Warden's Diary - Spring 2010
Lorretta Waters is the Trust's Neighbourhood Wildlife Warden and manages Wallingford Castle Meadows, Riverside Meadows, Crowmarsh and Mowbray Fields Local Nature Reserve, Didcot.
What a lovely spring we are having so far after such a long, cold winter it is a welcome relief. Most of the spring flowers were waiting for it to warm up a bit and now they are flowering in abundance.
Spring Flowers
The snakes-head fritillaries have been and gone and the bluebells and Loddon lily are starting to bloom around the pond at Castle Meadows. The cowslips have come through on the ramparts next to Castle Gardens, and the ladys smock is out along the ditches. Over at Riverside we seem to be having great success with the wildflower reseeding there are cowslips all over the patch that we sowed two years ago and evidence of many other species yet to come through including ox-eye daisy, knapweed, ladys bedstraw and yellow rattle. We hope to be able to extend this patch in the coming years, as this trial has proved so successful.
New Bird Boxes
During the past winter and spring we have been working hard on all the sites. At Castle Meadows we have installed three new owl boxes one each for tawny, barn and little owl. We will be monitoring these, along with all the other bird boxes at Castle Meadows and Riverside, at the beginning of May.
We have refreshed the path through the pond with a large quantity of new woodchip, so its looking very smart at the moment and we have also pruned some of the trees in the spinney and the roundels so that they grow into tall, straight standard trees.
Riverside Meadows
At Riverside we have installed a new gate and fencing at the southern end of the site to stop the cattle congregating here in wet weather and poaching up the ground this should make it much easier for pedestrians walking around the site. In the next few weeks we hope to do some minor repairs to fencing and the cattle drink now that the river has receded a bit.
Archaeologists at Castle Meadows
The archaeologists are back for their third and final year of investigations in Wallingford. This year they are doing two separate digs on Castle Meadows as well as other locations throughout the town. The first dig, focusing on the area where the North Gate of the town was located, has just finished but they will be back in July opening up another trench in Queens Arbour. There will be plenty of opportunities to get involved, so pop down and have a look between the 10th and 24th July.
Mowbray Fields, Didcot
At Mowbray Fields, in Didcot we are eagerly anticipating the hundreds of orchids that will be in full flower soon late May and all of June are the best times to see them. We will be holding an orchid walk with a local expert on the 19th June, so do join us to find out more about these fascinating plants.
If you would like more information about the sites and events or are interested in getting more involved with one of our volunteer groups or as a warden please contact me, Lorretta Waters, on 01865 409410 or 07982 218493, or email lorretta.waters@northmoortrust.co.uk
Summer 2010 Events
Guided Walk Bats at Wallingford Castle Meadows
Tuesday 8th June 9pm 10.30pm
Join a local bat expert to learn how to use a bat detector and recognise different species in flight
Adults £4.50 Children £1.50
Guided Walk Outstanding Orchids
Mowbray Fields Local Nature Reserve
Saturday 19th June 2pm 4pm
Enjoy a walk around the reserve to learn more about the wildlife living in the heart of Didcot
Adults £4.50
Guided Walk Bats at Riverside Meadows, Crowmarsh
Tuesday 29th June 9pm 10.30pm
Join a local bat expert to learn how to use a bat detector and recognise different species in flight
Adults £4.50 Children £1.50
Booking is essential for all events. Please call 01865 407792 or email admin@northmoortrust.co.uk.
