Dawn Chorus Bird Walk
Orston Millennium Green
Saturday 10th May
Meet at 5am for a guided walk around the Millennium Green to experience this annual natural spectacle – The Dawn Chorus!
Replanting Church Wall Flowerbed
As part of the plan to increase the sustainability of the village I have been asked to design a new planting scheme for the flower bed in front of the church wall. The design will increase the biodiversity of the area, utilise native plants grown by a local flower farm and be a wonderful focal point for the village. I propose a mix of bulbs and perennial plants that are attractive to a wide variety of birds, bees and bugs. I have also chosen the plants to extend the flowering period for as long as possible with the added benefit of architectural seed heads. Dog Wood will be used to
add structure and height and also be visually striking in the winter months. The overall effect would be a naturalistic verge or hedge-bottom with drifts and clumps of plants rather than a formal placement.
Lunchtime musings from a flower farm
I was sitting outside having my lunch, making the most of the autumn sunshine, watching the finches feed on the sunflower seeds and listening to the crickets chirruping in the grass. After lunch I was about to head back to my task in hand when I felt the urge to go the long way around the meadow, a mindful meander, to let my lunch go down before tackling anything too strenuous. There were crows and jackdaws overhead and numerous dragonflies purposefully patrolling the site. Ahhh, I was feeling calmer and more relaxed already. As I got to the far end something caught my eye, perched on the rusty old trailer that has ended it’s days in the long grass – a thrush-sized bird with barred, mottled and spotted grey-brown plumage – it was a nightjar! Usually, as the name suggests, it is a night bird, hawking for insects and moths. By day they hunker down perfectly camouflaged on old tree stumps. This one was only visible as it had chosen the rusty bit of the trailer to have a sleep. I’ve never seen one before and when I texted Lionel he said- “Wow, that’s Rare!”. It is probably the rarest bird I’ve seen (or at least the hardest to find). If I hadn’t chosen to take that nature walk I would never have seen it. Also, I feel it is testament to the farm’s working practices of no chemicals, a more relaxed approach to weeding and a no-dig policy. The farm must support a huge number of insects to attract this particular bird. By doing less we can encourage more nature into our lives.
Spring
Spring is a time for renewal, welcoming back old friends that disappeared over winter, reminding us of the circular nature of existence. The warblers have arrived and are singing from the treetops. The swallows and martins too have started to make an appearance in our skies. The blossom is out on our trees and hedges, and the wildflowers are putting on a show in our fields and verges and the Millennium Green is no exception. Spring is happening everywhere you look, especially in the newly created copse between Smite Lane, the willow arch and the main green. The thinning of the trees has been completed, the area cleared and some wildflower plants and seeds have been funded, sourced and nurtured. It’s a joy to see the plants returning from their winter dormancy and the seeds germinating and creating an impressive carpet of foliage. The flowers are currently scarce but promising with primrose, cowslip, bluebell, stitchwort, red campion, wild garlic, sweet woodruff and cow parsley – to name but a few. The various leaf shapes, textures and shades of green hint at the show to follow. The flowers will provide nectar for the bees and insects, these in turn will provide food for birds and mammals, and these will be hunted by larger predators and their young. Next time you’re in The Millennium Green make some time to stop and look, listen to the birds, smell the blossom and flowers, feel the wind and sun on your skin and the textures of the plants and trees. Immerse yourself in the wild world on our doorstep and feel part of something special.
One Man and His Dog
I lost a dear friend and companion this week. I owe him a massive thank you for our walks together over the past 14 years. We’ve had some grand adventures in The Lakes and Peaks but it will be my daily walks over the same old patch that I treasure the most. Getting to know the locals – the other dogs and their walkers, the flora and fauna. Watching the changing of the seasons. The minutiae of everyday life unfolding. Without him I feel my road to mindfulness wouldn’t have been so successful. He helped me conquer my fear of the dark. Helped break the ice with interactions in new locations. And taught me the gift of unconditional love. He took a turn for the worse about 6 months ago and was miraculously brought back from the brink by Claire’s fish pie! (It really is very good!). I’m so grateful that I had those precious few months. I’m also grateful that he didn’t suffer and passed in the arms of someone who loved him dearly.
He is a part of me
A part of my past
A mirror to my soul
When he snuggles in so impossibly close
We are one
Making a New Year’s resolution
Making a New Year’s resolution can be a daunting task – get fitter, help the environment, find a fulfilling hobby, make new friends… the list goes on. But how do we achieve these goals and do we have the will power to see it past the end of the month? Joining a gym can be expensive and the monthly outlay makes you feel incredibly guilty if you don’t go on a regular basis. How do you make new friend with busy workloads and family life- and Orston can feel quite cut off from the big lights of the city or Bingham.
