Voice Magazines - Alfreton & Villages Edition - February 2025 CURRENT EDITION
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Hello Readers, Vole is in the air this month…..ooops, I mean Love!!
As you may have noticed, we’ve been playing with our front covers of late and this month had us all in stitches because you can’t help but read ‘Vole’. We considered this deeply and thought it was too amusing to change and as such, as the famous song now goes, “Vole is all around us”!
We hope you all enjoyed your Christmas and New Year and our new look magazine. The feedback on the street is that it looked so different in Jan, you didn’t recognise us (in a good way of course)!! Hopefully, our spangly new website tickled your fancy too – all feedback is welcome!!
Anyways, I’m not usually one to talk about TV with you guys but what do we all think to ‘The Traitors’ on BBC 1? Apart from the walking fringe, which has me manically swooping my hair back from my eyes (I honestly don’t know how it doesn’t annoy her!), is the herd mentality irritating anybody else? *Spoiler alert* A good half of the Faithfuls had enough evidence to be able to get Linda out far earlier, but because some of the more ‘extroverted’ in the group spoke loudly about how they ‘felt’, with little to no evidence to back it up, the others got carried along with the crowd and it resulted in the eviction of multiple Faithfuls instead. I suppose the resounding message is that sensible people prevailed in the end but at what cost? I honestly don’t know why I watch this programme, it is not good for the blood pressure. Bring back ‘Bake Off’ it’s much gentler for the heart and soul!
So, I’m off to declutter some more (new years resolution, you’ve got to haven’t you!!). See you in March when it’s hopefully a lot less cold and we see much more of the yellow shiny thing in the sky!
Happy Dearing…..ooops ….. Reading!
PS: Don’t forget to mention the ‘Voice’ when you use any of the companies in this magazine
The Language of Flowers For Valentine’s Day & Beyond
In the Victorian era, flowers were more than just beautiful gifts. They were a secret language, a way for people to express emotions and sentiments without speaking a single word. Known as floriography, this “language of flowers” gave symbolic meanings to different blooms, creating a romantic and subtle form of communication.
Roses: The Eternal Symbol of Love
Among the most iconic flowers, roses carried a multitude of meanings based on their colour. Red roses signified passionate love, making them the timeless favourites for romantic gestures such as at Valentine’s Day. Pink roses conveyed admiration and gratitude, while yellow roses represented friendship or jealousy, depending on the context. White roses, often called bridal roses, stood for purity and new beginnings.
Daisies: Innocence and Purity
Simple yet charming, daisies symbolised innocence, purity, and loyal love. Their association with youth and honesty made them popular tokens of affection among close friends and family. To receive a daisy was to be reminded of someone’s genuine and heartfelt care.
Tulips: Deep Affection and Perfect Love
Tulips, especially in red, symbolised deep affection and perfect love. Their elegant shape and vibrant colours made them a bold choice for expressing devotion. A bouquet of tulips was often a declaration of sincere and lasting feelings.
More Floral Meanings
Floriography extended far beyond romance, capturing a wide range of emotions and messages.
Ivy: Fidelity and eternal life, a symbol of strong and enduring bonds.
Lily of the Valley: Sweetness, humility, and the return of happiness.
Forget-Me-Not: True love and remembrance, a simple yet powerful sentiment, and the reason the flower is the symbol of Alzheimer’s UK.
Peony: Prosperity, romance, and good fortune.
Lavender: Devotion, calmness, and purity.
Snapdragon: Strength or grace under pressure.
Less positive emotions were also expressed through flowers:
Yellow Carnation: Rejection or disdain.
Marigold: Grief or jealousy.
Anemone: Forsaken or fading hope.
Though the practice of floriography has faded and few of us these days are aware of the meanings ascribed to flowers, its charm endures. Today, understanding the meanings behind flowers can add a thoughtful touch to gifts for loved ones. Whether it’s a bouquet of roses for a partner, daisies for a friend, or tulips for someone you admire, the language of flowers offers a unique way to communicate emotions.
