Blog post #1 - A Walk in the Wild
11/06/2021
Took a short walk along a local water course today. I followed it downstream until the footpath ran out. The water body has been the centre of many recent local environmental improvement schemes, wetland habitat creation, pollution management and river bed modifications, all these works aiming to improve the ecology of the waterway and the surrounding regions.
The region is home to a complex plethora of species of flora, too many to list here! A point of interest along the walk was this Crack Willow (Salix fragilis) tree, seeming to have pulled up an area of turf, creating a small undercut in the bank, possible providing shelter to many resident fauna.
Alot of pollution and debris collected sadly along the water course, though having ran studies of the water quality myself there is no major call for concern, just needs a litter pick!
Many birds spotted along the walk the most abundant being the Mallards ( Anas platyrhynchos). other species of note where Moorhens (Gallinula chloropus), Black-headed gulls (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and a family of Blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus), comprised of this years fledglings.
Large areas of dense vegetation have sprung up in the last few weeks along the less travelled parts of the footpath. This region of Cow parsley( Anthriscus sylvestris) was home to a large quantity of nectivorous insects (as well as responsible for turning my black jacket white with pollen!)
My walk ended with my path being blocked by a fallen tree and a collection of washed up debris by the river, but not before spotting a group of three Wrens (Troglodytes troglodytes) with two Blackbirds (Turdus merula) drinking from along the concreted bank side.
On my return walk, a small deviation along a secondary stream led me to this photogenetic wildflower meadow, no doubt sown by the local volunteer group, filled with native flowers such as Ox-eye daisies (Leucanthemum vulgare) and Red clovers (Trifolium pratense) helping to provide a habitat to bees, butterflies and countless other species, it was a lovely sight to conclude my days journey.
I hope you enjoyed! more posts to come! until next time, I’ll see you in the wildwoods!🌳📸🌳