Early Summer - our meets for June and July 2023

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

Our Meet for June 2023 was held on 25th, a dry day, hot and sunny. The heat kept some away but members of the group were out and about on other days during the month which was generally not hot but with very few rainy days. Some watering of young trees was carried out. Rain had been forecast for the following days so it was not necessary to subject the plants to deluges of water at this stage.

Our Meet for July was held on 30th, a rather different day with plenty of work hauling items from the river which had recently been thrown over the bridge by vandals- two household rubbish bins and a supermarket trolley, tough work as the force of the water after recent rains had moved the items further out of reach. Our two specialists carried out this work whilst the rest worked along the usual routes mostly along the footpaths, watched by butterflies, Gatekeepers being the most numerous, with Holly Blues, Large Whites and the ever-present Red Admirals. A large group (not a huge flock) of Starlings was seen along the embankment long grass verges, feeding on seeds together with House Sparrows, until it started to rain.

Brilliant Honeysuckle completely covers a fence attracting 

insects in the sun and the scent attracting moths and bats at night.

Bats are pollinators too - not to be forgotten!

Spring - April and May 2023 follow a soggy March

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

Our April Meet was on 30th - a fine day with a thin layer of cloud and varied birdsong. A group of starlings were seen amongst the fruit trees near their day roost. Were they finding insects or blossom? They soon flew off.  This spring  - we can call it spring now - there has been unprecedented flowering of Cuckooflower - and with it good numbers of Orange Tip butterflies. Evergreen vegetation such as Holly and Ivy has started growing fast with Holly Blue butterflies often seen flying nearby. Small birds are still visible in the trees as most trees are not yet in full leaf.

Our May Meet was a week early, on 21st, the 29th being on a Bank Holiday weekend. Growth has been prolific and the appearance of fruit blossom and Blackthorn blossom very welcome. Three weeks makes a huge difference at this time of the year.

In addition to more Orange Tips, Holly Blues and Brimstone butterflies Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies have been present during the month so far.

The fruit trees come into blossom on the embankment during May 2023

It's not all collecting litter!

A major achievement  this Sunday in May was the removal from the river of a mountain bike, a small trolley and a large heavy trolley hauled out of the river by two of our group who are experts. The river level had been erratic over many weeks due to unreliable weather patterns, so they seized the chance after checking for the presence of wildlife. The items had often been submerged under the fast-flowing currents. There will still be more to do after the bird nesting season. Wildlife steers the work,

More March Drizzle - our Meet on 26th March 2023

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

It was cloudy all day but with very little wind, quite warm but becoming cooler  with more drizzle - well it WAS the start of British Summertime....

Despite the general view, wildlife tried hard to tell us that it was spring - we heard several Great Spotted Woodpeckers trying their best to create the most impressive sound drumming, Chiffchaffs sang loudly together with  Wrens and Robins - and Mallard patrolled the river both downstream and upstream.

There were signs of blossom if we looked closely for tiny flower buds but it was difficult to tell what would happen to trees with closed leaf buds - however a month on and we have the answer! See the notes for April to come.

It's the first time there has been such a fine display of Lesser Celandine

in flower on a sunny day - at the end of March. It was the same in other areas

of the riverside too.

The North Wind and Robins - our Meet on 26th February 2023

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

Our Meet on 26th February 2023 was a different story from our January Meet - with more singing.

The cold NE wind did not deter the birds, especially a very loud and close-up Robin watching over our tools at the old fence near the river. Blackbirds, House Sparrows and a Bullfinch were calling together with Carrion Crows, Woodpigeons and Magpies and many smaller birds further along.

More signs of spring were appearing but well behind what has become the usual timing here for several years.

This was the first sign of spring on the Willows 

by the river - Willow catkins, which if they survive the wind and weather will be attracting the small birds seeking food including insects during the lean time of early March.

The bright blue sky on these days does not indicate warmth but more usually bitter cold until the wind drops. Wildlife soon adapts, with birds and small mammals seeking out the most sheltered locations and deepest unfrozen leaf mould.

