Small Things
Anything that we can do to help nature at this time of the year is good, how ever small. Growing asters and daisies are good for butterflies, leaving seed heads on for food for birds and shelter for insects, leaving the grass a little longer - leaving water out for hedgehogs and birds. The important word seems to be ‘leaving’ - ‘leaving a bit of space for nature!
I had a surprise face-to-fact encounter with Britain’s smallest bird yesterday - it was magic! A Gold Crest, so close and unafraid. Nine centimetres long, from beak to tail tip, and weighing just a few grams, with its distinctive gold and black crown.
A little bird that we are more likely to see is the wren, only a few millimetres longer, from tip to tail, with a loud trill song for such a small bird. The wren brightens any day, hoping around looking for insects in the garden. They will be starting to make their neat round nests in a hedge somewhere. The other small bird that I love to see is the tree creeper, doing exactly what its name suggests; zigzagging its way up the trunk of a tree, with its sharp curved beak hunting for grubs and looking for somewhere to nest under the lose bark.
You will start to see posters for SWWAG’s Wyken Hall Plant & Craft Fair on Sunday 28th April from 10am till 4pm. This is our main fundraising event to pay for equipment, insurance and some heavier coppicing work. We would really appreciate some help on the day. An hour or two on the car park or entrance gate would be so helpful, and it is enjoyable. Do get in touch.
Mary Jane (259646)
Find us on Facebook and the Stanton website
Anything that we can do to help nature at this time of the year is good, how ever small. Growing asters and daisies are good for butterflies, leaving seed heads on for food for birds and shelter for insects, leaving the grass a little longer - leaving water out for hedgehogs and birds. The important word seems to be ‘leaving’ - ‘leaving a bit of space for nature!
I had a surprise face-to-fact encounter with Britain’s smallest bird yesterday - it was magic! A Gold Crest, so close and unafraid. Nine centimetres long, from beak to tail tip, and weighing just a few grams, with its distinctive gold and black crown.
A little bird that we are more likely to see is the wren, only a few millimetres longer, from tip to tail, with a loud trill song for such a small bird. The wren brightens any day, hoping around looking for insects in the garden. They will be starting to make their neat round nests in a hedge somewhere. The other small bird that I love to see is the tree creeper, doing exactly what its name suggests; zigzagging its way up the trunk of a tree, with its sharp curved beak hunting for grubs and looking for somewhere to nest under the lose bark.
You will start to see posters for SWWAG’s Wyken Hall Plant & Craft Fair on Sunday 28th April from 10am till 4pm. This is our main fundraising event to pay for equipment, insurance and some heavier coppicing work. We would really appreciate some help on the day. An hour or two on the car park or entrance gate would be so helpful, and it is enjoyable. Do get in touch.
Mary Jane (259646)
Find us on Facebook and the Stanton website