But be aware, during Victorian times, the way you presented flowers also mattered. Giving flowers upside-down could reverse their meaning entirely, turning a romantic gesture into a rejection! Who knew a bouquet could carry so much weight?
This Valentine’s Day, why not bring a little floriography into your life? Share a bouquet with someone special and include a note explaining the symbolism of each flower.
After all, flowers speak a language all their own—and it’s one worth reviving. Just be careful to choose the right flowers for the emotion you are trying to convey. Sending a loved one a bunch of yellow carnations may not necessarily be a good move!
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A few unforeseen glitches (no one’s fault!) were sorted promptly and to our satisfaction.
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VALENTINES DAY WINE & CHEESE TASTING EVENING
A special evening of food, wine and music!
Friday 14th February 2025
Starts at 7.30pm
Blue Savannah on stage from 8.30pm
£20 PER COUPLE
BOOKING ESSENTIAL
NORTHERN SOUL/MOTOWN NIGHTS LAST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH
£3 on the door DJs Dave/Graham & guests 7:30pm - late
5’s & 3’s MONDAY DOMINO EVENINGS Swanwick & District League - approx 7:30pm
DERBYSHIRE BEE SOCIETY MEETING FIRST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH 7.15PM Start - All welcome
DERBYSHIRE TR CLASSIC CAR MEETING SECOND WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH 7:30pm Start - All Welcome
CHASE THE ACE - EVERY FRIDAY Draw at 7pm - Tickets available SWSC
DARTS NIGHT - EVERY TUESDAY Matlock and District league - approx 8.30pm
Slimming World Recipe
Teriyaki Chicken Bake
Method:
1. Preheat your oven to 220°C/fan 200°C/gas 7.
2. Put the teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, spring onions and vinegar in a large mixing bowl, then add the chicken and mushrooms and toss well. Tip it all into a non-stick roasting tin (about 30cm x 20cm), spray with low-calorie cooking spray and roast for 15 minutes.
Slimming World
When I saw this recipe was a ‘one pan’ meal I was all in... simple to prep, easy to bake and tasty to eat... the perfect bake/fakeaway!
3. Add the pak choi, edamame and sesame seeds to the roasting tin and return to the oven for 5 minutes, or until everything is cooked. Stir through the carrots and mint and serve with the lime wedges for squeezing over.
Serves: 2
Syns per serving: 3
Ingredients:
• 4 level tbsp teriyaki sauce
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 4 spring onions, roughly chopped
• 2 tbsp rice wine vinegar or cider vinegar
• 300g skinless and boneless chicken mini fillets
• 200g exotic or chestnut mushrooms
• Low-calorie cooking spray
• 2 pak choi, roughly chopped
• 250g frozen soya beans (edamame)
• 2 level tsp sesame seeds
• 2 medium carrots, peeled and shredded lengthways
• ½ small pack fresh mint, leaves picked
• Lime wedges, to serve
Ready in: 30 Minutes
Sounds of the De ep South
• A visit to Elvis’ home, Graceland
• A Mississippi evening jazz cruise with dinner in New Orleans
• A selection of optional tours, from a New Orleans Swamp and Bayou tour to a French Quarter food tour
This immersion in the sights and sounds of Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee starts out in Nashville, home of country music, before taking you to Elvis’ home town of Memphis and from there to soak up the ‘Delta Blues’ exploring small towns on the Mississippi. You’ll wind up in New Orleans with its legendary jazz.
