NATURE NOTES: APRIL 2023

WALK ON THE 'WILD' SIDE

The sudden transformation of the woodland from winter to spring after Aslan's return in C.S Lewis' 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe', is marked by a mantle of yellow Celandine flowers. Here, too, they almost appeared overnight after a soil-soaking from the quiet dollops of snow and subsequent sleet and rain at the start of March. As I write, carpets of dark green, glossy heart-shaped leaves and shiny yellow stars of the Lesser Celandine reach on long stalks to the sun, from our once chocolate riverbanks and narrow blades of wild Ransoms are broadening into wider 'spears'. Primroses, that often indicate sites of ancient woodland, are already enticing insects, whilst the verdant shoots of Bluebell 'grass' sprout ever taller. Ice flowers that once clung in frozen clumps along each blackthorn stem, have given way to soft unfurling buds of delicate blossom whilst on nearby paths, catkins flung from the trees in high winds, appear to wiggle, resembling early caterpillars.

Spring has been arriving in fits and starts and alternating between warming and cooler temperatures. In mid-February, I found a very dopey Red-tailed bumble bee on the tail-end of a sheep. She should have been emerging around about now (April) and could have been disturbed from an old vole hole by a scratching 'hoof' or in response to the temporary warmer soil and air temperatures. There have been numerous sightings of early bees around the UK, way before suitable flowers and this decoupling between pollinators and plants is because the climate's changing but not the day length during these months.

As our seasons sway from their ancient patterns, mammals such as dormice and hedgehogs, have also been emerging early too, and sadly many have been flushed out of hibernation from over-zealous, and often ill-timed hedge-slicing. It's against the law to cut hedges from 1st March - 31st August (traditionally the birds main nest building season), but because everything's out of kilter we need to check outside of these dates. The Peoples Trust for Endangered Species have produced some helpful hedgerow surveys and nature management for farmers, landowners and gardener. Click HERE.

As in the BBC's recent spectacular 'Wild Isles' with Sir David Attenborough, our nature here in Slinfold never fails to surprise and amaze. Since I wrote last month, birdsong has ramped up a gear. A woodpecker up Clapgate Lane has found an edge over his rivals, via the black box at the top of a telegraph pole which further resonates and distinguishes his drumming; a pair of rare secretive migratory ducks have been spending their nights high up in an owl box; two long-tail tits are building a nest just yards from a busy main road and I've just found a weevil in the fridge!

When everything around us is pulsating with life and is vibrant, fragrant and vocal, it can sometimes be hard to believe that we are one of the most nature depleted countries on the planet. But each of Sir David's episodes came with more serious reminders - the 38 million birds who've vanished over the past 50 years, a 97% decline of our wild-flower meadows since the 1930s, the 60% loss of our flying insects over the past 20 years, the quarter of all our mammals that face extinction etc., and we are each one of us responsible in some way.

Following habitat clearing, changes in land management and various building works around the village, this the first time in over 20 years I haven't seen or heard any yellowhammers in one of their usual strongholds. Last summer I missed the nightingales, bats whizzing down a hedge-line following one of our streams and greater crested newts and dormice in my garden. I'm sure many of you will have experienced other losses in and around our beautiful village that we call 'home'.

So, this Easter, let's all do something positive. Remember that it's against the law to take, damage or destroy wild birds' nests and to kill, injure or take chicks, adults or eggs. Our dogs mustn't run out of control or out of sight but must be kept on short leads in most areas of open country between 1st March and 31st July to help protect nesting birds, and at ALL TIMES near farm animals, but especially now when the shock can induce labour and cause still-births. By law we must also each 'care for nature and not cause damage or disturbance'. E.g. It can take up to 7 years for a bluebell to recover from being stood upon which is almost a metaphor for us 'treading carefully' on the planet.

I'm thankful that just as nature is a blessing, we are blessed with a wonderful community of individuals here who are kind, generous and caring. For that one person who fills in an important invertebrate and toad/frog/newt breeding pond, there's another who will dig a new one. For that person who wilfully poisons wildlife around their field margins, there is one who will leave the land in their will for nature, for one who chops down trees and clears the scrub, there's one who coppices sensitively and will protect and nurture old trees and thickets. In our gardens/school/places of work, we can each provide homes, food and shelter by planting shrubs, hedges and trees, putting up bird/bat/butterfly boxes, building bug hotels, constructing ponds or damp ditches and leaving piles of logs, twigs, sticks and leaves.

It's not about being 'tidy' it's about being 'wild'. May that be the buzzword this Spring. Think of a hedge like a person, it doesn't matter what it looks like on the outside, it's about what flourishes within. And as the beauty of the inside is left to grow it will transform the outside anyway into a bounty of flowers and splendour.