Blog

Lesser Celandine is now Flowering in the Hedge Bottoms

A sign that spring is now well on the way are the bright yellow star shaped flowers of lesser celandine (ficaria verna) that are appearing all over the Parish, but most noticably at the moment in the bottom of hedges. This plant should not be confused with greater celandine (Chelidonium majus), which is a different plant altogether. As one of the first flowers to appear after winter, they provide an important nectar source for queen Read more…

By brianrbiggs, ago

The Toad Patrol on Coombe Road has Started

The East Meon Nature Group has started a regular early evening patrol on Coombe Road to monitor the number of toads and other amphibians, and help them across the road. This will last until the spawning season finishes in a couple of months. They are moving to their spawning pond which is situated just to the east of Coombe Road and north of Duncombe Wood. In previous years there has often been a toad massacre Read more…

By brianrbiggs, ago

Large Flocks of Fieldfares are in the Parish

There are a number of large flocks of fieldfares in the fields and meadows around East Meon at the moment. You can here their chak-chak-chak calls as they move from hedges to trees to fields. They are winter visitors from Europe, where the weather is generally much colder and harsher than it is here. They eat mostly worms or insects on the ground, but you may see them in your garden occasionally. Photo by Semen Borisov on Unsplash.

By brianrbiggs, ago

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