For anyone who isn’t already a member (or just missed out on either our first talk of the new season or our bat walk), Heather, our perpetually hard-working Programme Secretary, has written up a short summary of both to entice you to future events.
Hedgelaying Talk – 21/9/26
It was lovely to welcome members and visitors to our first talk of the new season and we kicked off with all things hedges. Phil Hart is one of the UK’s leading experts. He provides many practical training sessions and takes part in hedgelaying competitions all over the country. Laid correctly, hedges can provide habitat for many decades for nesting birds, small mammals and insects. Ideal plants to use will provide a bushy growth for cover and fruits for food; blackthorne, hawthorne, viburnum and field maple are perfect examples. Sharp tools, such as a bill hook, are a must, and stakes placed at regular intervals hold the hedge together. Styles of hedges vary between areas of the country and abroad so it would be interesting to go to a competition to see the range of styles. Have a look online for practical training courses and give it a go!
Bat Walk – 23/9/26
Wednesday 23rd was a beautiful evening for bat watching at Mill Pond, with a bright moon and clear skies. Thank you to Paul for leading the walk and giving lots fascinating bat facts and information about his surveys. As we approached the water, the bat detector picked up common pipistrelles just as we spotted them zooming over the trees behind us.
The best spot was in front of the cafe by the water where insects were plentiful; bats were flying low overhead and across the water. Paul adjusted the detector to different frequencies to see which species were there and by the end of the evening the tally was seven – common pipistrelle, soprano pipistrelle, noctule, long eared brown, daubentons, serotine and another myosis species. A very successful and enjoyable bat walk
