Abington Naturewatch: December 2017

Sunday, 31 December 2017

Diseased Ash tree on Recreation Ground

The Abington Recreation Ground committee commissioned a survey of the trees and regrets to advise that the Ash tree behind the school pool is diseased and will have to be felled very soon. It has a bracket fungus growing on it which will feed on it and reduce it to pulp!

"This tree has, at the base, on the side facing the school boundary, brackets of Ganoderma wood decay fungus and along with that, considerable internal decay at the base of the ‘white rot’ type. This destroys lignin, leaving cellulose behind. The effect is to destroy the compressive strength of the wood, leaving behind a stringy, pulpy mass."

Take care if you wish to bid the tree farewell!

27 December 2017

3rd January 2018

Saturday, 30 December 2017

Snowdrops in December - early?

Walking around Granta Park today, Andy M saw a few Snowdrops already in flower - first signs of an early Spring?!! The catkins were well advanced too.

On the cricket green, a flock of around thirty Fieldfare and Redwing was feeding, alongside a good number of Starling, Black-headed Gull and Pied Wagtail. I had hoped to see the Starlings murmurating - but alas not today - although around twenty Reed Bunting were seen dropping into the reeds to roost. And there were around 130 Mallard on the lake in the sunset!

Fieldfare

Mallards in the sunset!

The Aims of Abington Naturewatch

At their meeting on 9 April 2005 the members approved this revised version of the aims of Abington Naturewatch:

To monitor and record the wildlife (fauna & flora) within the borders of the Abingtons;
To encourage protection of our wildlife, maintain its quality and foster its diversity;
To promote awareness of the richness, potential and problems of the natural environment of the Abingtons;
To cooperate in improving access to the local natural environment for the benefit of all Abington villagers.

Pat Daunt, Founder

The organisation is informal and communication is by email if possible; members are notified of events from time to time. Contact details are maintained by a small "project team". There is currently no membership fee as costs are covered by voluntary contributions at events.

Members are encouraged to report notable sightings of flora and fauna within the Abingtons to the appropriate sector coordinator and an illustrated record is published annually.

A map of the area covered, with some features noted, is available here: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=213774935674882866424.00000111dca2be9f06ab8&z=13>

For more information or to join, please contact David Farrant on (01223) 892871.

Contributions to our records should be sent to sector contacts or either of the above. Photographs may also be submitted to Andy Merryweather (amerryweather61@gmail.com)