Nature Notes from Pete Lambert

Thanks again for your wildlife sightings over the early Summer. I know spring is well gone now though it remains cold. Small signs such as clusters of Wych elm fruits creating a shaggy head to this small woodland tree mean the flowering that heralded them was at least two months ago. 

I have been ending each day recently with a walk down the classic country lane that takes me home. Each traverse of this greening mile leads to a new discovery, roughly a new plant per trip. Hedges are at their most dynamic in the Spring and early summer, putting on a grand frothy cow parsley flourish just before the first topping of the year. I am particularly fond of the common name for the Garlic mustard, Jack In the Hedge, a tall and pretty lane-side feature. The nettle type flowers have revealed themselves in turn, Red and White deadnettle and the ancient yellow archangel. Straggly stands of Greater Stitchwort have added their white cut petalled flowers to the show, sitting below unexpected blossoms of wild apple. I must also remember the single spot where a gooseberry bush at first puzzled and then revealed it’s tiny green fruit and protective thorns. 

A single patch of white Campion, was matched elsewhere in the village by a proud show of Cowslips. Other days brought the untidy leaf whorls of wood avens to my eye. Wood Avens have strawberry like yellow flowers and whilst pondering this I found a sprawling area of Wild strawberries for real. The purple hooded flowers of the ground ivy added early colour though common, still a native and providing nectar for the insect community. A short stretch of wider verge promised a late summer show of toadflax, just for now grey green needle like leaves standing above the cocksfoot grass. Ancient hedges are very similar in many ways to old woodlands harbouring bluebells, dogs mercury and dog violet, remnants in many cases of woodlands lost.

We had goldfinches raid the old seed-heads in the yard, and a close encounter as a swallow acrobatically swooped through our front door and fluttered against the window, till carried safely back to the open air. Other bird news includes sightings of Tree sparrows in Twyford, calling Blackcaps, returning House martins, and proudly nesting Mallards. A heron has been seen quartering it’s breeding territory, somewhere nearby a nest I am sure. On a recent ramble exploring the Offa’s Dyke I came across a Mute Swan nest. The large island of reeds and plant matter had been built at the edge of the Montgomery canal at the end of a garden, what lucky people to witness at such close hand the immense care invested by the adults in their young.

A last hedge row addition needs mention the Cuckoo flower or Lady's smock, it has pink tinged flowers, usually fond of wetter patches and the food plant of the Orange Tip butterfly. It is only the Orange Tip male who flashes the orange blazes at the end of his wings, the female shyly waiting in shelter. A similar relationship is found between the Speckled Wood butterfly males, just like the one near the School jealously guarding a sunlit glade against all-comers. Who knows what the weather will bring but regardless I look forward to my next wildlife ramble, I hope you enjoy yours.

Happy Wildlife Spotting, yours Pete.
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