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Nature Notes – January and February 2020
JANUARY 2020 The 1st saw a few birds noted, these being:- Goldfinch (*4); Long Tailed Tit (*2); Mallard (*2); Magpie (*2); Redwing (*1); Wood Pigeon (*1); Carrion Crow (*1); Wren (*1); Grey Wagtail (*1); Feral Pigeon (*1) and Cormorant (*1). Red Campion (Silene dioica); Chickweed (Stellaria media); Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium); Common Field Speedwell (Veronica persica); Daisy (Bellis perennis); Canadian […]
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Nature Notes – November and December 2019
NOVEMBER Brief notes were made during what was the start of the 2 quietest months of the year. The weather still far from clement with rain interspersed with cold snaps and the odd unseasonably warm and sunny day. On the 6th I took some time to collect several dead Common Nettle (Urtica dioica) stems and noted […]
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Nature Notes – October 2019
Along the River Mersey on the 2nd I noted several troops of the Yellowing Knight Fungus (Tricholoma scalpturatum) growing with a variety of deciduous trees – they seem to be having a good year. The first frost of any potency was had on the 5th but this was fleeting and many flowers still held blooms. On the 11th a fine Cormorant […]
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Nature Notes – September 2019
The ambiguous weather conditions continued, a test of the human patience and the lives of the bugs, birds and blooms. On the 2nd Travellers Joy (Clematis vitalba) and Russian Vine (Fallopia baldschuanica) were both clambering over vegetation growing alongside the river whilst a few Brown Roll Rims (Paxillus involutus) were growing in the low cut grass. A small gathering of […]
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Howl-o-ween Sunday 27th October
Howl-o-ween, Heaton Mersey Park Sunday 27th October 12 – 2pm It’s time for another barking mad Howl-o-ween. Starting at 12 noon: 12.00-14.00 Café opens 12.00 Choir 12.30 Story time 13.00 Fancy dress procession and judging If you have not already registered for the Fancy Dress competition, you can do this at 11.45am There will be prizes to […]
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Nature Notes – August 2019
Another wicked month of unpredictable weather that meant that sightings were low throughout. A highpoint early on was the public walk on the 5th that saw 25 folk pootle along and contribute to an end list of 90 species in just over 2 hours showing what an array of wildlife can be found just on your doorstep. Butterflies […]
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Nature Notes – July 2019
During the early part of the month I was on my travels but on the 9th, when I returned, I had a brief wander around the orchard in the pouring rain and saw a lone Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) defy the elements. Rosebay Willowherb (Chamaenerion angustifolium) was vying for attention and offering up many glorious spires of purple/pink […]
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Nature Notes – June 2019
Area surveyed – Sidings Orchard, grassland up to the old railway bridge and the adjacent dipping pond. June was a testing month, the rain just wouldn’t abate and the chances to see anything of note were limited. Kingfisher (Alcedo athis) was still seen several times along the River Mersey and on the 9th, the rain […]
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Nature Notes – May 2019
Area surveyed – Sidings Orchard, grassland up to the old railway bridge and the adjacent dipping pond. On the 2nd Bird’s Foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus); Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum) and Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys) pushed out their first flowers and added a nice splash of colour and it was highly gratifying to see 9 Hairy […]
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Storytelling in the Orchard – Saturday 15th June
Come down to the The Sidings Orchard at Mersey Vale Nature Park on Saturday 15th June for an afternoon picnic and storytelling with professional storyteller Susie Oldfield. Please see our events section for more information and a link to register for a FREE ticket.. For anyone interested in helping to prepare the orchard for the […]
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