Summer at Feckenham?

 I think we could all be forgiven for thinking that summer 2012 arrived early over the last few weeks.   

buttercup

 

Common Mouse-Ear

Cut-leaved Cranesbill

Lots of plants have started to come into flower now on the reserve. After the recent hot spell I photographed these in bloom last week with others just about to burst forth. They are all in places where we did a late cut by hand a few weeks ago. The new growth and warm spell has meant that the grass, sedge and rush is now lush with many plants that would normally be in flower much earlier in the year re-appearing in these patches. 

Meadowsweet

Common Vetch

Although I've heard of cowslips and primroses currently in flower elsewhere, our cowslips aren't but they have put on plenty of strong new leaf growth so who knows, they might. 


The dragonfly laying is a migrant hawker (Aeshna mixta) which is only the 9th record on site since 1981, the last being 2005.  It's good news that they are back. 

Migrant Hawker

Visitors to the reserve will notice that our Galloways are munching their way round Hill Piece and Kernocks Middle Close but I think that the grass etc. is growing faster than they can eat it! 

Our winter work schedule is under way and we have plenty of work to keep us busy so, if anyone out there would like to join our Wednesday workparty, we would be pleased to see you. It's the last Wednesday of each month, 10.00am start on the reserve.


As winter approaches we look forward to seeing flocks of redwing and fieldfare descending on the fully laden hawthorne and if the temperature drops dramatically who knows what else will pay a visit....

Paul, Feckenham Wylde Moor

Chance Wood - Now & Then

I suppose you might think the title of this piece refers to my commitment to keeping up with the volunteer blog for Chance Wood but, in fact, I thought I'd show some of the changes which have taken place in the wood since I first got to know it.   

This has been inspired by a bit of a tidy up at home in the course of which I’ve rediscovered a CD of photos sent to me by Tony Williams who volunteered in the wood in the mid 80s and early 90s.  These are scanned copies of slides taken at that time.  Due to the soil conditions and rapid drainage the woodland takes a long time to recover from any work we do, we’ve come to accept that, and so it was quite surprising to see how much the wood has developed over the last 25yrs or so.

 

I’ve tried to take pictures today from the same spot as the originals although obviously the time of day / year is different.

Gateway 1980s

Gateway now

We spent many hours discussing how to restore the summerhouse - until it collapsed!

Summer House 1980s

Summer house now

Many photographs were taken from the bird hide, we could never have dreamed how digital photography and  21st century equipment would have revolutionised our results.

Bird hide 1980s

Bird hide now

 Who keeps moving the gravestones around?  - that’s not a quiz question like Paul’s Feckenham Blog!

Pet cemetery 1980s

Pet cemetery now

 Roger, Chance Wood

It's finished!!

At long last, I have finished the painting and it's now with the framers.

I'll be dropping off the framed painting at Lower Smite Farm in mid September - they're currently planning where the painting can be shown before the bidding closes in January.  It will certainly be on show at the Trust's AGM on 12th October.

I hope you like it and are thinking about bidding for it to help raise funds for the Trust.  More information about how to bid can be found on their website http://www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk/index.php?section=news:archive&id=3746 

Good luck with your bid!!
Valerie

Painting update

The painting is almost done!  I'll be putting the finishing touches to it while I'm in residency at the Bevere Art Gallery this week - please come along and see how I'm getting on and have a chat.

We're currently thinking about finding somewhere to display the painting once it's done so if you don't get chance to come and see it this week, we'll let you know where to see it in the future.

Valerie

Silent auction update

Just a quick note to update you on the progress of my painting for the silent auction.

I'm really enjoying researching the wildlife for the vignettes.  Learning about noble chafers was fascinating and I hadn't realised there were perry pears in Tiddesley's orchard.

The painting is coming on well and I'm hoping to finish it off by the time I'm in residence at the Bevere Gallery between 20th & 28th August.

It would be nice to meet some of you at the gallery and I do hope you'll bid on the painting and help raise funds for the Trust.

If you'd like to place a bid you can either email silent-bid@worcestershirewildlifetrust.org or send it to Sian Bakewell, Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, Lower Smite Farm, Smite Hill, Hindlip, Worcestershire, WR3 8SZ.

Thank you
Valerie

Have you seen this bug?

This vivid red and black hairy plant bug used to be restricted to a few places on the south coast of England but it's now on the move.  

Corisuz hyoscyami (c) Oliver Wadsworth

Worcestershire is being invaded and we would like records please, preferably with a  picture.  

In the last few weeks we have seen them at Hill Court Farm (Longdon),  Trench Wood, Chaddesley Wood and in Redditch so it could turn up anywhere.  Several have been seen on thistles.  The bug feeds on plant juices by sticking its long mouth parts into the stems.    

We've only around ten records over the last couple of years so this is a real newcomer - please keep a look-out and let us know if you see any.  If you could email your sighting and any photos to wendy@worcestershirewildlifetrust.org in the first place that would really help us out.

Many thanks

Harry

Summer at Feckenham

Now that summer is well and truly with us the reserve is looking very good. 

Firstly the meadows have been mowed and bailed and these are soon to be taken away. We have the Galloway's back in the southern end and they will be moved around in the next week or so. Our Roving volunteers visited last week and spent the day mowing and raking off the western end of Middle Ley Close. 

Our Sedge Warblers are still singing in the reed bed as are the chiffchaff and whitethroat. On Sunday we had a pair of Cetti's warblers singing in the alders. 

  There have been some interesting insects about and these two longhorn beetles (Rutpela maculata) were spotted making the most of the sunny day. There are literally thousands of grasshoppers and coneheads in the un-cut meadows. 

This wolf spider was busy carrying her young around on her back; I counted around 50 babies on this one.

Butterfly numbers are quite good but the strong winds over the past weeks have meant that there have not been so many seen on the wing. We did, however, have our first marbled whites for many years. Apparently these are having a good year in general. 

Dragonfly and damselfly numbers are good and last week we saw our first emerald damselfly this year. I am hoping that white-legged are going to turn up in the next week or so. Black-tailed skimmer and emperor are also active around our ponds.

 Paul, Feckenham Wylde Moor