Surviving the Winter

Many birds come into Foxglove from the surrounding area and make use of the variety of food provided.  As has been stated on the blog, the feeders are being filled regularly in this cold weather.  One of our volunteers fills containers with fat and seed, which is really enjoyed by many of the smaller birds, like this Coal Tit and Blue Tit

Long-tailed Tits also visit these feeders.

Damselflies and dragonflies survive as larvae in the silt at the bottom of the ponds.  Some may spend several years in the larval stage before hatching into adults.

Ladybirds hibernate as adults.  Each species likely to favour different places, such as in tree bark or leaf litter.  

Some butterflies survive winter as eggs or pupa, but Peacock 

and Brimstone spend the winter hidden away as adults.

Amphibians have the choice of many of our log piles, or some may even stay in the ponds, whilst others will dig holes or find holes in which to hibernate.  Our Common Lizard, another cold blooded animal also hibernates, from October through to March.  

Plants also need survival stategies for winter.  Deciduous trees drop their leaves.  Perennial flowers have underground roots and their leaves may also dies back.  Annual flowers produce seed which are dormant until conditions are right for germination.  From March onwards, ever hopeful, we start to look for the seedlings of Yellow Rattle across the middle moor.