March’s subject is ivy. “Ha”, you’re thinking, “she’s lost the plot, ivy is a Christmas subject”. Well in a way it is, because it was a chance comment overheard at Christmas that set me thinking that I might make ivy a subject for one of these articles.We live in a low-ceilinged cottage which has some …
In December, the Teme Valley Wildlife Group visited a National Nature Reserve in Staffordshire to see a natural phenomenon known as a starling murmuration. The site, along with Ham Wall on the Somerset levels and the pier at Aberystwyth, regularly sees huge sun-down gatherings of wheeling and chattering starlings. The birds fly in tight formation …
After getting embroiled in slugs and snails last month, here, as promised, are a few words on hedgerows. When travelling through unfamiliar landscapes, I’m always struck by the differences in the colour of the soil, the size and shape of the fields, the types of livestock, and the plants that make up the living hedge …
Back in September I mentioned some slug and snail control methods in an article about slug pellets and hedgehogs. Imagine my dismay when I opened the paper today, to see a headline announcing “Gardeners are losing war on slugs”. The Royal Horticultural Society has released the results of a study that found that many commonly …
This month I’m writing about slow worms. There are three types of lizard in the British Isles: the common lizard, the sand lizard and the legless lizard. The latter is better known as the slow worm (or blind worm), although it is not slow/blind and not a worm. Slow worms are quite common in the …
Now is the best time of year to see some of Britain’s largest butterflies in flight. One such is the silver-washed fritillary, which I was delighted to spot for the first time this year in our local wood, back at the beginning of July. It is large a woodland butterfly, a striking creature, bright orange …
After our odd weather so far this year I don’t know what to make of this traditional July weather rhyme. “St Swithun’s Day, if thou dost rain, for forty days it will remain; St Swithun’s Day, if thou be fair, for forty days ‘twill rain nae mair.” St Swithun’s Day is commemorated on July 15th. …
Have you heard of the Great British Wildflower Hunt? Now could be a great time to find out about it, and maybe get involved. Promoted by the wildflower charity Plantlife, this is the second year of its existence, and the charity is keen for as many people as possible to take part. As a child …
Welcome to the new Teme valley wildlife group web site blog pages. The main purpose of the blog for the moment is to publish the monthly articles written by our chairperson, currently Steph Mocroft, that are sent out to a number of parish magazines, including Abberley parish magazine, Teme Span and Teme Triangle. If you …