Our January 2023 Meet, and a record Haul

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

The landscape was very bare on our Meet on 29th January 2023, with few signs of spring but many signs of litter distributed throughout the area! The day was mostly cloudy with fine drizzle but not cold or windy, not a day to encourage dawdling to admire the view...

It turned out to be a very productive Meet with a total of 12 participants collecting 10 bags of rubbish and one trolley. Another three newish trolleys appeared in the river under the Deer Way footbridge - spotted before the end of the month. Their appearance and subsequent removal remain a mystery.

The good new was that some Hazel catkins were brightening the bare riverside:

Another winter's day:

A mix of winter trees, Apple and a 

very bare but magnificent old Oak in the background -

and in the centre yellow Hazel catkins

under a very blue sky.

Frost Ice and Rain - our December Meet on 18th 2022

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

Back to normal winter weather!

The first frost of winter 2022 occurred on the 8th of December ...-4  C and remained very cold (for us) for the following days with some snow on 12th:

Looking along the river bank from the East Bridge

The snow and ice formed a hazardous mix but there were definitely more birds foraging and singing as the temperature remained below zero. Blackbirds, three Redwing, Robins, wrens, a Grey Heron. The river environment itself remained warm. 

 Our meet on 18th December (brought forward allowing for the holidays) was a short one, as much of the usual litter was invisible under the snow and terrain conditions hazardous with ice on paths and roads remaining as it gradually turned warmer and started to rain. This proved to be the last icy day of the month as conditions changed rapidly.

What does 2023 bring? Hopefully good conditions for the survival of wildlife throughout the year. It will probably be challenging in many ways.

Our November Meet - Does Winter approach?

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

Our meet was held  on Sunday 27th November 2022, a damp, cloudy morning with light drizzle now and then. There were almost enough people to cope with the large amount of litter scattered on routes used by those getting from A to B whilst enjoying snacks. Football was mentioned as a possible cause! The haul was 9 bags of litter with no sightings of trolleys or abandoned bicycles this week, although the levels of river water may have hidden some.

The weather was clearly welcomed by birds, with more Song Thrushes singing again and reports of Tawny Owls heard at other times during the wet weather. Tawny Owls have held established permanent territory in the woodland areas here for many many years and it's good to hear them in the same areas, especially where there are old Oaks and old conifers providing plenty of shelter.

Oak leaves are still abundant on the branches this autumn.

Some Oaks are still retaining leaves whilst most other trees are bare after the windy weather.

Acorns are still crunching underfoot, far too many for small mammals and larger birds to collect and cache. Winter Migrants - Fieldfare and Redwing have been seen in small numbers but severe weather in Europe may yet cause many more to make the journey across the sea to forage along our hedges.

Welcome Rain for our October Meet

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

Our October meet was held on 30th October 2022,  British Summertime this year ended with welcome rain. There was a good turnout despite the probability of the early morning rainfall persisting for the rest of the day. As it happened the rain stopped as soon as our meet started although it remained very humid. However the rain returned later and within 3 days it was sufficient to restore the rivers to their normal conditions, at least on the surface,  as below ground the earth could easily absorb much more rainfall.

This is a view of the replenishing river on 4th November 2022.

With further rain on subsequent days. maybe this will restore the aquifers

and fill the streams at last. This is a typical Wealden stream flowing fast to join the main river, the Arun, another typical Wealden river with steep sides and rich aquatic plant and wildlife, the clay earth retaining moisture, cooling the vegetation during hot summers and sustaining life.

We are looking forward to renewed growth in the spring after the bounty of this fruitful autumn and hope that the new year will be more temperate for all.

A Riverside Feast awaits our Winter Migrant Birds

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

Our September Meet was held on Sunday 25th September 2022 with the distinct chill of early autumn in the air but bright sunlight without autumn mists encouraging birds to perch and warm up in the riverbank trees shining with the high-climbing rose hips of Rosa canina. The grasses and wild plants were green again with hundreds of acorns on and under the Oaks. The river was now flowing well and clear after the rain and wrens were singing. A single juvenile Grey Heron had been seen a couple of days before standing quite still in the river here concentrating on observing sources of aquatic food.  The most noticeable voices were those of the Nuthatches which never move far away from their nest locations from year to year and are usually the first birds, with the robins, to start protecting their chosen territories, calling loudly. Having several easily distinguished calls which carry far in the woodland there is no need to ambush or fight. This is left to the Magpies, Jays and other crows.

