February Nature Notes

by David Tidmarsh - 17:47 on 13 February 2014

Kens Nature Notes

It is hard to tell if the days are getting longer with the weather being so grim, however we are sunning it compared to the poor folk down in the Somerset levels.
Six of us from the Conservation group managed to sow some wildflower seed last week opposite New Lambton turning circle, so fingers crossed we might get a colourful show to give me something to write about.
I have been thinning out some old Poplar trees near to Lambton House, these are mainly ones that are dead but they can still be good for making log piles in the wood, which if left alone to  rot down can support various wildlife creatures. Unfortunately due to more people changing to log burning fires it doesn’t always work out like that. I don’t mind some being taken but it would be nice to leave a few.
Snowdrops are brightening up small patches of the Plantation with signs of fresh growth from one of my favourite spring plants “Lords and Ladies” some of these seem to grow in the most inaccessible places; I suppose that’s how they are still growing there. They have lush green growth and when they finally mature have clusters of red berries surrounding a small spike.
We have made a start on harvesting our willow that is growing in our allotment at Sydney Street, this is an annual event which can be very laborious but needs to be completed before March every year. The main variety is called “Black Rod” and is an excellent willow for weaving; being very flexible and easy to work with, it can grow to a height of fifteen foot in a year. We can get at least eight rods from an average willow, some can be as thick as your thumb but the best ones are more the thickness of your index finger.
Basket weaving can be very enjoyable but quite hard on your hands and when you consider how much they are sold for and the length of time they take to produce, it is a skill for the very enthusiastic crafts person.
I stumbled across one of my old time favourite TV programs on “You Tube” it was a one I used to watch as a Lad and I think it probably helped me to gain more interest in Nature and woodland pursuits, it was “Out of Town” with Jack Hargreaves. I could watch those programs over and over again, anyone remember them? What Jack Hargreaves didn’t know about rural crafts wasn’t worth knowing. Check it out!
The bees are having a bit of a rough ride this winter due to the severe winds, we have had hives blown over and the bees don’t like that, so all the hives are tied down to hopefully prevent any further problems. We will not know till we see the bees flying out from the hives before the full extent of the damage to their colonies can be assessed. It a lot of fingers crossed at the moment, not very scientific but that’s about the best we have got.
Daffodils are about to burst forth so lets hope we get some glorious sunny spring weather to appreciate what marvels mother nature can give us.
   

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