On the Lagan

WET IS WONDERFUL – IT’S WORLD WETLANDS DAY

Siobhan Dignan — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:28:00 GMT

Moorhen eating his greens along the Lagan

February 2^nd is a red-letter day for nature. Not only the ancient Celtic festival of Imbloc; (meaning ewe’s milk, it is a major celebration of spring and the lambing season) in the US and Canada it’s Groundhog Day. But more importantly for us, and all the rest of the planet, Feb 2 is World Wetlands Day. Nice to see wetlands getting a bit of attention, and their own special day, because they certainly deserve it.

The Cinderellas of nature, wetlands can get overlooked compared to showier hills, forests and seascapes. Even their descriptions: bog, fen, marsh, swamp, do no favours. But don’t underrate their beauty and value. Up close, these squishy, squelchy worlds are very exotic! In a few months the ponds and swamps along the Lagan will be teeming with buzzing, flitting jewel-like insects, the call and splash of birds, tall reeds, frogs and blooming irises.

February 2 has been declared World Wetlands Day to celebrate these vulnerable habitats everywhere. This date in 1971 marked the adoption of the International Convention on Wetlands in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the Caspian Sea. Over 120 countries are now involved.

Cormorants like a nice perch from which to view the marshes (and their next meal)

The best flood prevention is natural Set in a bowl and threaded with rivers, Belfast and the Lagan Valley has a diversity of wetlands – the salt marshes and mudflats along Belfast Lough, the Bog Meadows(originally a 1000 acre floodplain for the Blackstaff River), the mountain moors, and of course the Lagan ponds and marshlands. Back in the day, these soggy places were much more extensive, which is why the few remaining wetlands we have are all the more valuable and worth protecting.

Not only for their beauty and incredible diversity of plants and animals which rivals any rainforest, but for the valuable role wetlands play in protecting against floods and erosion. Floodplains and fens act as natural sponges to absorb extra water, prevent overflow and minimise damage.

David Scott, LVRP Information and Conservation Officer details how natural solutions can reduce flood risk.

Flooding is a natural process that cannot always be prevented and can have severe impacts on individuals and communities, but also on wildlife. Climate change is likely to increase occurrences, so we need to find new ways to deal with managing flooding. Natural habitats can be used to help us handle flood risk, bringing benefits for biodiversity as well as to communities.

Working with nature we can restore a catchment's natural capacity to deal with floods. Wetlands, floodplains and woodland all act to slow the flow of water, store water in the catchment and reduce the threat of flooding downstream.

Measures that use natural habitats and restore natural processes can work in combination with more traditional flood risk management measures such as concrete floodwalls. An advantage of working with nature is that these methods can deliver multiple benefits for people and the environment:

· Tackling diffuse pollution - for example buffer strips can reduce excess nutrients and sediment run-off entering watercourses and also contribute to slowing and storing floodwater

· Restoring natural processes and habitats in a catchment to improve biodiversity and geodiversity - for example removing flood embankments and reconnecting a river with its floodplain

· Creating a more attractive landscape and enhanced amenity.

Flood prevention can be beautiful

Case in point - The Bog Meadows has been undergoing major restoration as part of Belfast’s flood control plans, to harness its power to prevent flooding.

Along the Lagan too, the diverse swamps and water meadows play an essential role in flood prevention – without these places Belfast and Lagan city centres would be soggier places! Of course these wetlands are also essential to plant and animal life along the Lagan and beyond.

Wetland projects are an important aspect of the Laganscape conservation work, designed to protect these fragile habitats, restore their beauty and diversity, make them more accessible...and prove that Bog Is Beautiful!

Minnowburn Pond gets a marvelous makeover David describes the nearly completed Minnowburn Wetland Project, where volunteers and staff have donned their wellies and gotten stuck in.

Regardless of whether ponds are natural or man-made, millponds, peat cutting ponds, garden ponds, gravel ponds and the natural variety, are all important habitats. Small as they are, ponds may support a diversity of life, and are particularly good habitats for amphibians such as frogs, toads and newts, and invertebrates such as dragonflies, snails and water beetles. The Park has examples of both man made and natural ponds.

The Minnowburn Wetland Project has created access to and enhanced the existing pond site off the Ballylesson Rd. This includes the provision of a designated accessible footpath from the Minnowburn car park to the pond with further access to the adjacent field and beyond. This will link the site to the Giant’s Ring network of paths. A dipping platform made out of green Irish oak has been built to facilitate education groups and pond dippers alike.

Laganscape and National Trust volunteers will be working to further enhance the habitat through the planting of wetland trees and creation of a willow weave bird hide. The bird hide will be made from living willow, which will continue to grow and provide a natural screen for visitors to watch heron, sparrow hawks, wood sandpiper and a whole array of tits and finches.

