Blog - East Meon Nature Group

Is 2020 a ‘Mast’ Year?

A ‘mast’ year is when there is a super abundance of nuts and fruits such acorns, beech nuts, hazelnuts, horse chestnuts, sweet chestnuts, apples etc. Click on this link for the definition: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2017/10/autumn-is-back/ My experience walking around this year in late summer and early autumn is that this is definitely a ‘mast’ year. It has been difficult to walk down some steep footpaths in the woods due to the amount of nuts on the ground.

By brianrbiggs, 5 years16/10/2020 ago

Fungi

Autumn and Mushrooms Go Together

With the recent rains and the mild weather mushrooms and other fungi are becoming abundant. I found a nice picking of field mushrooms today! Please do not pick any fungi to eat unless you are sure of what you are picking.

By brianrbiggs, 5 years09/10/2020 ago

Amphibians

Squashed Toads on Coombe Road

With the recent heavy rains toads have been making their way to areas close to their breeding pond (near Coombe Road and north of Duncombe Wood) before they hibernate for the winter. Unfortunately a number of them have been squashed by passing vehicles as they cross Coombe Road. There is a much more significant problem in the late winter/early spring when literally hundreds of toads migrate to the pond. We are setting up Toad Patrols Read more…

By brianrbiggs, 5 years04/10/2020 ago

Rivers and Streams

The Bourne Flows Again

The Bourne that flows out of the spring fed pond to the north of Duncombe Wood, and then flows north to the corner of Coombe Road near the village, has run started to run again. It stopped on 16/06/20 as the very dry summer set in. The dates of stopping and starting vary every year, depending on rainfall. In the wet summer of 2014 it did not stop at all. (A bourne is an intermittent stream , flowing Read more…

By brianrbiggs, 5 years03/10/2020 ago

Insects

Knot Grass caterpillar

Pamela Peacock spotted this colourful knot grass caterpillar recently. It was identified by ‘Butterfly Conservation’. It is called the knot grass caterpillar, but feeds on a wide variety of herbaceous plants.

By brianrbiggs, 5 years03/10/2020 ago

Autumn Flowers

Cyclamens in Frogmore Lane

The picture shows a good flush of cyclamens in Frogmore Lane. These are probably escapees from somebodies garden. They were a woodland plant in the UK once, but they are now very rare and maybe only found in Kentish woodlands.

By brianrbiggs, 5 years30/09/2020 ago

Insects

Elephant Hawk Moth Caterpillar

This large elephant hawk moth caterpillar was spotted two weeks ago eating a rosebay willow herb plant on the bank of the river channel beside The Cross. They also eat fuchsia and bedstraw plants

By brianrbiggs, 5 years14/09/2020 ago

Reptiles

Common Lizard on the South Downs Way

A common lizard (lacerta vivipara) crossed my path very quickly when I was walking on the South Downs Way next to the Sustainability Centre. It is possibly living in the scrub area that was part of HMS Mercury.

By brianrbiggs, 5 years14/09/2020 ago

Summer/Autumn Fruits

Sloes Are Ready For Picking

There is a good crop of sloes this year, but you will probably have to move fast as the birds will be picking the crop as well. Sloe gin makers like to see a frost on the fruit before they pick them, but you can cheat by putting them in the freezer for a while.

By brianrbiggs, 5 years01/09/2020 ago

Reptiles

Squashed Baby Grass Snake on Coombe Road

Sadly we found a partially squashed baby grass snake along Coombe Road. This is the time of the year when they hatch out of eggs that are laid in June or July. Hundreds of eggs may be laid in one manure heap, which can give rise to reports of a ‘plague of snakes’! Grass snakes are our largest snake. They feed mostly on amphibians such as frogs and toads. They are preyed upon by birds, Read more…

By brianrbiggs, 5 years19/08/2020 ago