Luckily I have the a few suggestions-
- Become a trustee of the Millennium Green – it is free, no monthly expenditure! The only commitment is a 2 hour meeting every month or so. The benefits far outweigh the initial outlay- you help the environment and the community, you also feel incredibly fulfilled and proud of your achievements
- Become a friend of the Millennium Green- a small (guilty-free) monthly donation – far less than any gym subscription – ensures that our insurance is paid, the trees have a safety assessment and the inspection of Gibson’s Bridge is carried out. It would also contribute to the upkeep of the Millennium Green and help create vital habitat for the wildlife we share our village with. You don’t even have to leave your sofa!
- Volunteer on one of our work parties (see picture) – this group of locals- young and old; new and established residents (and one who was only visiting for the weekend!) helped renovate the struggling willow arch and also clear a section of scrub under the mature trees so we could reduce the undergrowth and encourage more wild flowers and diversity. You also meet new and interesting people and spend a couple of hours discussing everything from Yoga to Jazz; the environment or your favourite Indian Restaurant! You also work up a mild sweat and get some fresh air
Winter can be a tough time for some people
The dark nights seem never ending and access to our beautiful surroundings can feel inaccessible due to work or life commitments. It’s nights like these that help bring the community together and shed a little light on our lives. Another way to banish the SAD winter blues is to take a walk at lunchtime – just 10 mins can be enough to blow the cobwebs out and nourish the soul. I’ve taken to walking around Newark Library grounds, listening to the birds, catching a rare glimpse of the sun or feeling and hearing the leaves crunching under foot. Another new one for me is the moonlit meander. No torch (well, one in my pocket just in case!). Just me and the moon and the calm of the evening. I feel scared and excited in equal measure. Look after yourselves and your loved ones. Listen to your body and hibernate in front of the fire if that feels like the right thing to do. Alternatively grab the opportunity and get outside – you won’t regret it.
Going Green …
There’s a lot of pressure to Be Green. Look after the Environment. Save the Planet. With lots of advice, scare mongering and guilt-inducing media hype. Eat less meat; reduce your use of fossil fuels; cut down on plastic. But I feel that this is the wrong approach and can lead to apathy – where to start? what advice do I listen to? it’s all so overwhelming! How can we be expected to care for something that we do not know or understand. You are more likely to want to protect something that you truly love. Maybe if we stopped for a while and spent some time outdoors, in nature, we may pick up on the rhythms of the seasons, the ebb and flow of the inhabitants, the minute workings of the planet. You don’t have to go far – no great expeditions to Africa or The Amazon. You don’t even have to go to the Millennium Green! Feed the birds outside your window, watch the bees on your flowers or sit on the bench by the church. Start small, learn the names of a couple of birds or flowers, and as you name them they become familiar, and in time old friends. Some may disappear in the winter and you’ll look forward to seeing them again in the spring. And as you become hooked you start to care, start to truly love your little patch and in time that love will grow and you will want to ensure that the joy continues for generations to come.
Sharing is Caring
My wildlife wanderings are generally a solitary pursuit – it allows me time to reconnect and immerse myself in the sights and sounds that I encounter. However some of my most rewarding walks are when I share it with others – my guided bird walks or trips out with friends and our families. Recently a neighbour and fellow wildlife enthusiast asked me to go for a walk with her. I was very nervous as her knowledge of butterflies and other wildlife is well established with years of dedication. We had a lovely time, sharing knowledge and stories and learning a little more about each other. The time I spend with my daughter, Zara, out and about is equally rewarding. The meandering conversations, the joy of an encounter shared. It can be intense with tears and tantrums but we keep plodding on and work our way through it. The open space perhaps allows the energy to escape, dissipate, rather than bounce off the walls and turn stale and toxic. Like clay, we only find out who we are by the impression we make when we come into contact with other people.
A Midsummer Nights Dream
Midsummer, it was forecast to rain all day but it turned out nice. I tidied the house, got some dinner and then headed out for a walk to celebrate the solstice and watch the sun set.
I made my way around my usual route and mindfully meandered – taking in the sights and sounds. It was a beautiful, still evening – not too cold or too warm either. The birds were in full voice for the Dusk Chorus. I watched a family of chiff chaffs, then a family of reed warblers, and a family of long tailed tits. The hedges and trees were full of new life. There were slugs and bugs on the ground and swifts and swallows trawling the air above. The diversity of grasses, flowers and foliage was amazing.
With every step the sunset developed and got more and more dramatic. Turning from pale pink to neon red – burning an aura around the setting sun. I drank it all in!
On exiting the Millennium Green on to Smite Lane the sky fractured and burst into pools of lava. Islands of coral floating in the darkening ‘ocean’. I tore myself away to head home and scanned the woods to my right and came face to face with a large female deer. We froze and locked eyes – both of us too scared to turn away. Processing the situation, assessing the next course of action. She dipped a shoulder, turned her head and was gone – disappearing into the head – height cow parsley. Her hooves beating a retreat that echoed the pounding of my heart.
The sky gave a farewell finale, a pyrotechnic show that burned into my retinas and will stay with me whenever I close my eyes, a negative of a treasured memory, a keepsake, a souvenir to cherish.