Nature Notes: December 2021

SEASONAL SIGNS

Whilst I crunch over fields of frost and inhale deep lung-fulls of icy air, there's no wind, just a stillness to the morning as if the whole countryside is holding its breath, whilst the rose-cheeked dawn bathes leaf-clad trees in gleaming amber light. Alternate days, it's almost 10 degrees warmer, a different feeling and spectacle entirely, and surreal for mid-November as even a dragonfly zips past!

We've been used to the signs of nature to fulfil our expectations of the seasons with a regularity that also brings delight, comfort and reassurance, but with the way we've been living, driving climate change and the devastation of biodiversity globally, we've all been witnessing change and loss. 'Once in a decade' floods that cut off our footpaths, have been happening sometimes two or three times a month. Many mammals and birds, and especially bats, butterflies, hedgehogs and dormice, have drastically reduced in numbers in the village and those that are still around and searching for hibernation sites, haven't yet settled down because of the fluctuating temperatures and lack of habitat. Some of us have a habitual, obsession with 'tidiness' leading to the decimation of some hedges (instead of perhaps only pruning one side and leaving the other or the top for the following year), a raking up of all leaves, the felling of whole trees, the moving of piles of twigs and the clearing of other potential over-wintering and sheltering sites that are vital for our birds, mammals and insects to survive. If we want to enjoy nature and life as we know it, in all its fullness, the reality is that we each have to play our part, learn to think and act differently and 'give where we live' in order to save ALL biodiversity including ourselves.

One of the wonderful signs of winter which hasn't disappointed, has been the flocks of birds coming together to roost. There were sparrows and starlings chattering away as we stood in outside in silence on Remembrance Sunday in The Street. Gathering in numbers as the weeks go by, with more arriving just before dusk, starlings have begun to perform their incredible murmurations. I was really lucky to quite literally stumble upon a 'moving hedge' near Dedisham and was then caught up in the incredible soft pattering sound of the flutter of hundreds of feathers, as the startled birds, whirled upwards and outwards in playful swoops of choreographed melody and ascended and descended in a spectacular aerial dance, only feet above my head!

Another spectacular phenomenon, was the transformation of our fields into a vast silver green sea, as wave after wave of gossamer cobwebs rolled in a soft breeze and glinted in the sunshine. I wondered just how many spiders it would have taken to blanket such huge areas and what prompted them to spin to such extent, together overnight? A day or so later I came upon a large fairy ring of pretty Marasmius Oreades mushrooms, lying near the feet of two large oaks. Also known as 'resurrection mushrooms' as they can dry out completely and then reflate entirely when it rains, they were once thought to grow in the tracks of dancing fairies who then sat on them to rest. But these white-gilled fungi (that smelt of fresh sawdust), start as a single spore which then sprouts outwards a tangle of tube-like threads, like spokes from the central hub of a wheel.

As I write, the leaves still on the oaks have turned vixen red, tinged with burnished bronze. Our hedgerows are ablaze with reminders of summer sun in varying shades, from mellow yellow to sunset orange which light up dull, grey, gloomy days. An assortment of soft confetti in deeper reds and russets, swirl down gently over my head onto the earthly loam of our woodland footpaths, already littered with gold and studded with red fungal gems. A wonderful place to inhale deep breaths of tree-filtered earthen air!

From late afternoon, as temperatures dip, the village starts to carry the cosy fragrance of wood smoking fires. A warm glow emanates through curtained windows and the velvet black shadows of dancing orange flames inside, mirror their lick up glowing hearths and log burners. December is the time to open the windows of our traditional Advent calendars, featuring more seasonal themes and symbols in anticipation of what we hope to see and experience leading up to Christmas. Whilst nature may be changing, some symbols comfortingly and inevitably remain.

There are heavens of Christmas stars (one of our most recognisable festive signs) in our deep, vast, galaxy skies and one of the best meteor showers is due to take place from 7th-17th December 2021 with its peak after midnight on 13th/14th December 2021. So, if the skies are clear, find yourself a dark spot away from any streetlights and you could see up to 120 multicoloured meteors per hour! After the winter solstice on 21st December 2021 we can also look forward to daylight gradually gathering in intensity with longer and brighter days.

There's currently Holly a plenty (full of red berries this year) and ivy and mistletoe to gather for decorating our homes and making into door wreaths and pine-cones to adorn to furnish our ever-green Christmas trees whether permanently growing outside or those temporarily 'in' with roots in pots. As the smell of mulled wine and orange slices baked with cloves, seep through chinks in our doors and windows and the songs of carol singers and bell ringers emanate from our church, the feathered souls of creation sing their song from a medley of diversity around our bird tables. (Our traditional 'robin redbreasts' have been practising throughout November, my resident one greeting me every morning). There are sheep in the fields (reminding us of the shepherds), presents to wrap (the 3 wise men) and deer in the woods (a nod to Santa Claus's reindeer). There may not yet be a 'snowflake' in sight with our boots yet to crunch through powdered snow but I did see a 'rainbow cloud' in an otherwise blue sky that later 'hailed' over my rescued bunny I'd left in the sunshine. Heavenly hosts are also still to appear in the fields, but we can all be God's messengers and be loving, caring and kind to our fellow creatures whatever the time of year. 'Tis the season to be Jolly' so with this in mind, if you're feeling creative, below is a suggestion of a gift that you can make for the birds this season.

How to make a Christmas bird wreath:

- Gather and twist together bundles of twigs and fasten with wire into a ring.

- Mash some lard into a soft paste in a bowl (or melt some coconut oil if you're a vegetarian/vegan - NB. Don't use vegetable lard for birds)

- Mix in bird seed, breadcrumbs or grated cheese. (Peanut butter goes well with the coconut oil).

- Attach some twisted wire to the base of some pine cones.

- Smother the mixture into, on and around the pine cones and decorate with dried fruits or unsalted nuts.

- Attach the cones to the ring with the twisted wire.

- Decorate with greenery such as festive holly and other leaves, attach more wire to keep in place and then hang up your wreath.

Keep it topped up over Christmas and throughout the following winter months and keep a source of unfrozen water nearby.

Wishing you all a very happy, kind, and more connected Christmas!