W hat’s included
3-nights at Hutton Hotel, Nashville
The Soul of Music city night tour
2-nights at The Peabody, Memphis
Graceland tour
1-night at The Oliver Hotel, Oxford
2-nights at Cotton House, Cleveland
1-night at Anchuca Historic Mansion & Inn, Vicksburg
1-night at Monmouth Historic Inn & Gardens,Natchez
1-night at Houmas House Estate and Gardens, Darrow
2-nights at Hotel Monteleone, New Orleans
Evening jazz cruise
Return flights and car hire
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Introduction:
Dan’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of dedication and support. From battling the demons of heavy drinking to conquering the challenges of marathon running, his story is one of resilience, perseverance, and community.
Background:
Dan’s journey began as a 15.5 stone heavy drinker, facing physical and emotional hurdles. He struggled with low self-esteem and lacked direction in life. Recognizing the need for change, Dan took the first step towards a healthier lifestyle by joining Ultimate Health & Fitness Personal Training Facility. Under the mentorship of Chris Melhuish, he found a supportive environment where he could embark on his journey of selfdiscovery and transformation.
Transformation Journey:
Through unwavering commitment and the tailored guidance of the gym’s team, Dan began to see gradual but significant improvements in his fitness and overall well-being. He embraced a holistic approach to health, focusing not only on physical strength but also on mental resilience and emotional well-being. With each passing month, Dan’s confidence grew, and he found himself achieving milestones he once thought were impossible.
Marathon Success:
Dan’s crowning achievement came in the form of completing his first marathon. The journey to the marathon start line was filled with challenges and setbacks, but Dan remained steadfast in his determination. From the early morning training runs to the final moments of crossing the finish line, every step was a testament to his unwavering resolve. As he ran past cheering spectators, including his own family shouting “come on dad,” Dan felt a surge of emotion and gratitude for how far he had come.
Fundraising Efforts:
In addition to his personal triumph, Dan dedicated his marathon journey to raising funds for Prostate Cancer UK. Inspired by the support of his community, he launched a fundraising campaign that exceeded all expectations. Through the generosity of friends, family, and even strangers touched by his story, Dan raised over £1,700 for a cause close to his heart. The funds raised would support vital research and awareness initiatives, making a tangible difference in the fight against prostate cancer.
Conclusion:
Dan’s transformation journey exemplifies the profound impact of perseverance, support, and community. Through the guidance of Ultimate Health & Fitness Personal Training Facility and the unwavering support of Chris Melhuish, he transcended his past struggles and emerged as a beacon of inspiration. As Dan’s journey continues, his story serves as a reminder of the transformative power of belief, dedication, and the human spirit. It is a testament to what is possible when we dare to dream big and never give up on ourselves.
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AMBER VALLEY RUGBY CLUB
AMBER VALLEY UPDATE
The Minis and Juniors enjoyed an amazing Christmas party, bringing the community together for festive cheer.
Although bad weather has limited matches, the young players have remained dedicated, training at the Genesis Centre and Amber Valley Jujitsu Dojo to sharpen their skills.
For the Men, Amber Valley hosted Riddings Cricket Club for the annual Christmas game, played in great spirits with plenty of laughs and a lively atmosphere in the clubhouse. Despite January’s cancelled games, the team remains focused and eager to build on their progress as the season continues.
The Women’s team have faced similar weather challenges, but off-pitch training has been productive, with players developing new skills. Although match play has been limited, their determination to improve is evident. The team is eager to return to the field and is welcoming anyone interested to come and join a session.
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More than just a club, we are the #ValleyFamily. You can visit our website www.ambervalleyrfc.co.uk,
pages to contact us or follow what we do. You can find us at
A dogs Day out
This walk is perfect for this time of year as it makes really good use of quiet country roads and paths such as the Linby Trail and the area around Newstead Abbey to combine beautiful scenery with a good leg stretch and more reliable terrain.
7 MILE CIRCULAR FROM NEWSTEAD VIA NEWSTEAD ABBEY AND THE LINBY TRAIL
A moderate walk for you and your dog. This medium length walk should take around 2½ - 3 hours. There may be some sections of uneven terrain depending on the weather and there are a couple of road sections, so take plenty of care and make sure you wear appropriate footwear for the conditions. And, as always, follow the countryside code.
