December 2012 On the 12th, 6 Plymouth University students spent the morning searching for Brown Hairstreak eggs on the new Blackthorn growth along our roadside perimeter. This is apparently by far the best way of surveying for this rather retiring species, as adults either spend most of their time at rest, or high up in […]
![LLP Vole Hole [David Ramsden] 230308 (A)](https://www.barnowltrust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/LLP-vole-hole-100x100.jpg "Wildlife Diary 2011")
December 2011 On the 12th the regular Plymouth University group finally finished cutting back bramble from North Park. A couple of days later a Conservation Team Work Party spent some much-needed time in the orchard. The plastic tree guards that had become brittle in the two years they’ve been in service were taken off and […]
December 2010 A further 30+ Fieldfares were noted in the remnant hedge feeding on Holly berries on the 4th. By the middle of the month all the berries, holly, rosehips, sloes and haws had been eaten. The two ponds have both been covered in ice all month with just a small patch of clear water […]
December 2009 On the 5th, our annual Winter Work Party was attended by 12 volunteers, including a group from the Nature at Sundown project and from BTCV Plymouth. We spent the day cutting back the overhanging branches of the remnant hedge in Kiln Close and the predominantly Hazel road boundary hedge. Great progress was made […]
December 2008 At the beginning of the month, the Forde Orchard fruit trees were ordered from a local supplier for collection next winter. Maidens (1 year old) of Apple, Cherry and Plum of 11 different varieties will be planted in early 2010. The 30 individuals will be traditional local varieties selected according to flowering and […]
December 2007 The beginning of the month saw a very unseasonal Buttercup in flower in Half Hatch on the 3rd. Resident Wood Mice were still active under the corrugated iron sheet also in Half Hatch until at least 11th. The next day, five volunteers from Plymouth University came and moved the wood chipped from Forde […]
