and putting up nestboxes a good idea? Not deterred the friends party split up and started their jobs.
Do you ever have one of those days when you know you’re truly alive? So it was this morning as I gathered rotten logs in the woodland, the wind whipping through the trees of Pickering Pasture, strengthening with the oncoming high tide.
Today was our first project day of the New Year, and storm Brendon was racing across the Atlantic to embrace us with a less than convivial greeting, mmh, was climbing ladders and putting up nestboxes a good idea? Not deterred the friends party split up and started their jobs.
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In the nature garden, sheltered by the visitor centre, it was a little less blowy and the woodcrete nest-box was put up in the tree, one fixer and two to hold the ladder, well done guys, shouldn’t be long before the blue tits are viewing their prospective residence.
Today, Maurice was finishing off the bug house, installing a wooden entrance tunnel leading to the space under the house, a sheltered area designed to offer a hedgehog a safe place to sleep. His next job will be the construction of the wooden compost bin. |
Hedgehog home
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Nest box fixing.
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Aiming to exhibit as many wildlife enhancing initiatives as possible in the garden, one outstanding project was the creation of a frog abode, offering them a cool, dark hiding place from potential predators, with the bonus of a built-in food source.
Having built the pond last summer we were too late to see much amphibian action, but now it has matured a little and has plant colonisation we are hopeful of seeing frogs migrating to the water to spawn, something that could happen anytime now, already the first frog spawn has been recorded on the Woodland Trust Natures calendar, on 12/01/20 in Devon. https://naturescalendar.woodlandtrust.org.uk/ Throughout their life cycles, frogs have an important place in the food chain as both predators and prey. Common frogs are most active at night, coming out of the pond or their hiding places to feed on a wide variety of invertebrates such as flies, moths, mosquitoes ,snails, slugs and worms, so a useful ally in our garden. In winter they hibernate either in the pond mud or under piles of rotting leaves, logs or stones, so a purpose built lodging incorporating these materials should be ideal. The abode was started today; created by digging a hole in the ground about a foot deep, filling it with assorted stones and logs, creating a higgledy-piggledy underground maze. We then continued to pile logs on top creating a low mound, and placed some soil back over the top, aiming to leave entrance gaps around the edges. In our abode a range of wood was used, some of it aged and rotten, already, hopefully, full of tasty invertebrates for our amphibians. A little more work is needed to finish the abode, for alas, the storm was giving no quarter and it was time for the friends along with the wildlife to take shelter. Laura |
Frog abode
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Wed 1st Jan 2020 I joined the hordes of new year's day strollers this afternoon; yep the reserve car park was overflowing with dog walkers and perhaps those nursing hangovers.
This is the second time I'd called in over the festive holiday, each time I've topped up the feeders in the nature garden, which continues to attract visitors. Both days were cool but sunny and the birds were in fine voice, and all the feeding stations were busy, most noticeable being the flocks of long-tailed tits, such a delight to hear and see... did you know their old English Gloucestershire name was mumruffins!? However the cutest highlight of the day had to be the wee vole sneaking his lunch from under the scrape bird feeder, bless, didn't entertain the thought of him in the clutches of a local kestrel and buzzard.
The garden was snoozing in a golden light, only the winter pansies and a few yellow daisies hanging on; no sign of any bulbs breaking through yet, unlike my flowering snowdrops and rising daffodils in my garden away from the coast? As we welcome the new year our garden approaches it's first birthday; I've found it to be an enjoyable and fascinating project, which has drawn on the skills and shared knowledge of all the friends and look forward to it's further development.
Today I surveyed a scene that has disturbed many visitors to the reserve, that being the tree clearance in the woodland belt, on the embankment alongside the riverside walkway, the works being carried out by Halton Council . I was surprised, dare I say shocked, at the amount of trees and shrub undergrowth that had been removed, apparently this management aims to promote the diversity of the shrub and tree layers and eventually improve it ecologically for wildlife. I have no experience of woodland management so can't really comment, but it does look excessive; there is a news item on the website which gives 2 points of view. http://www.thefriendsofpickeringspasture.org.uk/tree-clearance.html It wasn't really obvious to me today, but I read that some new trees have been planted on the slopes. Hopefully in time, nature will quickly re- populate the site, and for the time being, those creatures that sheltered and bred there will have found a suitable new home elsewhere on the reserve. Further tree planting on the reserve is planned in the new year, a follow up from the friends tree project day, part of last years Big Climate Fightback campaign and national tree planting day.
Happy New Year Everyone. Laura
This is the second time I'd called in over the festive holiday, each time I've topped up the feeders in the nature garden, which continues to attract visitors. Both days were cool but sunny and the birds were in fine voice, and all the feeding stations were busy, most noticeable being the flocks of long-tailed tits, such a delight to hear and see... did you know their old English Gloucestershire name was mumruffins!? However the cutest highlight of the day had to be the wee vole sneaking his lunch from under the scrape bird feeder, bless, didn't entertain the thought of him in the clutches of a local kestrel and buzzard.
The garden was snoozing in a golden light, only the winter pansies and a few yellow daisies hanging on; no sign of any bulbs breaking through yet, unlike my flowering snowdrops and rising daffodils in my garden away from the coast? As we welcome the new year our garden approaches it's first birthday; I've found it to be an enjoyable and fascinating project, which has drawn on the skills and shared knowledge of all the friends and look forward to it's further development.
Today I surveyed a scene that has disturbed many visitors to the reserve, that being the tree clearance in the woodland belt, on the embankment alongside the riverside walkway, the works being carried out by Halton Council . I was surprised, dare I say shocked, at the amount of trees and shrub undergrowth that had been removed, apparently this management aims to promote the diversity of the shrub and tree layers and eventually improve it ecologically for wildlife. I have no experience of woodland management so can't really comment, but it does look excessive; there is a news item on the website which gives 2 points of view. http://www.thefriendsofpickeringspasture.org.uk/tree-clearance.html It wasn't really obvious to me today, but I read that some new trees have been planted on the slopes. Hopefully in time, nature will quickly re- populate the site, and for the time being, those creatures that sheltered and bred there will have found a suitable new home elsewhere on the reserve. Further tree planting on the reserve is planned in the new year, a follow up from the friends tree project day, part of last years Big Climate Fightback campaign and national tree planting day.
Happy New Year Everyone. Laura
The Winter garden.
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The garden in Winter.
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Field vole
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Tree cutting.
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Pickerings Pasture sunset.
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