STEP INTO SPRING

WILDLIFE TIPS FOR CENTRES, SCHOOLS, PARKS AND GARDENS

AUTHOR Paul Ritchie, Sorbus Learning CIC

Paul is a biologist with a passion for Outdoor Learning and teaching local communities, voluntary groups and others about ecology, conservation and wildlife gardening through courses, workshops and talks. As Director and project leader of a small not-for-profit Community Interest Company (CIC) he promotes understanding of our natural world. https://sorbuslearning.co.uk/

PLANT-SPOTTING

Hawthorn or mayflower

Hawthorn or mayflower (Crataegus monogyna) is the only British plant to be named after the month in which it flowers, but is also called whitethorn, quickthorn, bread and cheese, and hoppity-haws.

It was the ancestor of the maypole, source of May Day garlands, decoration of Jacks-in-the-Green and features in wreaths on carved faces of the Green Man. The flowers, leaves and fruits help reduce blood pressure and can act as a mild sedative. It is a significant component of hedgerows in the UK and an important nectar source for a wide variety of bees and other insects (1).

Dandelion

The dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) grows in carpets of golden-yellow flowers with jagged green leaves (hence its name from dent de lion or lion’s tooth) and clouds of featherweight seeds blowing in the wind. Now often considered a ‘weed’ to be exterminated in lawns it had a high repute for its medicinal powers and was once grown extensively for chemists and as an alternative to lettuce in winter salads.

There is a classic account of making dandelion wine in Laurie Lee’s Cider with Rosie (2) and as a family we have made vegetarian honey with dandelions gathered off our village green. For wildlife it is an important early nectar source for queen bumblebees emerging from hibernation, enabling them to build nests and produce workers (3).

BIRDWATCHING

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Tawny owl

On warm nights in late winter and early spring, tawny owls (Strix aluco) in town parks and farmland become very vocal as they form breeding pairs, dueting with sharp ‘ke-wick’ female calls and long haunting hoots of the males.

This familiar occupier of hollow trees is known by some lovely names across the UK, including gilly hooter (Shropshire), screech owl (Sussex), Jenny houlet (Yorkshire) and hill hooter (Cheshire). These medium-sized owls are most likely to be seen hunting for small mammals at dusk as they rest wellcamouflaged in mature trees during the day. As with other owls, its diet can be investigated by dissecting the regurgitated pellets of undigested bone, feather and fur, which is a fun and informative activity to carry out with families (4).

House martins, swallows and swifts

House martin (Delichon urbica) and swallow (Hirundo rustica) with their forked tails, dark upperparts and light underparts arrive back in our gardens and farmland in early spring after long and arduous journeys from Africa. The martins build their enclosed coconut-shaped nest of mud under the eaves of buildings and cliffs, whilst swallows make an open mud-cup nest inside buildings and caves.

House martins favour feeding around villages and towns whereas the swallow is more at home over farms and pastures. The rarer dark brown swift (Apus apus) arrives later in the season and spends most of its life in the skies above villages, towns and cities where it can nest on tall buildings (5).

LEARNING RELAXING

After over 30 years working in woodland as a volunteer, a ranger and more recently as an Outdoor Learning practitioner I need no convincing of the power of trees and ancient woodland to heal us both physically and mentally, as well as provide a fantastic resource for teaching.

Entering a wood is to start a journey of discovery about our natural world, uncovering ancient wisdom and finding ways to relax from the stresses of modern life. I want to encourage you to make time to sling a hammock, contemplate the canopy, hug a tree, listen to birds and feed your senses (6).

Why not visit a small wood or grove of trees and find a quiet spot to lean against a tree, rest on the ground or lie down in a hammock and ‘bathe’ in the natural world.

A hammock is a great way to relax outdoors and take time out from your busy schedule to look up into the canopy… soak up the diffuse light glinting through the verdant roof above, feast your eyes on the vitality of life in the tree tops or listen to the call of birds and humming of insects. You can buy a reasonably priced hammock from a variety of places and once you have found ‘hammockable’ trees all your cares can drift away as you lie back and feed your senses on woodland wildlife around you (7).

MAKE A WILDLIFE POND!

Supplied by the author

An area of water, no matter how large, is one of the most important features that you can create in a wildlife-friendly garden or green space. Not only does it support an interesting variety of aquatic plants and animals, but it also provides vital drinking water for all wildlife.

A pond or wetland area in a garden or park will be visited by insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Ponds are the most popular type of garden feature and bucket ponds are ideal for small areas (8).

To establish a vibrant healthy pond, make sure that you select native plants from different growth habitats. Submerged oxygenators such as hornwort, spiked water milfoil, watercress and water starwort help keep the water fresh and aerated.

Aquatic plants with floating leaves, like amphibious bistort, broad-leaved pondweed, frogbit, water crowfoot and native water lilies, shade the water from sunlight and help reduce algal growth.

Marginal plants such as marsh marigold, water mint, soft rush, yellow flag and lesser pond reed grow in the shallows at the water’s edge and provide invaluable cover for insects and amphibians (9).

Take it step-by-step

1 Chose a suitable site and mark out the perimeter

2 Dig a hole and create shelves or layers

3 Line the hole with old carpet and waterproof liner

4 Fill the pond with water

5 Plant in and around the pond

6 Watch wildlife and marvel.

* For references see the full publication