The rain after the heatwaves had arrived just in time to refresh the area, with many fruits benefitting from the successive  deluges. Having a bountiful spring for blossom this year it was feared that fruits and berries would just dry out and drop from the trees when the heatwaves struck but the cooler Oak and Field Maple shaded areas of the riverside walk and formed a valley which did not dry out at all.

This is a Crab Apple Tree (Malus) planted about 10 years ago (2012)

below the embankment of a new bridge. It has always 

held fruits which turn bright red in the winter attracting migrant birds

 such as Redwing and Fieldfare which spot it easily on their stop-go flight from the coast, feeding along the rich riverside hedgerows on berries and fruits. Blackbirds and Song Thrushes both resident and migrant also take their chosen fruits and finish off the remainders throughout the winter months.

The fruits become more palatable when very ripe and are often the last to be eaten.

Riverside refreshed - our August Meet

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

Our August 2022 Meet was on 21st, brought forward to avoid the Late Summer Bank Holiday. There had been another 'heatwave' starting on 10th August with an orange tinge to the atmosphere during the following  days, ending with very welcome rain on 16th. The riverside immediately sprang to life with wrens singing and many other birds suddenly becoming active along the banks and over rising water, now flowing faster. The rivers had not run dry at all but levels were low. Mud and aquatic vegetation had remained an attraction for birds and small mammals throughout the heat but meadow flowers and grasses away from the river had dried to form hay, populated with crowds of small grasshoppers, grass moths and other insects. There were no baked bare earth areas however. When it rained, the water soaked into the dry vegetation - no 'flash floods here - and green shoots appeared within a few days. Suddenly clumps of bright green leaves appeared followed by the brilliant yellow flowers of Fleabane:

This very fresh clump had only appeared after the rain, replacing other Fleabane plants which had been flowering when the August heatwave struck. The leaves had dried and the flowers had turned dark brown whereas normally after flowering seed heads form. Hopefully. the late summer plants will produce seeds.

These new flowers are attracting insects, including late summer butterflies.

The excessive heat followed by rain meant that the riverside was not overburdened with the results of picnics and groups of runners. The playing-field area was exceptionally free of litter having been used for sports training by responsible youngsters and their parents during the holidays.

July cools down for our Meet

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

After two days of record temperatures on the 18th and 19th of July 2022 the days cooled down somewhat and the day of our Meet, 31st July was  very cloudy and what we used to describe as very warm (24deg C)  and humid.

This was the Meadow area earlier in July 

with summer already more advanced than usual, with an excellent 

variety of wild flowers attracting a good diversity of butterflies.

 On the day of our meet Great Spotted Woodpeckers were calling where we meet, Blackberries were ripening fast. Most birds were still hiding in the undergrowth out of sight whilst moulting and could be seen with gaps in essential flight feathers if they did fly up. New feathers grow rapidly however. It was evident that people were less active too along the routes, apart from the endless haul of litter on the foot/cycle path leading to the A road there were few signs of outdoor feasts, the foxes can make do with Blackberries, they are a healthy food source!

Calls from the Trees - our June Meet 2022

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

Our Meet on 26th June was accompanied by some loud calls from juvenile woodpeckers, with both Great Spotted Woodpecker and Green Woodpecker juveniles fledging. The young often stay close to to their nests at first, learning to forage locally and do not usually make long journeys as adults but remain in their own territories but choosing different trees to nest in each year. Nuthatches, on the other hand, try to choose the same nest each year, having spent weeks on upgrading it the previous year. They will start calling later in the year when establishing their territories.

Some plants were early to flower this year, including the Meadowsweet along the river banks and in other places almost permanently damp. 

Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) usually attracts attention by its complex scent, wafting from plants growing in hollows and river margins.

Fortunately there were no abandoned bicycles or trolleys to be hauled out of the river today but as usual plenty to do along the paths adjacent to the school and along the approach path to the Horsham Riverside Walk from Guildford road. The rest of the area was in good condition with most people very busy catching up with work and studies before the school holidays rather than holding parties and picnics.

