Granta Park Flora

22nd March 2026 - the Cherry-plum trees were in fine bloom near the sluice. Whilst the flowers look similar to Blackthorn, which is also in flower at the moment, Cherry-plum flowers first in Feb-Mar, whereas Blackthorn is a little later, mostly in Mar-Apr. Cherry-plum tend to have both leaves and flowers out together, whereas Blackthorn always flowers on bare black stems. The Cherry-plum flowers are larger with rounder petals, and formed on short stems (pedicels), whereas the smaller Blackthorn flowers have slimmer petals and almost no pedicel, and therefore appear to hug the stems. Finally, Cherry-plum tend to be taller and more typically 'tree-shaped', whereas Blackthorn tend to be shorter and more scrubby in form.

The good number of Bee Orchid leaves showing through the grass along the Avenue promises a good show of flowers later in the year, and Lesser Celandine flowers were fully open, enjoying the sun!

Cherry-plum trees

Cherry-plum flowers

Bee Orchid leaves

Lesser Celandine

Birds on Granta Park

22nd March 2026 - there were a few interesting birds seen around Granta Park. The male Gadwall seen on the lake was likely just passing through. Whilst some Gadwall remain in the UK all year round, many just winter here, heading north and east to breed. A pair of Ruddy Shelduck were also seen on the smaller lakes, these 'exotic' birds are now naturalised populations from escaped birds. A pair of Reed Bunting were spotted in the reedbed, and a Long-tailed Tit seen searching for food in amongst the just-emerging Hawthorn leaves. Along the river, remaining a safe distance away, a male Mandarin Duck was spotted in its fine breeding plumage. Andy M.

Male Gadwall

Male Gadwall

Male Reed Bunting

Female Reed Bunting

Long-tailed Tit

Ruddy Shelduck pair 

Male Ruddy Shelduck - black neck ring and less white around the bill

Female Ruddy Shelduck - more pronounced white around the eye and bill

Male Mandarin Duck

A walk up to Hildersham Wood

19th Marsh 2026 - Andy M walked up Chalky Road to Hildersham Wood, and spotted a few mammals, including a small group of Fallow Deer some of which were quite young, and a few Brown Hare. A male Yellowhammer had started singing, and somewhat surprisingly a Grey Heron was seen resting in the stubble field.

Fallow Deer

Young Fallow Deer

Brown Hare

Yellowhammer male

Yellowhammer male

Grey Heron

Grey Heron

Early flowers on the LSA

19th March 2026 - on a stroll along Chalky Road to Hildersham Wood, Andy M spotted these early spiring flowers out - including Lesser Celandine, Sweet Violet and Blackthorn -  as well as the seedheads of Old Man's Beard

Lesser Celandine

Sweet Violet

Blackthorn - along the ORC

Blackthorn - many flowers closely packed on bare stems (ie no leaves yet). 

Alongside Old Man's Beard seedheads. Along the ORC.

Blackthorn

View from Hildersham Wood, looking NE

View from Hildersham Wood, towards Linton

Hedgehog, on the prowl

18th March 2026 - this Hedgehog was caught on camera prowling around Gaynor F's garden at night.

Butterflies

17th March 2026 - Gaynor F saw these early spring butterflies in her garden recently; a Small Tortoiseshell and a Peacock.

Crab Spider

16th March 2026 - Andy M got up-close and personal with this tiny little Crab Spider, just a few millimetres across, whilst it crawled along the garden bench. On occasion, perhaps when alarmed, it raised its rear and spun a strand of silk into the breeze, maybe in case it needed to escape by floating away.