Starting Point: Car park adjacent to the Newstead Centre, Tilford Road, Newstead Village, NG15 0BS
1. Walk back through the car park entrance, turn left and then immediately right to cross over a level crossing. After the level crossing take the first road on the right.
2. Continue along the road until it bends sharp left. Continue around to the left, pass under a bridge pass by a metal gate and between two stone pillars. Continue straight for some distance and pass between two more stone pillars. Continue straight to eventually pass a pond and waterfall on your left.
3. Further on you will pass Newstead Abbey on your right and then a car park on your left. Continue straight and cross over a crossroads. After a short distance turn right onto a footpath.
4. Continue into the woods along the path until reaching a tarmac road. Turn left along the road and continue straight for some distance.
5. Upon reaching a large pair of metal gates directly in front of you, take a footpath to the right of the gates and continue straight with a tall hedge on your left. Continue to pass through a metal gate and then continue straight along a farm track for some distance, ignoring any farm roads off to the right until reaching a junction with a main road.
6. Turn right along the road signposted for ‘Village Centre’. After the road bends sharp right and then sharp left, turn immediately right along a tarmac lane signposted for ‘Linby’.
8. Continue to pass through a metal gate, over a stone bridge and pass by a pond on your left. Continue along the path until reaching a road. Turn right along the road into Linby village.
9. Pass the Horse and Groom pub on your right and continue along the road until reaching a roundabout. At the roundabout, turn right and join ‘Linby Trail’.
10. Continue along the trail for quite some distance until eventually passing a wooden signboard on your right reading ‘Linby Trail’. After the signboard, continue straight to cross over a bridge and then after a short distance bear left away from the trail and onto a playing field.
11. Head diagonally across the playing field towards the clubhouse building, near the clubhouse pass through a wooden gate onto a road. Turn left along the road and cross over a level crossing back to the car park.
7. Pass by a large wooden gate and then before reaching a double metal gate take the first wooden gate on the left and follow the path until passing through a gap in a hedge and then turn immediate right onto another footpath.
This walk is for illustrative purposes only. Voice Magazines Ltd takes no responsibility for anyone who chooses to follow this route and encourages all walkers to obey all byelaws and signs and to respect the area they are walking in, ensuring they pick up all dog mess and obey the countryside code at all times.
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All Around the Shire
VICTORY VS AND THE LIKE
It’s that time of year when coughs, colds and sore throats are all around us.
My grandad used to ward them off by always having a packet of Victory Vs in his jacket pocket. Invented as a throat lozenge in 1864 in Lancashire, they originally contained Ether, Liquorice and Chloroform. No wonder both lozenges and gums were popular.
The following year, again in Lancashire, Fisherman’s Friend were developed.
Menthol and Eucalyptus Oil were the main ingredients to help fishermen with respiratory problems when enduring savage winter trips on the North Sea. Many versions are now available and in numerous countries. They are easily identifiable as the packaging has remained essentially the same: a paper packet bearing the image of the trawler Cevic. Recognisable to a small girl rummaging around in her grandfather’s suit pocket.
Smaller still were liquorice imps. Teeny tiny black squares of strong liquorice laced with menthol. A mighty assault on your taste buds. Advertised as beneficial for singers “For clarity of voice” was the slogan.
Sweet shops would stock bronchial mixture sweets, Army and Navy, Tunes, Halls and Hacks. There was something for everyone.
In our latest talk by All Around the Shire, we will be covering these splendid little pieces of social history. I am sure our audiences will have lots of stories about these and many other winter warmers.
