Thursday work party volunteer Jackie Robinson keeps a monthly eye on what’s happening on our reserves. Here’s her latest report …
Whether you think of autumn starting on September 1 (meteorological) or September 22 (Astrological) it seems like it’s here. Personally, I like this season with its vibrant colours, but I’ll go for the 22nd as it feels like we hold on to summer a bit longer. (I’d like to skip November though as it is a grey, murky month in my eyes).
At Swaddywell our Butterfly Transect monitoring will soon come to an end for 2025 but I was thrilled to see a Clouded Yellow butterfly on September 6. I first spotted it on a plant but it flew away before I could get a ‘seen it’ shot of it. I then saw it land but wasn‘t sure exactly where, so I took a photo of the plant I thought to look at when I got home. Finally, it landed on the gravel just before the bank approaching the boardwalk. It was the first one I had seen in the UK. It had also been spotted a week later and reported to Steve Lonsdale who fed it back via the Facebook page. There are Whites still about and a few Common Blues as of writing. (end of September)
On September 11, 11 Autumn Lady’s Tresses were counted on the top field, but they have been quick to go over this year. As we didn’t know if any would show after the hot, dry weather it’s great that some are still holding on. There are still some colourful wildflowers at Swaddywell, including Fleabane and Eyebright.
And surprisingly, despite the dry ponds, water-mint is evident, and some marjoram is still showing here and there, but most has gone to seed now. A Hobby has been seen flying across the pit area of Swaddywell recently.
The leaking Cabin Pond saga continues: After emptying the pond in August ready for the removal of the liner and moving on to the observation stage – it rained – a lot! Thursday’s workparty saw the Perkins volunteers up to their ankles in muddy water battling with a very heavy, wet, well installed pond liner plus various lengths of carpet surprisingly clean and dry. I’m not sure what that says about the water table rising theory, but the now empty, liner-free pond will be closely observed over the next year and photographic evidence collected, to enable a decision to be made on action going forward.
The workparties are still trying to do battle with the Saw-sedge and Willow saplings that grow wherever there is an area free of vegetation. Do come and help us if you can spare a Thursday morning at Swaddywell or Monday at Etton..
At Christ’s College Pit Nature Reserve, at the end of August, Steve and Liz Lonsdale carried out a small mammal survey. They reported back that there had been good numbers of common shrew, a couple of pygmy shrew, some wood mice and a bank vole recorded; promising results.
A new gate has now been installed at the eastern end of the reserve, between the Maxey Cut and South Drain. Warden Steve Zealand is happy to welcome volunteers and you can keep an eye out on the Facebook page and this website where he will post the latest news and work party dates.
Ian Wilson shared a message on September 1 hat at Etton -Maxey Pits there had been sightings of a female juvenile Common Redstart and the Glossy Ibis was seen heading off in a westerly direction. Also, on the Deeping Nature Watch Facebook page on September 19, Rob Walker Photography photographed a Lesser Yellow Legs at Etton behind the Golden Pheasant. Keep an eye out just in case it wanders into the Etton reserves and let us know.
Closer to home on the many Community Reserves (gardens etc) there have been a lot of Common Darters hunting and resting and Migrant and Southern Hawker dragonflies making appearances. I’ve been very lucky in Helpston, to have a Chiffchaff around for quite a few days, a Goldcrest in the conifer and today (20th) a Moorhen wandering around the pond area, yet again. It had a look at the bird feeder but couldn’t work it out! The Squirrels and Jackdaws could give it a tutorial, they are experts.
On September 4 ‘Talk and Walk’ around Torpel Nature Reserve hosted by Chris Topper, the reserve manager, allowed him to share his knowledge of the site with members of the Helpston Local History Group. Raising awareness in the community of this over-looked but valuable and historic Torpel Manor Field Nature Reserve may encourage visitors, and dog walkers alike to help out when the proposed raised beds for medieval wildflowers species are installed. To some locals, it is the field on the bend, that you can just about see into, as you drive past on the way to Bainton, Barnack or Stamford. Let’s hope it raises the profile of the site in a positive and engaging way.
The flock of sheep (all ewes) at Etton Maxey reserve has reduced down to 16 with the majority being moved to Torpel to give the grass there a good cut. There are also three Hebridean rams in Vergette Meadow (Dad and his two sons) and two Jacob rams in Etton High Meadow (all safely away from the girls!)
The barn guttering , which feeds water into one of the wildlife ponds, has also been repaired at High Meadow so hopefully that will raise the water level back to normal after the summer drought.
Please do get in touch if you would like to find out how you can help us maintain the reserves; you can email volunteer@langdyke.org.uk, or look at the website and Facebook page.
Stay well and warm everyone, I’m busy collecting seeds every time I pass a seedhead in the garden. The Honesty is beckoning me. It’s an obsession!