How old are the Oaks?

MEASURING THE OLD OAKS

On our meet on 26th October we made a start on measuring the girth of the old oaks along the river in order to calculate their approximate age.

SEE

 Hills Farm Wildlife Conservation 

'Oaks in October'  record dated 28th October for all trees measured so far.

This oak is about 175 years old, middle aged, certainly not the

oldest on the riverside.

Detail of the trunk of an older oak.

We aim to measure all the old oaks eventually - their ages vary a lot, by hundreds of years, indicating an ancient woodland origin rather than a deliberate planting by a land owner to mark a boundary. During woodland and forest clearance in order to create space for agricultural use, trees were always left on the edges of the clearings to form natural boundaries, as part of hedgerows.

A Fine end to September

          MAKING THE MOST OF THE FINE WEATHER     

On Sunday September 28th the Group met to clear rubbish from the river and banks of the river Arun as well as covering the usual riverside area and footpaths. Here on the Arun the banks are steep and the river depth was tested and found to be too deep for anyone without waders.

Here is the result - an old rusty trolley found in the river (with 

some wooden fencing), a large red plastic trolley found on the

river bank and a double mattress which had been cut in half and 

thrown onto the steep river bank.

It was very hot work, even in the river

At last the trolley is hauled up - this was probably the last opportunity to remove things from the river before autumn and winter rains 

Other items recently recovered from the riverside by members of the group included a padlock and chain to the gate of the Green and parts of a nearby Bus Stop.

On the riverside this August

YOU ARE BEING WATCHED!

Not just two large compound eyes but three more smaller eyes in the triangle on top of the head - which are used as light sensors (which way up am I flying? where is the horizon?) enable me to fly in the dusk.

Two very thin short antennae act as wind direction and wind speed detectors. A masterpiece of engineering.

Thanks for the ponds over there - and the rough debris - without them I would not be here....I'll be off soon to catch some assorted gnats and midges. Another photo on Hills Farm Wildlife.

Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea)

The July Group Meet - what a haul!

OUR AIM IS TO PROTECT OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND THE HABITAT THAT IT PROVIDES FOR WILDLIFE

Note - an Annual Summary of our work can be found on the TO DO page.

A good turnout - group members prepared to start work on a hot summer day.
27th July 2014

Look back to the entry for our meet on December 22nd 2013  and compare!

The Group Meet on Sunday 27th July was very productive. An exceptional haul of unwanted items were pulled up from the river today at the Guildford Road bridge where the river was running clear, apart from the rubbish. Our main area is downstream of the bridge.

Using ropes and hooks slung over the parapet, one rusty bicycle, a discarded football goal net, a supermarket trolley, two large blocks of polystyrene and assorted cans and bottles were hauled up directly from the river bed. Other members of the group collected large amounts of 'picnic' litter found along the whole of our stretch of the riverside. Perhaps for such a large area it wasn't at all excessive.

Two large blocks of polystyrene, part of the base of a scrapped garden shed

- they almost filled the river.

and a rusty bicycle -

A supermarket trolley, fortunately the wheels were still good -

The complete haul retrieved from the river

at the Guildford Road bridge, being wheeled to the collection point

from where HDC Parks and Countryside Rangers removed it. 

MIDSUMMER

Changes along the riverside were quite marked this year, with more diversity in wild flowers and grasses evident, all attracting a diversity of bees and butterflies in larger numbers and good numbers of early Damselflies emerging from the water where they have spent as long as two years in larva form. Most of the species seen need healthy, unpolluted river water in order to survive as predators in the larva stage, therefore their presence in adult form is good news, indicating good river ecology , not just of the river itself but of the river bank vegetation and surroundings.

  

This warm bank attracts butterflies - Small Skippers, Meadow Browns, Small Tortoiseshells, Commas, Ringlets and Green-veined White - with Beautiful Demoiselle and Banded Demoiselle damselflies, Large Red damselflies and more. Bumble bees, Honeybees,  Hover flies, Ladybirds are attracted too.

The fresh nettles have been full of caterpillars, mainly of Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock butterflies.

We have seen good numbers of Small Tortoiseshell butterflies emerge along the river and should soon see the Peacock butterflies. Mixed with the nettles this year, adding to the diversity of the riverbanks, Meadowsweet and Bramble flowers attract even more bees and large numbers of small insects. 

We aim to protect and regenerate the diversity of all the native wild riverside species, flora and fauna alike.

Regeneration in May

EARLY SUMMER AND THE RIVERSIDE SPRINGS TO LIFE AGAIN

MAY 2014

Despite setbacks, the wildflowers are winning here on the wild flower meadow known as the 'Reptile Field' - being one of the fields chosen by ecologists as an ideal place to relocate snakes and lizards from the development site before construction work commenced. Hibernacula for the reptiles were created in this unimproved field which slopes down to the river bank.

Buttercups, Cuckooflower, Tufted Vetch and Clovers have appeared

with more summer flowers to follow.

Butterflies such as Orange Tip are returning.

Wintercress grows in the damp field margin under the old post and rail fencing

OUR AIM as a CONSERVATION GROUP is to

PROTECT OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND THE HABITAT IT PROVIDES FOR WILDLIFE ALONG THE RIVERSIDE

Many birds forage here on the field and in the thickets along its margins

and in the thickets on the river banks.

Wild flowers and wild grasses attract huge numbers of insects and spiders which in turn provide food for insectivorous birds. In autumn when the flowers and grasses go to seed these provide plentiful food for seed-eating birds over the winter.

Long-established ant's nests here in the earth provide food for the green woodpecker.

Here are some statistics!

Out of the total number of bird species seen here in 'our' area along the river (see WILDLIFE page),

about 10% are on the (National) Red List of endangered species and a further 28% are on the (National) Amber List of falling populations.

There are many reasons why species become endangered and eventually extinct but loss of habitat is one of the prime causes. Loss of habitat means loss of food sources, loss of shelter and loss of nesting sites.

SPRING 2014

WILD FLOWER PLANTING ON THE RIVER BANK

The Group met on Sunday 30th March - the first fine day for our meet for several months!

Our Group had received several donations of Wild Flower seeds and these were planted on ground which was rapidly drying out in the sun. It seemed like only a few days ago that it was all under water...and now we will need to water the plants every day unless it rains....

Blackthorn in blossom on the riverside - a vital early food source

Preparing the ground and planting - 

then watering will be needed during the coming drought.....

or maybe not!

AFTER THE WINTER STORMS

The day of our meet on Sunday 23rd February was, as usual, overcast and windy but this time the rain held off. Waiting for ideal conditions to install the bat boxes was no longer an option.

Here are the three boxes, high up in the pine tree, each one facing in a

different direction to allow bats to move from one roost to the

other according the changing conditions during the day.

It will probably be quite a while before any bats move in. 

The tree was swaying around in the strong wind

but the boxes will provide shelter and warmth for

roosting bats over the spring, summer and autumn.

They choose different roosts over the winter when 

hibernating.