Janet and Paul Barrass are All Around the Shire. Find us on or email: oldfield512@btinternet.com for
Alfreton & District Heritage Trust
FEBRUARY 2025
COAL IS THE TRADEMARK OF THE DISTRICT
This was written of the Alfreton Urban District back in 1895 and to a large part, of all human activities, it has shaped the Town in many ways. Coal Mining has a recorded history in the district since the 13th Century, with its own customs, rights and privileges. Until the dissolution of the monasteries in 1535 the Abbot and Canons of Beauchief Abbey held the mining rights in the Alfreton area, the first recorded mine being at Swanwick Delves.
For the tenants living on the landed estates life was hard. Not only did they have to work their own croft or strip in the communal fields but also work a number of days per year in the lord’s mine and also cut puncheon wood for pit props from the lord’s woods. This situation persisted for many years and there was much resentment over the exploitation of these tenants.
Danger was ever present in the mines, fire damp and water just being two problems identified locally as early as the 14th Century.
George Turner and family, of Swanwick, became immensely rich as coal masters and during the 18th and 19th Centuries made Alfreton a great mining centre. Through the family the Swanwick Colliery Company was eventually formed. The Company
was later purchased by the Palmer Morewood Family and following the enclosures of 1812 they began operating on Alfreton Common and did so until Nationalisation in 1947. The following shafts were sunk:
• Swanwick Engine – first sunk in 1833
• Swanwick Old – first sunk in 1851 to the Top Hard Seam
• White’s Lane – first sunk in 1853 to the Waterloo Seam, and then extended in 1867 to the Deep Hard Seam.
• Swanwick Deep – first sunk in 1856 to the Top Hard Seam and then extended in 1867 down to the Deep Hard Seam
• Swanwick Common – first sunk in 1903 to the Waterloo Seam
• Swanwick New - first sunk in 1914 and went through all of the seams down to 50 metres below Black Shale.
• The Black Shale Seam was mined at a depth of approximately 359 metres.
The Colliery closed in 1968. Death and serious injury were never far away and during the operation of the Swanwick Collieries at least 75 men lost their lives. Is this the true price of coal? Men who toiled whilst others grew rich.
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Valentine’s Day
NOT JUST FOR COUPLES
Valentine’s Day often gets wrapped up in hearts, flowers, and that it’s only for couples who are romantically involved. But why limit the love? At its heart (get the pun?), Valentine’s Day should be about celebrating the connections that make life richer.
It could be your oldest friend, a family member, or someone who simply brightens your day. Whoever it may be, this is the perfect moment to show your appreciation. And no, it doesn’t have to involve chocolates or grand gestures!
As we get older (if not necessarily wiser), we learn to value friendships in a deeper way. Friends may have seen us through the highs and lows, stood by us in times of joy and challenge, and made us laugh when we needed it most. So, this Valentine’s Day, why not take a moment to let your friends know how much they mean to you? A heartfelt note, a surprise phone call, or even a simple message saying— “I’m grateful for you”—can make their day.
Family comes in many forms. The one we’re born into or the one we choose. Valentine’s can be an opportunity to honour the special bonds you share with siblings, children, grandchildren, or indeed any loved ones who feel like family. Perhaps it’s helping your grandkids to make a homemade Valentine’s gift for their parents or taking a moment to thank your siblings for the shared memories that have shaped your life.
There are also people outside your inner circle who play pivotal roles in your daily happiness. Maybe it’s the neighbour who always stops to chat, the person in your local café who remembers your coffee order, or the shopkeeper who brightens your day with a smile. A small token of appreciation—a thank-you card, a cheerful “Happy Valentine’s Day,” or even
a compliment—can spread joy further than you’d expect. And spreading love and joy actually makes YOU feel better too.
If you’re not sure how to celebrate those you appreciate, here are some simple ideas to get you started:
Write a Note: A handwritten letter or card is personal and always appreciated. Share a specific memory or quality you love about the recipient.
Create a Connection: Organise a small gathering or virtual catch-up to reconnect with the people who matter most.
Acts of Kindness: Deliver a small treat, lend a helping hand, or simply offer words of encouragement. Little gestures can have a big impact.
