Work party volunteer Jacki Robinson’s regular monthly report on what’s happening in Langdyke land …
We have had record August temperatures and more than twenty-five sunny days so far!
Despite higher August temperatures than in past years in our area, the reserves are holding up well in the circumstances.
There have been various members reporting sightings of a good number of Autumn Lady’s Tresses on the top field at Swaddywell, but that they are small in stature. One good sign though is that they are expanding their growing area. Two healthy specimens were spotted on the butterfly transect path well away from the usual area. It was thought that maybe they were showing a bit earlier than usual, we normally search around Bank Holiday weekend, but my historic photos show healthy specimens on August 17 2023.
The butterfly numbers are slowing down now but there are still plenty of Small Heath and various whites. Two weeks ago, there were ninety-nine individuals with a surprising number of Common Blues and last week we counted ninety-seven in total. The count runs until the first week in October. It has been so much better than 2024.
The Wasp spider was located by me on Sunday August 10 in the usual area but seems to have moved since. Her web looked abandoned last week but she has since been seen by a visiting member, so keep your eyes open. Chris Topper also had one in his garden. And Swallows and Whitethroats were showing off one Sunday.
The cabin pond was emptied of mud and plants and plans are to remove the liner, observe and monitor what happens over the winter and then decide on whether to reline, realign or monitor it a bit longer. Please be assured that the Swaddywell team are doing their utmost to come up with the best solution for the pond and associated wildlife and miss the pond as much as the visitors do.
Christ’s College Pit Nature Reserve had a workparty on Saturday August 24. It is a wonderful place to volunteer, and walk around, especially as it is a recently acquired gem for the Trust and little explored so far. It is so peaceful when compared to the Maxey Cut and South Drain areas, although it is located between them.
Many damselflies can be seen in the long vegetation alongside the paths and dragonflies that fly so fast just above your head that it makes you giddy trying to track them with Common darters perched looking for prey speeding off and then coming to rest again, usually in the same spot.
Torpel Nature Reserve was the venue of the Thursday work party this week. Nettles were strimmed from the mound making the path clearer and dead wood from the hawthorn by the natural pond (currently damp not wet) was cut and made safe, being then piled to create a temporary habitat pile. The sheep will be back on there at some time; they did a brilliant grazing job before. They are likely to be at Swaddywell first to do their magic there.
My garden has had a few nice visitors as well. A Small copper dropped to the grass and stayed about ten seconds; I had my camera in my hand but had been messing about with the setting so got rubbish photos! Comma butterflies love overripe bananas, and the wasps that are nesting in my air brick are enjoying the ivy flowers about six feet away, real opportunists. I have only been stung once as I head-butted a wasp when bending down to pick up the hedgehog water dish.
Southern hawkers, Common darters, Willow emerald and Blue-tailed damsels have all been interested in the pond, I have seen four small newt tadpoles, with gills and there is still a frog hanging about.
When I returned from the workparty this week there were eight dragonflies flying around my front garden, quite near a yew tree so there must have been a good food source about. My neighbour has a pond in her front garden, and I have one in the back so they could have come from either pond or the small dyke running along the field at the back. There are usually plenty of exuviae to be seen on the pond iris leaves.
Look out for workshops with the LCT Artists in Residence Kathryn Parsons and Sarah Lambert, various walks and talks on the reserves and other interesting events and volunteer workparties.
Please do get in touch if you would like to find out what we do on the reserves, you can email volunteer@langdyke.org.uk, look at the website and Facebook page. There are also articles in the Village Tribune often.
Have a good summer end going into autumn (especially if you look at the Horse Chestnut trees – they are already in their autumn colours!)
Hot summer: My Facebook memories have just popped up reminding me that 13 years ago on August 28 we had hail sto
PS Facebook memories just popped up – 28th August, 13 years ago – hail stones!