Blog

Creating Hedgehog Highways – Zoom Talk, 15 February @ 6.30 pm

East Meon Garden Club and East Meon Nature Group are hosting a talk (via Zoom) on 15 February 2021 at 6.30 pm. This will be presented by Chris Powles, who is the Chair of Kirtlington Wildlife & Conservation Society, together with his brother, Stephen, they will present a little on hedgehog ecology before going on to explain why and how we should create hedgehog highways.  Stephen is a wildlife photographer and cameraman. We now know that Read more

By brianrbiggs, ago

The Toads Have Started to Move

With the mild and wet weather the toads beside Coombe Road have started their journey to the pond north of Duncombe Wood. Nick Read-Beale found this male toad yesterday evening on the road near Duncombe Cottage. The East Meon Nature Group ‘Toad Patrol’ will start soon. The patrollers will assist the toads in crossing the road, so they reach the pond safely. Click on this link for details https://eastmeonnature.com/toads-on-the-roads/

By brianrbiggs, ago

Good Time to Spot Mistletoe

With the leaves fallen from the trees, now is a good time to spot mistletoe. They are parasites on the tree they rest in, taking water and nutrients from their hosts. Some mistletoes do perform photosynthesis during some of the year, so are only hemiparasitic. Pre-Christian cultures regarded the white berries as symbols of male fertility, leading to the ‘kissing’ rituals of today.

By brianrbiggs, ago

Grow Wild

The Grow Wild organisation are offering a series of live online live events on wild flowers and fungi. Go to https://twitter.com/GrowWildUK or https://www.growwilduk.com for more details. Grow wild is a national outreach initiative of the Royal Botanical Gardens Kew amongst others.

By brianrbiggs, ago

Spindle Tree Fruit

The very colourful spindle tree fruit are showing very well as the leaves have gone from the trees. The spindle tree (euonymus europeans) has very hard wood and can be cut to a sharp point. It was used for making spindles for wool spinning and for butchers’ skewers. Charcoal produced from this plant is seen as superior among artists due to its strength and density. However the attractive fruit are poisonous, so beware.

By brianrbiggs, ago

Wood Mouse Feasting

Pamala Peacock of ‘The Green’ spotted this very discerning wood mouse feasting on a quince! The wood mouse is one of the most widespread and abundant British mammals. It is also known as the ‘long-tailed’ mouse. It has a short life-span of around 2 years.

By brianrbiggs, ago

Lots of Holly Berries This Year

Along with the exceptional numbers of acorns, beech nuts, apples etc., there has been a really good crop of holly berries this year. However if you think you might get out and cut some well berried holly leaves in mid-December for your Christmas decorations you may be disappointed as the birds are eating them all the time now. Large flocks of fieldfares have arrived and are having a feast.

By brianrbiggs, ago

Ravens in East Meon

There have been an unusual number of ravens on Park Hill and Mascoombe Bottom recently. I have seen a number of crows trying to ‘mob’ them, the crows look quite small beside the ravens. The ravens appear to be feeding on the corn cobs from the maize plants that are at the top of Park Hill and Mascoombe Bottom, there are eaten cobs and leaves all over the top of the hill. I met a Read more

By brianrbiggs, ago