Vole

There could only be one subject for today's blog post.  As we were returning from our walk around Mapperley Reservoir, we passed over what was historically known as Parker's Bridge.  This is the site where we have previously spotted a Water Vole, so as we approached the bridge, I half jokingly said, 'keep a look out for the water vole', little thinking that we would actually see this elusive creature.  How wrong I was!

There, sitting in the water, nibbling the juicy stems of the newly-emerging Great Reedmace, was the most delightful Water Vole.

Usually very nervous of people, we were careful not to make too much noise or sudden moves, but the Water Vole seemed not to be at all bothered by us watching it.  Indeed, it didn't even budge when a couple of horses and riders came clopping over the bridge.

Water Voles (Arvicola amphibius) have become rather scarce in the UK as they have suffered a catastrophic level of predation by the American Mink.  So, these days, it is rare to spot a Water Vole at all, but to get such a good view as we did this morning, simply made my day.

Go on then... just one more picture.  What a little beauty!

Destruction?

Over the past year or so, throughout our local area of Shipley Park, there has been the worrying sound of chain saws cutting through the trees and seemingly destroying a huge area of woodland.  The area in question has been referred to by me in the past as the old West Hallam Colliery site.  During the very wet winter, while it has been too muddy to walk along those footpaths, we have been disturbed by the noise of trees being felled and timber being taken away.
The area has a lot of history, from the first coal mines being dug in the late 1700's, until the last mine closing in 1930.  Iron workings started in the area in the 1800's and by the 1940's, the area was being used as a coal disposal site, serving the local open-cast mines.  All of which carried on until the 1980's.  Since that time, the soils have been stripped and the area was left completely bare while nature slowly took over.  A couple of years ago, it had become this...

This morning, following some much better and dryer weather, we were once again, able to have a walk along these paths, so we thought we would go and see what the damage was.  Looking along the same path as that above, the view today looked more like this...

Huge piles of felled wood and vast amounts of cut, scrubby brash were dotted along the paths...

But, all is not as bad as we had thought.  It had been my fear, that the area was being cleared of its trees, ready for developers to move in and begin building (there have been proposals for building housing estates close by, for some time).  However, a quick read of an information board which has now been erected at one end of the site, allayed our fears.  The whole site has been taken over and managed by Natural England, The Forestry Commission, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and Butterfly Conservation, to protect and enhance the species and habitats present on the site.  Indeed, thousands of new Hawthorn bushes have been planted along newly erected fences.

The whole area has been 'opened up' to make it a more attractive place for our butterflies and plants.  Dingy Skippers and Small Heath Butterflies are among the 23 or more species of butterflies which will benefit from all this work, as well as over 130 different species of flowering plants, mosses and lichens.
So, what we had feared was to be a scene of destruction and utter devastation, has turned out to be a most fantastic opportunity for making our local nature reserve, a far better and more naturally-diverse place.  We will keep watching!

Sculptural

Walking around Shipley Park, you are immediately stuck by the amount of work being carried out by the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust.  Fields are being fenced off, styles are being erected and in a few places, various pieces of artwork have been installed.  These mostly take the form of wooden sculptures of hedgehogs, moles and acorns, but one piece of sculpture is rather noticeable as you pass by the field of Highland Cattle close to our estate. Appropriately enough, it is of a highland cow, but instead of being of wood, it has been crafted from steel.

The rusty-red colour and the posture - head down as if munching the grass - are reminiscent of the real thing, chewing the cud just a few yards away.  I must say, I rather like it.

More natural than the sculpture, but no less 'sculptural' in appearance are the male catkins of the Goat Willow Trees which are still in full flower at the moment.  Close to, they are stunningly delicate little flowers with bright yellow, pollen-filled anthers.

Many of the Willows have passed their best by now, but a few - like this one - are still flowering bravely and adding yet more colour to the springtime hedgerows.

Spring Flowers

It's fast becoming a wonderful year for early Spring flowers.  I have mentioned quite a few of them already, but I'm sure I will be forgiven for banging on about them a bit more.  Our walk this morning for instance, took us once again, up Shipley Hill to look at the displays of blossom to be seen there.  I mentioned the Maple trees a few days ago and their pale, lime-green flowers...

Well, while these are undeniably, quite splendid, another member of the same family - the Acers - is starting to flower on Shipley Hill and, while its flowers are not nearly as numerous, what they lack in number is more than made up for in colour.  These are from a cultivated Acer, this time a 'cut-leaved' variety known as Acer palmatum dissectum.

Below all these trees and shrubs, the small, native Lesser Celandines (Ranunculus ficaria) are blooming beautifully while their leaves carpet the woodland floor around the tree trunks.

Lastly for today, another cultivated plant and one which was tumbling over the Suffragette Wall close to the Derby Lodge Tea Room.  This delicate-looking shrub is a Spirea, commonly known as Bridal Wreath and its flowers were both numerous and beautiful.

Gorse

It is said that Gorse is in flower, somewhere in Britain every day of the year. Around these parts, the gorse bushes took a bit of a hammering during the very cold winter of a couple of years ago and it has taken them until now to really get back to their best.  This morning, as we walked along Slack Lane towards Mapperley Village, the rich, coconut scent of these bright yellow flowers wafted on the breeze as the sun warmed their petals.

Gorse (Ulex europaeus) is well known throughout Europe and is a particular favourite in the UK, forming as it does, hedges and field boundaries all over the country.  The wood of the gorse is non toxic and has been used in the past to make such things as cutlery.  It's resilience has also made it popular with makers of garden ornaments, despite its propensity to warp and twist.  But for now, it is just a welcome and fragrant indicator that Spring has arrived.

Another indicator of the season was to be found on Shipley Hill itself.  The Cherry trees are beginning to show their true colours and one in particular was showing off to the full.

All in all, a pretty good morning - and we remained dry too!

April Showers

We set out for a walk this morning with the skies starting to blacken - despite the forecast promising a nice morning - and before long, we were wondering if it had been such a good idea after all.  Deciding to brave the showers, we pressed on and reached the lakes of Straw's Bridge as the sun came out once more.

The dark clouds cleared, so we abandoned the idea of cutting our walk short by returning through Pewit Carr, opting to return home the way we came.

In a small stand of Alders which grow close to the lake, a clump of Cowslips were enjoying the sunshine too.

Soon, the clouds began to gather once more, the wind picked up again and we had another 'dampening' before we got home for coffee. April showers and March winds all in one day!

Green

There has been a bit of a hiatus in posts over the last few days owing - in part - to the fact that I have been getting my head around my new PC and the new Windows 8 operating system.  At my age, things take a little more time to 'go in' than once they did, but I'm getting there.
It was nice to get out and about again this morning, if only for a relatively short walk around Straw's Bridge and through Pewit Carr.  Everything is as green as I feel when getting to grips with Windows 8!  The Dog's Mercury (Mercurialis perennis) is covering the woodland floor with a carpet of its own greenery.

One of our more common and well-known wild flowers, the first drifts of Dog's Mercury are always a welcome sign that Spring is upon us.

Another plant which hides its beauty with green flowers, is the Field Maple.  These small trees are starting to bloom now too, but their flowers can easily be overlooked and seen as fresh, green leaves.  Closer inspection reveals them for what they are however.

One set of flowers which could never be mistaken for emerging leaves are those belonging to the flowering currant bushes which are in full fig right now,  This Currant bush is to be found growing alongside its neighbouring Forsythia bush, atop Shipley Hill and the two together make for a fantastic display of floral fireworks.