Stephanie Mocroft 
It is customary to review the year in a December article, but what a year we’ve had. No-one could have predicted the events of 2020 – tragedy for so many and disruption to daily life for everyone. As far as wildlife is concerned, two unmistakeable facts have emerged. First, wildlife prospers in the peace and …
Last summer concern for the environment and worries over plastic pollution dominated the news, this summer the all-engrossing topic has been the coronavirus pandemic. At first sight they don’t seem to be connected, but on closer inspection subtle links can be drawn between them. Some corona viruses affect bats, of which a particular type has …
Following the many footpaths that criss-cross our island is an excellent way of keeping fit, seeing the countryside and enjoying the great outdoors. In 2006 my husband and I set out to walk the length of the River Teme in the company of two friends who were fellow residents of the valley. Fourteen years and …
In May I wrote about the wildflower charity Plantlife’s “No mow May” campaign, which was aimed at providing extra nectar for pollinating insects. I was therefore very pleased to see the following headline in my daily newspaper in June, “orchid’s blossom like never before as shaggy lawns enjoy record sun”. Two photographs accompanied the article, …
Having had the unusual combination of plentiful fine weather and plentiful time at home, those of us lucky enough to have a garden will have been able to spend more hours there than usual. Each year I count the different species of damselflies and dragonflies that appear on my garden pond, but this year I …
Whilst pulling up huge amounts of yards-long streamers of goose-grass, clearly planning a takeover of my garden from behind a large shrub, I pondered whether there was enough to say about this commonplace weed to fill a whole article. Stop reading now if you think the answer should be no. As a child, I was …
The subject I’ve chosen for June is a mammal that we rarely see but, by dint of its abundant works, is one we are all aware of, it is the mole. In The Wind in the Willows Kenneth Graham portrayed Mole as a rather timid creature, enjoying warm friendships with practical Ratty and boastful Toad, …
No Mow May! No, it isn’t a political slogan left over from last year, it’s the rallying cry of the wildflower charity Plantlife in an effort to increase the amount of nectar and pollen available to pollinating insects. (Although it did, weirdly, coincide with the departure of a certain Prime Minister in 2019.) This project …
Calling all computer whizzes with an interest in wildlife! The Teme Valley Wildlife Group has recently had a plea from the county butterfly conservators for records of butterfly sightings in the Teme valley area. We know that our beautiful, quiet valley is home to many birds, mammals, plants and insects, but those who strive to …
One of the Teme Valley Wildlife Group’s 2017 Sunday outdoor meetings was expertly led by David Graham, Knighton-on-Teme’s parish footpath officer. He has a keen interest in local history and showed us, in addition to old meadows, marshy places and Worcestershire’s oldest tree, a deserted village and a disused canal tunnel. I was reminded of …