Greetings friends,
It is amazing to have a park as beautiful as this one. The new leaves of spring are fairly pulsing with life, while the moorhens are busy with their new chicks. This one is carrying a mouthful home to a chick, I think.

Sue reports ‘Not so many bluebells as last year hope that’s just the odd weather we’ve had, I have seen the heron  picking out small fish and dispatching them with a slam of his head, fascinating to watch,and today spotted a male orange tip butterfly flying up and down the hedge rows.’

Tony has also reported that he is compiling a list of our wild flowers.

I was captivated by this thrush high up in the Ash tree near Adderley gate.

The Ash trees in the park all seem well. It seems that Ash Die back has not yet struck this part of the country, except in nurseries. Its presence in the wild is concentrated in East Anglia. A new citizen science project has been announced last week to monitor the health of Ash trees across the UK.  Maybe we should register ours? More details here.

Please note that the planned work session on the orchard has been moved from this Saturday May 21st to next Saturday 28th, same time 10am, all invited.

Also you might be interested to attend the ‘Annual Town Meeting’ this week on Thursday 19th May 7.30pm at the Cullimore Room in the Village Hall. We have been invited as a local group. I know that some of us will be there.