Share the Love: Spread positivity on social media or in your community by highlighting someone who inspires you.
Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be confined to one type of relationship. Love grows when it’s shared, and expressing gratitude to the people who make your life brighter creates a ripple effect of kindness. So, this year, let’s expand the meaning of Valentine’s Day and celebrate love in all its beautiful forms. After all, there’s no such thing as too much love in the world.
Guess the words and Fill in the crossword !
Pitcherwits® are crossword puzzles where some of the clues are in pictures. Sound easy? It’s not called “Pit-your-wits” for nothing! The mixture of cryptic and picture clues, combined with Professor Rebus’ unique sense of humour, will keep you entertained for hours.
If you’re looking for something different, fast paced, funny and richly well written, you could do worse than Irishman Kevin Barry’s The Heart of Winter.
Set in Butte, Montana in the 1890s, it’s the story of Irish immigrant workers in the pretty wild Wild West, but it’s also a crazy love story between a poetic young chancer living in the town and a bride shipped in from the east coast for another man.
Shockingly - but not too surprisingly, considering that the man the young girl is destined for is a 60-year-old religious nut with a penchant for
self-flagellation – the star-crossed young lovers are soon fleeing with a stolen horse and stolen money and with a posse of mad Cornish gunmen in hot pursuit.
Mad as it sounds this is a beautifully written, sometimes funny and sometimes savage little book, which also contains brilliant descriptions of the harsh Montana winters. It’s a cracking story but one you can’t ignore and one which definitely won’t bore you.
The atmosphere rackets along, the language is rich and it’s wonderfully dark and pulls no punches. Rambunctious winter reading.
Mike’sMusings
Our resident muser has the mike...
Mike is always glad to hear from you at : mike.musings@outlook.com
If I was Prime Minister I would……………..?
(Part 9 of………?)
I thought I’d exhausted this theme, particularly after last month’s rant from Wendy in Alfreton who wanted to stop concert goers from using their mobile phones in the auditorium. She wanted to ban the taking of pictures/filming of the act, and more controversially, regulate exactly when people, desperate or otherwise, could go to the toilet. I was wrong!
Kelly, who lives in Wessington – you may remember her from April when she went on, and on, and on again, about people spending all day on their laptop in a café – has, once more, been in touch, clearly upset about another anti-social practice. Her gripe concerns those who use the drive-in option at fast food restaurants – she mentions McDonald’s, but accepts it applies to any number – not with the intention of taking their order home, but to sit somewhere in their vehicle and eat. She has no problem with that in itself, but it’s what they then do with any food/ drink that has not been consumed that bothers her as, along with the packaging, it invariably ends up in the gutter, hedgerow or chucked over a fence into some unsuspecting person’s front garden.
We are all victims, says Kelly, as our neighbourhoods not only look a mess and attract vermin, but once it starts, others seem to think it’s all right to do the same and things just get worse. Meanwhile the lazy culprits – this was not the phrase Kelly used, but you can probably work it out for yourselves – just go on their merry way.
Now Kelly thinks that the restaurants themselves have some responsibility, and should use some of their huge profits to come up with a solution. She admits that she’s no scientist but suggests might it not be possible to have fast food packaging impregnated with some chemical that picks up the DNA of the customer, and that be used to track down the guilty parties via a national database. It needs working on, but could act as a deterrent if those tempted to just throw their rubbish away, knew there was a good chance of being identified.
Kelly’s suggestion as to what to do with them when they’re caught is too gruesome to repeat. Suffice to say, it involved some sensitive part (s) of the culprit’s body!!
On a personal note, and just to allay concerns that some readers may have about the relationship with my wife. We’ve been blissfully happy together – and she’ll back this up, if she ever gets to meet Voice Magazine readers – for many years.
We were clearly destined to be together, and just to illustrate the point, you ought to know that Mrs Musings and myself first met at an evening class. There, we were taught how to make jellies in the shape of US Presidents, and I knew instantly that she was the ‘one’.............................. from the moment I set Eisenhower.
