Nature Reserve

Spring has sprung and wildlife in the Nature Reserve is stirring. The clouds of blackthorn blossom have faded hawthorn blossom is starting to appear.

Birdlife in the reserve is much noisier. Chiffchaffs and blackcaps and willow warblers have made the journey from Africa and southern Spain to nest here. The mix of habitats in the Reserve means that a greater variety of song can be heard in the Reserve compared with, say, a walk up the Black Ashy (footpath 101) which is surrounded by farmland. If you have the Merlin birdsong app on your phone (and if you haven’t it’s well worth getting: https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/) a walk around the Reserve with the app can often show as many as fifteen or more different birds are singing or calling. Walk along the Black Ashy and you might only hear half a dozen or so.

Kingfishers visiting the ponds to feed on sticklebacks continue to attract visitors from far and wide, particularly photographers trying to get the perfect shot. They are best seen from the Alex West Hide. If you want a hide key call Gordon on 07946302571 or call in at the Thornley Woodlands Centre.

The roof on the Alex West Hide was in a poor state so we replaced it rather than try to repair it. It should last last at least another 25 years. A big thank you to everybody who made a donation to the hide roof fund.

Following RSPB advice we will stop feeding the birds around the beginning of May to reduce the spread of bird flu. We hope to be able to resume in October.

Richard Barnes and the Durham Ringing Group visited regularly over winter demonstrating how they catch and ring birds..Once again it has proved very successful. We hope the Ringing Group will be visiting next winter. We’ll let you know.

You have probably seen the bright green, ring-necked parakeets around the village. There have been up to five.. What impact they have, if any, on other birds is still not clear. But as their numbers across the country are increasing rapidly, by 2400% between 1995 and 2023, it seems likely they will compete for food and nesting holes. https://www.bto.org/learn/about-birds/

Roe deer are being seen very regularly and seem to be much less nervous than in the past and allow you to watch them from quite close quarters. They are a mixed blessing. Whilst they are lovely to look at, they can do a lot of damage to trees, particularly to our coppicing efforts!

Butterflies have been emerging in the warm weather. Look out for orange tip, comma, peacock and small tortoiseshell.. If you’re lucky you might also see the tiny Holly Blue. It’s a lovely pale blue and tends to be seen around holly and ivy. Their names give a clue to identifying them. The male orange tip is a small white butterfly with orange tipped wings (the female lacks the orange tips). The peacock’s wings has “eyes” like a peacock’s tail. The comma is a bit more subtle. It’s is easy to identify by it very ragged, orange-brown wings. But it gets its name from a small white comma on its underwing which is a bit harder to see.

The Community Orchard

Everyone goes to the orchard at harvest time but don’t forget to go right now when the trees are in blossom. It’s a stunning sight and a feast for the senses too. Just take a moment to stand still and listen to the birds singing and the pollinating insects buzzing around. Then breath in to catch the scent of the blossom and wild flowers.

In recent years there have been lots of developments to encourage even more wildlife into the orchard. The pond was dug and is now an established habitat for newts. The pond also attracts dragonflies and damselflies along with many other invertebrates which in turn pollinate the blossom to ensure a good apple harvest every autumn. Elsewhere in the orchard nature club children have created a large bug hotel and a wild flower mound. There are reptile mats and log piles all designed to support an array of wildlife.

Please remember to keep children safe around the pond area. Also, please do not disturb the pond as there are protected species living in it. Do not walk around the back of the pond or climb on the stone wall. Moss is growing on the wall and it is becoming another vital habitat for a range of creatures throughout the seasons. Thank you for your co-operation.

So, take a stroll down to the orchard early one morning or as the sun sets and enjoy this very special community space. Tread gently with respect for the animals and plants that have made a home there.

Children’s Nature Club

The children’s Nature Club meets once a month on a Saturday morning in the nature reserve. We’ve been running now for over 4 years and lots of village children have attended over that time. We love welcoming new children as they reach their fourth birthday.

Over the past year children have been working towards their Green Tree Badge. This is a Royal Forestry Society initiative. We have learnt many facts about trees e.g. how to estimate how old a tree is, how tall it is and how it provides shelter for so many animals. We’ve come to appreciate how important trees are to our world and the climate. We’ve also enjoyed the magic of being in woods, sharing stories and poems and being creative. A few weeks ago, we made fairy dens around the old horse chestnut trees.

On Sunday 28^th June we will be holding a celebration afternoon tea in the Village Hall to present children with their Green Tree Badges. Keep this date clear to join us for cakes and scones and find out more about Nature Club.

For more information about Nature Club contact Rose on 07934869548

Dogs on leads

Just a reminder if you’re a dog owner to keep your dog on a short lead through the Reserve. Quite a few of the birds that nest here have their nests on or close to the ground and will desert their nest if disturbed. Thank you.

The AGM this year is scheduled for July 13^th. in the Village Hall. Time to be confirmed. We’ll be pinning up notices nearer the date..Do come along if you appreciate the Reserve. You might like to come on to the committee or become a Trustee.

We need your help!

To keep the Reserve and the orchard looking as lovely as they do at this time of the year we need volunteers to help us scythe, strim and coppice. No previous experience needed.If you would like to help, get in touch with Don on 07709820907 or Gordon on 07946302571.

We depend on donations for bird food, tools and repairs. If you would like to donate to help us look after the Reserve and Orchard our bank details are:

Lloyds Bank, Sort code: 30-19-54, a/c No. 01477367.

Thank you.

Charity Registration No. 1201323