A New beginning in March 2021

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

Our meet for March 2021 was held on Sunday 28th working  according to the Covid-19 instructions for the first easing of Lockdown which began on 8th March. Before this date group members had not been idle however, using the opportunities during exercise walks to clear litter along the riverside walk. Group members on this meet were joined by several new helpers, colleagues of one of our regular group members who helped to make distanced light work of planting 30 donated hedging (Hazel and Hawthorn) trees along the riverside where they were needed to fill gaps, whilst most of our regular group continued with litter collection, working singly distanced across the whole area.

This flowering Cuckooflower plant ( Cardamine pratensis ) was seen on the damp river bank during our meet on 28th March. It is the food plant of the Orange tip butterfly which should be appearing soon, ranging across the banks, one of the first butterflies of spring.

2021 and another Lockdown on the Riverside

 January 6th 2021 and another Lockdown. This meant that our January Meet, scheduled for Sunday 31st was postponed, meanwhile the group were permitted by HDC to carry out litter collection whilst out on individual exercise walks - and what a difference this made to the landscape! The weather was cold, with the ENE wind dominating and temperatures down to 3 degrees C. 

See Hills Farm Wildlife Conservation for the full survey for 31st January 2021.

Later in the month it became warmer with rain.

Long awaited by wildlife, Ivy berries eventually ripened, attracting numerous bird species:

Often overlooked by humans as dark and unattractive, they are instantly visible to birds once ripe and provide food just as other berries are becoming scarce. The flowers had been attracting butterflies in the autumn, especially Red Admirals but also many other insects which in turn provided food for birds before frosts and snow arrived.

Never underestimate the value of Ivy to wildlife throughout the year.

February 2021 - and the Lockdown continued, with group members busy on exercise walks as before, even in the snow- flurries that arrived during the second week. It felt too cold for snow and the wind just blew away any that had settled. The NE wind gave way to SW winds and warmer weather later in the month, bringing a welcome hint of spring before temperatures fell again, 

Our February Meet scheduled for Sunday 28th was again postponed as the restrictions were unchanged.

A sure sign of spring is always the appearance of Lesser Celandine flowers bursting through last years fallen leaves and dry grasses at the first sign of sunlight bringing warmth to the ground:

Lesser Celandine on the river bank 24th February 2021

Our Meet on 28th March 2021 will go ahead according to the first step of the un-lockdown - which commenced on 8th March 2021 please see NEXT MEET.