A barn owl, a small Egger Moth and a Grayling butterfly are some of the highlights of reports from the Eastern Reserves at Etton and Maxey this summer. Other things to report include: Anglian Water activity Reserve manager David Cowcill reports that good progress is being made on the Etton Maxey reserve with the recent … Read more
Richard Astle reports on nature sightings in August I am sure we will all long remember August 2026, a month of intense heat and little or no rain, until the final week. It made for some nice evening and early morning walks on the Langdyke reserves and across the wider John Clare Countryside, but for … Read more
by David Cowcill Most scholars support the view that the Bayeux Tapestry was commissioned by Odo, William’s half brother, soldier and also Bishop of Bayeux. Odo was a participant at the Battle of Hastings,1066, and was often left in charge of England whilst William was away. Amongst Odo’s core team was Turold – variously described … Read more
The Natural world – Richard Astle’s round up of nature happenings in Langdyke land covering the early parts of the summer period June-July 2026 The first two months of Summer 2026 will be remembered, I am sure, for the four heatwaves and unbroken dry spell, the hottest and longest in history. And while that translated … Read more
Langdyke volunteer Jackie Robinson’s August report from around the reserves. She asks what are those lovely white fluffy things in the sky? And hopes for some rain soon … Well done to the firefighters, farmers and others who have responded to the ever-growing numbers of wildfires, let’s hope that not all of them were malicious! … Read more
Meet Georgie … Langdyke’s newest and probably most travelled member. She’s of no fixed address, most recently seen perched on the power lines alongside the Maxey Cut and occasionally glimpsed on one of Langdyke’s reserves nearby. Georgie is one of the rare Turtle Doves seen in the area – officially known by the ring on … Read more
Join Wildlife Travel and Langdyke Countryside Trust members for a nature trip to Estonia in May 2027 Following two highly successful natural history holidays to the Vercors in south-east France and Transylvania, Wildlife Travel is arranging another special trip for members of Langdyke. In May 2027, the group will travel to Estonia to experience the … Read more
If you are visiting one of our reserves please take extra care during this long hot spell which has created tinder dry conditions and increased the risk of fire. There have been a number of field fires across the area in recent days and all of our sites are obvious risks. So if you visit … Read more
Langdyke volunteer Jackie Robinson’s monthly round-up of happenings she has witnessed on our reserves Well, it’s been a bit hot, hasn’t it? The butterflies at least are loving it. At Swaddywell Pit 214 individuals have been counted this week and 208 last week. Marbled Whites have put on an excellent show, with Skippers and Meadow … Read more