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).