NOAKES GROVE OPEN DAY - Sunday 1st June

See details below

New growth

It is spring and the leaves of the oak trees are beginning to cloak the branches in a fine fur of red and green. Bluebells are starting to flower alongside the pretty little ground ivy and the bright yellow celandines and I am pleased to report that our oxlips in Noakes Grove wood have managed to avoid the attentions of the muntjac.

Oak leaves

Ground Ivy

Sheep

In the meadow at Noakes Grove, there are now 11 lambs with their mums, the infants looking very young and sweet. Do go and admire them. Meanwhile, Remus the ram is in the ‘cricket bats’ field in King’s Field with his long-term companion Amy. They are probably feeling a bit abandoned, so if you are passing, please stop and say hello to them.

Lambs

Wildlife

We are very excited about the newcomers to Noakes Grove: we have taken in several refugees from the development site behind Tesco. These are common lizards and although we have given a permanent home to at least eight so far (more will be coming), we regret that you are unlikely to see them – they are very small and dash into hiding as soon as they hear something coming. Lizards are reptiles, so they need to come out into the sun to warm their bodies sufficiently to be able to move well, so it will not be impossible, on a hot day, to see one basking in the sun. An adult would measure about 15–20 cm (but most of that is tail) and the juveniles are a lot less, some were only about 6 or 7 cm.

Male Common Lizard

Meanwhile, at King’s Field, the Essex Amphibian and Reptile Group are coming to do a survey. They will be putting down a few ‘reptile mats’ – cosy shelters that reptiles like to hide beneath – then coming to see what they find. If you see any of these mats, please do not move them or think that they have been fly-tipped, they are part of a serious scientific survey!

We know that we have grass snakes at both nature reserves but we have never recorded slow worms and we are uncertain about King’s Field lizards. Frogs we have, but we have only ever spotted one toad, that was at Noakes Grove and of course we know about the great crested newts and smooth newts. It will be very good indeed to have more records of reptiles.

What we do know is that the pond at King’s Field has got tadpoles, the spawn has hatched and they are wiggling about as though jet-propelled.

Cereal project at Noakes Grove

The sharp-eyed among you will have noticed a section of the ‘Docks and Nettles’ field is looking decidedly scrambled. This is an idea that David Corke has had for a while. He thought it would be fun to try and plant a wheatfield in the manner of two or three centuries ago, when wheatfields were free from chemicals and deep ploughing and had a host of wild flowers. David was unable to do this, but Andrew organized the ‘roughing’ of the ground (thanks to Keith) and summoned a team to broadcast the seed by hand. They all had great fun, and time will tell whether the right things grow in sufficient abundance. Watch it grow.

Harrowing

Broadcasting wheat

The team broadcasting wheat

Upcoming events

Our open day this year will be on Sunday 1 June at Noakes Grove 10am to 4pm.

There will be children’s activities and games, sheep and lambs to see, probably wild mice and voles, maybe moths from the overnight moth trap, music, puppet shows and refreshments. Bring a picnic and come and join the fun. Dogs are welcome, but on a lead please because of the lambs. Entrance is free but, as we run on a shoestring, donations will be welcomed.