Spring Blossoms on the Riverside

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

To find Nature Notes and records for Wildlife here, click on

Hills Farm Wildlife Conservation

Today, 26th March 2017,  was the first day of British Summer Time - a fine spring day after a cold start.

Conditions on our Meet were very good for a change and the dull winter landscape lit up by profuse Blackthorn blossom, which was quite scarce this time last year.

An avalanche of Blackthorn blossom spills over the river bank, attracting a diverse range of early insects and foraging birds, some now busy nesting.

Today was the first day that butterflies were seen in numbers, with Peacock butterflies most numerous, warming up in the sun on the sheltered river bank with Small Tortoiseshell butterflies, near the prime butterfly caterpillar habitat - young nettles - where they will choose to lay their eggs.

It was good too to see clumps of Cuckoo flower (Ladies Smock) on the bank and - with more butterflies - in the wild field. We'll be watching out for Orange Tip butterflies later as their caterpillars need Cuckoo flower plants.

Green Woodpeckers were 'yaffling' loudly whilst we worked, both in the north area and the south, two different territories they occupy. 

The last Meet of the Winter

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

To find Nature Notes and Records for Wildlife - click on

Hills Farm Wildlife Conservation

The weather was overcast with occasional fine rain on our meet on Sunday 26th February 2017, with much more rain forecast for later in the day. More litter and rubbish was visible now - we took the opportunity on this last meet of the winter to collect every item spotted before Spring growth takes hold. On Tuesday 1st March we tested out the possibility of using fish 'landing nets' with an expanding lightweight pole to reach out to collect things out of reach on the river and banks. The trial worked.

Many robins were singing loudly along the river, guarding their chosen territory.

 This one is perched on a Willow, with catkins just appearing on the outer branches.

Ice then Rain at the end of January

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

To find Nature Notes and Records for Wildlife - click on

Hills Farm Wildlife Conservation

Our first Meet for 2017 on 29th January was busy, clearing large amounts of  rubbish and litter which had accumulated over the festive season on verges in areas frequented by people in a hurry - cyclists and joggers in the main. The river was flowing too swiftly to see if anything needed retrieving - no trolleys or bicycles were visible. The rain held off through the morning when ponds were still iced over - a normal winter's day.

The river after rain on 30th January 2017. It has not overtopped its banks yet this winter.

Unlike last winter there are no signs of spring - nor should there be - yet.

The river carries mud from the fields miles upstream.

December Mists

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

To find Nature Notes and records for wildlife here - click on

Hills Farm Wildlife Conservation

Our last Meet for 2016 was on Sunday December 18th - a misty morning, dry but overcast. Work along the river today included hauling yet another trolley and another very heavy, rusty bicycle from the river under the high footbridge. 

 The previous day had been very foggy, remaining so all day, with no wind to clear it - but a very close sighting of a Little Egret brightened the day. Looking north along the river in the murk, nothing seemed to be moving - but turning to look south, I noticed that I was being observed by a little egret low on the river bank - it flew up close by, not hurrying. A moorhen was paddling around below whilst the egret flew a short distance to perch on a tree branch, watching out for small frogs or fish.

Elsewhere along the river banks, our resident birds and winter migrants were foraging for rapidly dwindling fruits and seeds, although less easily accessible fruits were still plentiful. 

Brambles provide food for wildlife all year round

The bounty of late summer and autumn continues into winter - dried blackberries are a good source of seed for many foraging birds when other food becomes scarce.

The Winter Wind from the North East continues

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

The cold wind had continued for several days bringing rapid changes to the riverside, ending the long unpredictable autumn. There was no frost on the day of our meet on 27th November 2016  but the wind was drying out the layers of fallen leaves after heavy rainfall the previous week. The river was running fast but the level had receded somewhat, enabling the removal of a trolley and scooter from the Arun under the bridge - only to reveal another trolley entangled with a bicycle underneath. That will be work for December's meet.

November frost on the scrape - winter arrives at last, and wildlife

seeks shelter and warmth in the short hours of the day.

Our Certificate from RHS Britain in Bloom, South and South East

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

To find Nature Notes and records for Wildlife here, click on

HILLS FARM WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

This autumn we were awarded a Certificate from the RHS Britain in Bloom, South and Southeast competition in the 'It's Your Neighbourhood category'. See photo of the certificate below.

Group members viewed the certificate at our meet on 30th October 2016 - fortunately it was not raining but remained overcast all day as the mild, slow autumn continued.

Autumn at the end of October

Below is the Certificate awarded to the Group this year for the efforts of the past 12 months:

We were awarded Level 5 Outstanding - the highest level 

Autumn Bounty for Riverside Wildlife

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

To find Nature Notes and records for wildlife here - click on

HILLS FARM WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

Our meet on Sunday 25th September 2016 started under cloudy skies after early rain, enough to increase the river level and flow for a short while but not enough to soak into the dry ground under the trees. The clouds soon moved off and it became very warm in the sun. Shade brambles were full of blackberries, larger than those produced by brambles exposed to the summer sun where berries quickly dried up. These were quickly pounced upon by blackbirds which could be detected working their way through the deep undergrowth inside bramble patches, rustling vegetation and giving quiet calls. Now, these autumn berries are providing food for many more creatures along the river, the sugars attracting insects, including late butterflies, small mammals and most birds. Seed-eaters are provided with a huge choice  and will leave seeding blackberries for later, when food is scarce, and the ground under snow. Then larger birds will land on and shake off snow covering brambles to reveal blackberries gone to seed - but still a good source of food, together with seeding Dock, left standing - a feast for goldfinches, linnets and many others searching the bare winter landscape.

LIFELINE

Recent years and months have seen a huge reduction in species-rich hedgerows that used to sustain many thousands of birds and small mammals in the surrounding countryside. Now we have a serious task in protecting existing habitat and creating more diversity in order to sustain wildlife. Replacing habitat, like for like, is scheduled to take place but will take time - meanwhile the river course, with its string of new drainage basins and ponds becomes a lifeline, literally, for all species of displaced and resident wildlife and can attract new species too.

Be watchful and vigilant...