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Top Tip:
Some of us will have been gifted houseplants – or have used them to cheer the house during the winter months, so they deserve a little TLC to keep them fit for the rest of the year.
Amaryllis are a particular Xmas favourite, but you don’t need to throw them after just one season. Deadhead the flower, and let the stalk die naturally. If you keep feeding and watering you may actually get a second flowering in summer and they should flower again next winter. Azaleas don’t like tap water – use rainwater if possible. Indoor cyclamen can be very sensitive to the wrong kind of watering. Always water from the bottom – i.e. from the saucer. Don’t ever overwater – their stems rot very easily, if the plant has not drawn water from the saucer in an hour, it doesn’t need it so empty the saucer... And finally don’t leave any houseplants behind a curtain on a windowsill at night. Frosts can be deadly even through glass. If you missed the boat and didn’t get round to planting allium bulbs in autumn, it’s not too late now. They will flower a bit later – late spring/early summer, but they’ll still give a good show. Likewise with lilies. Plant the bulbs about 8 inches deep in fairly light soil or compost. But remember they are poisonous to cats.
Strawberries are hardy, so to give them a good start for this year and clear away dead foliage. If you cloche them they’ll give you an earlier crop.
A COLD SNAP AND HEAVY SNOW BRINGS THE BIRDS IN
I wrote previously about the birds in autumn ranging around the countryside, particularly along woodland edge and hedgerows, but by December being drawn back to garden feeders. Although we had a generally mild, damp autumn and early winter, the suddenly plunging temperatures quickly pushed smaller birds back into gardens and to garden feeders. Indeed, the early mornings following a particularly cold night have been characterised by feeding frenzies and birds feverishly stocking up on food in order to replenish their vital stores of body-fat. The ability to keep warm relates to body mass and surface area so that a larger bird has more mass and greater surface area, but in proportion by comparison to a smaller bird, the ratio of area to mass is less. With a greater area to body mass ratio, small birds lose heat very rapidly and overnight can burn up their body-fat levels to a point which is critical. In severe circumstances, run out of energy and you perish! So, feeding becomes of the utmost urgency, and early morning after a nighttime chill is a key time when competition for space on the feeders is at a premium.
The result of the above is more birds visiting gardens and a greater variety of species. I have had eight or more male greenfinches along with several females, and similar numbers of goldfinches. These have been joined by a pair of chaffinches and of bullfinches, and a host of blue tits, great tits, and coal tits, all eagerly seeking the
peanut holders, sunflower heart dispensers, and fat-balls. More occasional visitors have included a female blackcap, the only one so far this winter, a pair of collared doves, a single stock dove, and a reasonably regular nuthatch. They have been joined, mostly on a mixed suet dumpling and fat-ball dispenser, by a male great spotted woodpecker. This latter visitor comes over from the nearby woodland to the big oaktree and then down to the feeders. Sometimes joining the communal feasting are magpies and these are occasionally in flocks of twenty or more, but also a carrion crow and a jackdaw, both of which struggle on the hanging feeders – simply because of their bulk. They are noticeably cagey and watchful and tend to leave as soon as the camera is pointed their way. Or maybe they are just shy. Our visiting jay is now quite regular too.
Another major change in recent weeks was the sudden appearance of a good numbers of migrant blackbirds with up to eight males, three or four females and two or three of what look like immature males. I do wonder if the latter were latefledging birds because of the climate-induced, extended summertime. These migrant birds may be from northern Britain, but mostly they will have come here to escape the deep-freeze in northern Continental Europe. These individuals are relatively comfortable with flocking together whereas our resident, breeding pairs are on territory and quite aggressive to intruders.
MALE BLACKBIRD
COCK HOUSE SPARROW
MALE BLACKBIRD
MALE GREENFINCH
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