DOWN TO EARTH in The City

Another Woodland Wednesday and another day of discovery at Highbury Park. Jay's displaying but silently, Great Spotted Woodpeckers' feeding their young, a Jackdaw drinking from the stream, Blackbirds and Song Thrushes singing all around and not a peep from the Ringed Neck Parakeets. Parakeet at Highbury 2014 (photo by Ron) Woodland Wednesdays are the perfect way to hold consultation with parks users and there sure is plenty to talk about. On the whole our interests are biological but other factors are in play not least the exciting possibilities posed by the recently formed Chamberlain Highbury Trust. cheeky Jackdaw came down to drink from the steam just a few yards in front of the group (photo by Ron) A cool day, yet dry, so nothing to complain of, on the contarary, it was a day for standing around and watching nature at play in the park. A pair of Jays danced through the Veteran Oak without a word or a squawk or a screech, but silently hopping and gracefully fly...

The hedge at Cannon Hill is in fine form for the 7th growing year since laying in Winter 2010 Alder buckthorn is thriving, providing food plant for the Brimstone butterfly The width of the hedge is now around 2.5 metres, developing the habitat, which consists of more than the shrubs. The density of the hedge, together with its shading and sheltering potential, currently makes it particularly suitable for nesting birds such as Blackbird, Song Thrush and Dunnock. Nests from previous years can be seen during winter. As the hedge grows, and thus thins out at the base, laying will be considered once again, this should occur around 2020.  For a jolly good account on hedgerows this latest publication is well worth a read Hedgerow fingerpost Many wildflowers grow alongside and underneath the overhang - the last count recorded around 40 different plant species.  Hawthorn in bloom, May 2016 

late 19th century Sections of the old river course are evident in places and the previous meanders are quite noticeable

NIA Meadow improvement proposals for 2016

Mary Vale Road looking towards Hazelwell across the Rea Valley Holders Woods from Holders Fields   Willow trees mark the bank of the old Rea A muddy ditch bordered by wild garlic on the old course of the Rea Most of the old channel is now silted up but can still be found in places The 'engineered' or canalised river today functions like any other river with deposition and erosion commanding the way Red Campion, seeded in the Queen Mothers' Plantation last winter (2015-16), should provide good flowers during spring 2016 Turkey Tail fungus on a Cherry log Great view across Holders Pebble Fields and Woods (Image by Sally Hunt) Welcome Walks from the Kensington April 2016

This tree will go down as a big loss to the natural world The Ancient Yew Group have provided the following information - "Hello Alf Thanks for the measurement and photos. My colleague Toby Hindson says "6.6 metres at ground, with much convolution and fragmentation in the horizontal section, as well as obvious signs of previous felling and subsequent regeneration...........it is safe and fair to say that the yew is estimated at 700-850 years old rather than the 500 previously given." Hope this is useful." Rather oddly a Mallard has decided this to be a good nest site - Mallards do odd things sometimes

This publication was updated in 2009. Harry follows the river from its source at Wasley Hills to its confluence with the Tame at Spaghetti Junction. The booklet is full of gems and provides snippets of information about the water course from past and present - many details remain current even in 2016. The River Rea in spate March 2016