Fast-moving May 2022

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

Our Meet this May was held on Sunday 22nd in order to avoid the mix of extended holidays and preparations for the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

It was a very fine day, fresh after rain on Friday morning. Birdsong, new fledgelings, flowers, trees in leaf and fruits forming as soon as blossom was over on the fruit trees made the setting perfect for spring fast becoming summer. The abundance of wild flowers and trees with blossom so far this year give us hope for a good summer -at least more fruitful than last year!

The sequence of wild plants flowering this year has left no gaps, benefitting the sequences of visiting invertebrates, especially bees.

Buttercups cover every verge and unmown area of grass this spring

provided the sun reaches the ground. Some years we hardly see any....

but they are there nevertheless.

Fortunately they were not trodden down or obscured by litter in most places but the task of protecting all wild flowers remains - maybe there is a hint of a new attitude towards wild living things however. We hope it lasts.

See next post for our June meet held on 26th June 

Our next scheduled meet is on Sunday 31st July 2022

Rare April Showers unseen - our Meet on April 24th 2022

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

Heavy overnight rain showers preceded our Meet on 24th April leaving the earth fresh and vegetation damp, perfect for foraging birds which are nesting all along the banks and riverside trees. Common birds were all seen and heard: Nuthatch, Blackcap, Robins, Blue ts, Great Ts, Dunnock, Chiffchaffs, Blackbirds Song Thrush, House Sparrows and Woodpigeons. It was agreed, comparing notes, that at least one Red Kite is now an established visitor to our area, flying in from the West across the A24. Common Buzzards and Kestrels have been around for many years.

This Crab Apple tree has produced fruits since it was planted a

few years ago and surprised us with its late ripening bright red fruits

much loved by Blackbirds. a reliable source of sustenance in late

winter when food is scarce. Last autumn fruits were taken very fast by 

winter migrants due to a general scarcity everywhere but Blackbirds 

were still finding fruits high up in this tree in spring.

It has much more blossom this year and was the first tree to flower.

With the good weather this year came the litter, dropped at random by picnic

groups, walkers and those taking exercise. However the turnout to deal with

the problem was excellent and pristine verges were left to the butterflies,

particularly Orange Tips at present, with their food plant, Cuckooflower, flowering

very well so far this Spring.

Please note that our May meet will be held a week early, on Sunday 22nd May 2022

to allow for extended holidays and Jubilee celebrations at the beginning of June.

British Summertime Begins 2022

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

British Summertime began on Sunday 27th March this year, with many signs of Spring rather than summer. It was a cloudy, cool start becoming warmer later, with a North Easterly wind. Robins and Dunnock were singing strongly and Nuthatches were calling from the Oaks. A Green Woodpecker 'yaffled' nearby.

There was plenty of rubbish and litter, spread by those enjoying the previous run of fine days and a bicycle and small scooter, long submerged in the river were hauled out, the river level being low enough to see them. 

The new hedgerow plants, planted two weeks before by volunteers, together with those planted a year ago also by volunteers, were inspected and found to be doing very well, all coming into leaf, although very small when planted.

The wild Blackthorn hedges all have spectacular blossom this year;

it's usually the first hedgerow plant to blossom, well before its

leaves appear. 

Hopefully there will be no severe frosts this spring to destroy it as the fruits in autumn are a main food source for many birds, both residents and migrants in the winter, together with our diverse inhabitants, the small mammals. Last year there was a dearth of fruits, seeds and nuts just about everywhere in the countryside - we are hoping for a far better year.

 

Lesser Celandine appears on our February Meet 2022

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

Our February Meet was held on Sunday 27th February over a week after the first of a series of storms hit the country. Thankfully only a few weak trees and branches were blown down, leaving the mighty Oaks, Field Maples and other landmarks here standing, amidst carpets of small lichen-covered twigs and branches. Wildlife hunkered down during the worst of the wind, with the river banks and vegetation providing shelter. The rivers rose but not exceptionally and the levels soon reduced.

