Flowers at Last!

At long last we are now finding flowers around the reserve.  For several weeks the only flowers on the Observation Board were Gorse, Hazel and Daisy.   There is a lot of Blackthorn growing around the reserve, but it does not all flower at the same time.  The first flowers to break their buds are in shrubs along Risedale Beck.  One or two flowers

are soon follwed by many more, making the path look like it is covered in a white tunnel.

Dandelions are classed as weeds and are not easy to remove from a lawn, however at Foxglove we leave them, as they are an excellent source of food for many insects, once it warms up and the sun shines!

Marsh Marigold does not grow in profusion around the reserve but its bright yellow flowers are a welcome sign of spring in the Scrapes and a little later at Voley pond.

Keeping your eyes down looking for flowers or even more hopefully an insect or three you can miss something a little unusual.  This Moorhen was really struggling, trying to balance on the thin branches in a very strong wind!

We are more used to seeing them at the lake.  It is not often that you can catch Mallard, Little Grebe and Moorhen together.

It is the beginning of the school season.  Spennithorne Church of England Primary School visited on Monday and Wednesday, although cold they did pond dip and managed to collect some fish, beetle larvae and damselfly larvae.  Before they arrived staff and volunteers filled the sinks with water ready for the catch.  Staff and volunteers have worked hard over the winter to ensure that the water flow through the Scrapes is not only flowing but doing so in the right directions!   The immediate areas around the ponds have been strimmed, cut and raked and are now ready not only for schools but visitors too. 

A huge thanks to the volunteers who have been so busy.