Hello everyone. Well, I have hardly ventured out into Ma Nature’s domain so far this year thanks to the prolonged period of wind, rain and generally dismal weather, and then a hefty dose of something unpleasantly Covid-esque. So, it came as a bit of a surprise when I suddenly noticed that Spring had well and truly sprung while I wasn’t looking!
The Wild Daffodils (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) came and went amidst the gales and showers, but, as I write this on a blustery April day, the banks and verges are smothered still with Primroses (Primula vulgaris), Lesser Celandine (Ranunculus ficaria) and patches of Wood Anemones (Anemone nemorosa).
The aroma of Wild Garlic (Allium ursinum) hangs in the air and the white globes of flowers float above a sea of lush, green leaves that flows through the woodlands and under hedgerows to join the upright ranks of Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) and the yellow ribbons of Dandelion flowers (Taraxacum officinale).
In many places the patchwork of traditional Oestre colours has given way to a sea of electric blue as our native Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) make their annual appearance. Unfortunately, I have noticed more than a few hybrids on the verges as the Spanish Bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica) continues its insidious invasion of our countryside.
Many of these flowers are indicators of Ancient Woodland, as are two of the least flamboyant plants in Quarry Wood, Dog Mercury (Mercurialis perennis) and our lovely Townhall Clock plant (Adoxa moschatellina), extensive in the Viking Camp.
However, there is a group of plants that make our wildflowers, and even our prehistoric-looking Ferns, seem like last year’s fashion statements. These are the Bryophytes, comprising of the Mosses, Liverworts and Hornworts, and their plant lineage is believed to be the oldest on the planet. Recently I had the pleasure of accompanying a very enthusiastic and knowledgeable group of Bryologists on a survey around Crowhurst Churchyard and some of the surrounding woodland in February. We were led by County Recorder, Brad Scott, and it was as if a whole new world appeared under our hand lenses, a fascinating experience.
As I have mentioned before, we are keen to achieve some extensive monitoring studies as part of our Silver Jubilee and I am delighted that Jacqueline Rose, another County Recorder, has agreed to carry out another full botanical survey later in the year.
Please do have a look at the Biodiversity section of the website for full lists of previous surverys and species lists, from the earliest days of Quarry Wood as a village nature reserve and regular studies since then.
I have often remarked in previous articles about the rather insipid Dawn Chorus we get these days, in marked contrast with the Spring tidal wave of birdsong that I remember as a child. However, the birds we do have in our corner of the world, though fewer in number, are truly delightful.
Just to prove that Cat Stevens had it about right, I have been woken up by a melodious song just after 4.00 in the morning as the local Blackbird (Turdus merula) welcomed the dawn. He was quickly joined by the chattering of several House Sparrows (Passer domesticus), our most common bird according to the Great Birdwatch, and a tuneful Robin (Erithacus rubecula). As the Avian symphony built up, the deep baritone of a Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus) added another layer and then a drumming Woodpecker, probably a Greater Spotted (Dendrocopos major), provided the percussion. Above it all the prime male vocalist, the Blackbird, dominated the performance with a crystal-clear rendition that cascaded down from the treetops.
Courting and nest building take priority at this time of year and the wonderful songs we enjoy are a huge part of the rituals. However, there is also some charming courtship behaviour to watch. A male Wood Pigeon performs a series of graceful bows to his prospective partner while Mr Robin delicately places tasty morsels of food in his good lady’s beak. High above, male Crows (Corvus corone) impress their mates-to-be with dare-devil aerobatics and complex manoeuvres.
What about our early morning Blackbird you may ask, how does he take time out for a spot of courting? Well, like many of us males, he does do a bit of rather embarrassing prancing about in front of the ladies, but in the main he relies on his dark good looks and his ability to sing. The latter he does with verve and an astonishing display of stamina. For not only is he my very early morning alarm, he can be heard throughout the day and is often the last of the daylight birds to finish his song in the evening. Take the time to sit back and listen and you will be transported away to another plane where the sights and sounds of nature dominate our lives and the world is a better place.
In this highly symbolic poem, Ronald Stuart Thomas has managed to capture the whole experience of listening to my personal favourite songbird, no matter what time of the day it is!
It seems wrong that out of this bird,
Black, bold, a suggestion of dark
Places about it, there yet should come
Such rich music, as though the notes’
Ore were changed to a rare metal
At one touch of that bright bill.
You have heard it often, alone at your desk
In a green April, your mind drawn
Away from its work by sweet disturbance
Of the mild evening outside your room.
A Blackbird Singing, R S Thomas (1946)
So here we are in the merry month of May, the Green Man walks again, the days are long, and Ma Nature’s denizens celebrate in an explosion of sound and colour. Please help them by sticking to footpaths, keeping dogs on short leads and respecting our Fauna and Flora. Then the world will truly be a better place!
Paul Johnson
pgcrow@pgcrow
Plough Twitten, Crowhurst: 27th April 2024
The twitten that goes up behind The Plough has its own little micro-climate, sheltered from the wind and chill, it feels the earliest Spring sun before the trees come into leaf and things seem to come out just a little before everywhere else. These photos are from 27th April and show a fabulous range of nature along a path barely 200 metres long!
An extra exciting find was this Goldilocks Buttercup (Ranunculus auricomus)…
Image credits: Local photography: Lorna Neville. Birds: Pixabay royalty-free.
tales from quarry wood 