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.