The day of our Meet was fine and bright with the first of the LesserCelandines flowering along the banks. 

Fortunately the amount of rubbish along the paths and on the river banks was far less than on January's Meet despite the action of the storm winds.

One of Wordsworth favourite flowers, the Lesser Celandine were beginning to appear on the banks  - always a good sign that spring is approaching. (see Hills Farm Wildlife Conservation for picture).

A Frosty Start - the first Meet of 2022 January 30th

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

January 30th 2022 started cold and frosty, remaining bright all day with a fresh SW breeze. The river was low after little rainfall over the previous weeks. This revealed the presence of some long-submerged trolleys together with some more recent ones. Fortunately conditions were good and they could be reached from the river banks. It was a successful morning, with five bags of rubbish, a traffic cone and four supermarket trolleys collected.

Birds were singing loudly, with Great Ts calling although no match for the Robins and Dunnocks . There were very good views of a Nuthatch calling from a bare tree.

The mature Oaks were the last large trees to looses their

leaves but fresh new leaf buds appeared even before the old leaves had fallen.

By 20th January this Oak had lost its old leaves and the new leaf buds were

growing well. Will there be acorns this year? It's too soon to tell.

December, the last meet of 2021 - and a look back

Our Meet on 19th December 2021 took place on a very misty morning but there was a good turnout with plenty to do. Song Thrushes were now singing after a long silence over the autumn. Robins, wrens, and Dunnock were heard too. A Little Egret was seen early on over the river, brilliant white even in the mist.

Looking back it seems that the brief summer was a long time ago - a short season, here one day and gone the next, no endless days with gradual mellowing of fruits and ripening berries. The fruit trees all did well but at different times, as intended.

The fruits of late August. 

Note that there are plenty more in the background, on other trees, at different stages of ripening. The weather then became cooler and cloudy but in September became hot again.

The contrasts continued with sighings of hardy dragonflies such as Common Darters and butterflies such as Red Admirals continuing  activity late into the year. Perhaps this will be the future pattern, with larger swings from hot to cold and cold to hot throughout the year....

November - Autumn leaves at last!

A brilliant turnout on a brilliant day - our meet on Sunday 28th November 2021 took place on a fine sunny day but cold, with patches of ice in places. The sun had brought out the birds which lost no time in foraging rapidly through the trees, where even the oaks were losing leaves now.

Most leaves on this tough old oak were turning yellow  and some 

very small leaf buds were appearing but there was no sign of any acorns.

Fallen leaves did not pose a problem for the group. Left where they fall, 

leaves provide habitat for insects and protect the ground underneath

from frost and ice. Most birds and small mammals instinctively 

throw leaves aside, scrabble and dig underneath in order to uncover

insects and spiders, a rich source of food.

The group, including very welcome visitors, went for the worst areas for litter and discarded rubbish

and made short work of the task whilst two of the group continued with the ongoing survey of possible candidates for the ancient and veteran tree inventory in the district. Plans are being made for the planting of more hedgerow trees in the late winter to fill existing gaps.

 

October - Extreme Weather on our meet

October 31st 2021, the day of our meet, demonstrated what we could call extreme weather here in Sussex. The torrential rain and sudden squalls only lasted whilst our meet lasted and as soon as we had finished, the weather cleared - but the rain was continuous whilst it lasted, starting early in the morning. Those who decided to attend were soaked but collected a considerable amount of litter despite the conditions.

Birds and mammals made themselves invisible with a frog and three Magpies the only sightings.

The mornings torrential rain did not result in any 'river out of bank' incidents here - the drainage basins and ponds had collected more rainwater about ten days previously which had quickly soaked away.

The sight of butterflies in the autumn is quite often a surprise but Red Admirals are always an exception in this area where mature Ivy plants form part of the hedgerows:

A Red Admiral butterfly basking on a late bramble leaf amongst 

a late patch of nettles. Their large wings can effectively absorb heat 

from the sun even on winter days.

Here in Sussex Red Admirals have been seen on almost every day of the year.

This year to date Red Admirals have been seen in November on almost every sunny day, the latest so far having been seen on 16th November after a clear frosty morning.