The work will be completed soon and a launch event is planned, so watch this space. And for more wonderful wetland images and info about the Lagan, go to http://www.laganvalleylearning.co.uk/Topics/ponds_10.aspx . Full of good stuff for people to go explore ponds for themselves.

Wetland residents can be pretty colourful - kingfishers like the quieter stretches of the river

WATCH THE BIRDIES

Siobhan Dignan — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:24:17 GMT

Which of these adorable birds will bring colour to your garden this weekend? Bright blue tit?

Are the birds acting like it’s spring in your garden? Spend an hour taking part in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch this weekend and find out!

What a weird winter we’re having! (But I’m not complaining). Sunday along the towpath I saw beetles, sprouting greenery and grass, even dandelions. In my garden the daffodils are blooming and the snowdrops have been up for weeks. While birds are showing all the signs of mating. As I headed to the Bird Feeding Day (Saturday before last) at the Lock Keeper’s Cottage, the birds were in full dawn chorus mode, particularly a song thrush that was announcing his presence very beautifully from a prime perch – for any female thrush within half a mile!

Cuddly long-tailed tit?

The spring-in-January weather and the overall mildness of the winter so far will mean interesting viewing and results for this year’s Big Garden Bird Watch. It’s the world’s largest garden bird survey, as thousands of people across the UK spend an hour observing the birds in their gardens and recording the results. This year it takes place over the weekend of January 27 and 28^th.

Chubby chaffinch?

The results provide a snapshot of how some of our favourite garden birds, as well as more exotic visitors and winter migrants, are faring. The survey is also an opportunity to see how species that are endangered or in decline are coping. Though starlings may seem common, their numbers have diminished greatly, as have house sparrows. So the survey helps the RSPB set priorities for which species most need help to recover and advise on steps we can all take to help.

This year should be particularly interesting. The RSPB has been hearing from people who’ve noted fewer birds in their gardens despite putting out feeders. Are numbers down after the last two severe winters? Actually, there are probably more birds about, as young birds, which are the most susceptible to cold weather, have survived this year due to the mild conditions. They’re just not about in our gardens. Again, due to the unseasonal warmth, there is a greater food supply available in the countryside - berries, worms, even insects. So the need for seed is not so desperate and birds aren’t venturing into town.

Dapper wee coal tit?

Taking part in Big Garden Bird Watch is easy and fun. Simply visit rspb.org.uk to download a counting form, then submit your result online. Kids particularly enjoy nature on our doorstep, which is why schools make up such a big part of the survey every year. You don’t need a garden – your patio, local park, schoolyard – anywhere will do!

Birdwatch Tips

Put out food now and watch bird numbers increase for even better watching.

Best to stay indoors and keep the cat in too, so you don’t scare the birds away.

View on a sunny day when the sun is low (morning or late afternoon) and you’ll only see black silhouettes, which makes identification tricky to say the least.

Or a friendly neighbourhood robin? Photos provided by LVRP

So can we breathe a sigh of relief that we’ve made it through winter? Let’s see what February throws at us first. If it finally does turn properly wintery, count on nature to put on the brakes and the birds to forget about romance at least until after Valentine’s Day!

SEEING RED

Siobhan Dignan — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 08:45:38 GMT

The Laganscape and Lagan Valley Red Squirrel Group have teamed up to investigate how our local red squirrels have been holding up against two fierce winters in a row, aggressive grey squirrel competition and the challenges of being a small, mild mannered picky eater in a big bad world.

LVRP Information and Countryside Officer David Scott tells us about their planned research project:

One of the most frequent questions people ask about Belvoir Park Forest is “are there any red squirrels left?” Well we hope to answer that question soon.

Working alongside the Lagan Valley Red Squirrel Group, the Laganscape scheme is involved in helping to conserve the red squirrel population in Belvoir Park Forest, one of the last strongholds of this native species in Northern Ireland.

As part of the project, expert David Tosh and his team will undertake an extensive survey of the red squirrels. Over the coming months he will observe the red squirrel population with a view to determining numbers and the capacity of the forest to provide a habitat now in and in the future.

This information will be used to develop a conservation management plan to help protect this endangered species both here in Lagan Valley Regional Park and nationally.

Laganscape’s dedicated group of red squirrel survey volunteers, who tirelessly remain committed to the Lagan Valley red squirrel, are supporting this valuable project, going out in all weathers to survey the forest.

Keep an eye out for future postings where I will give an update on our furry friends.

Along with the bluebells and the kingfisher, the red squirrel is one of the most loved and iconic features of the LVRP. We’re all looking forward to a bright future for this adorable and very vulnerable Park resident.

Feed the Birds at the Lock Keeper's

Siobhan Dignan — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 15:37:34 GMT

More visible, more hungry at this time of year

Saturday January 14th is Winter Birds Day at the Lock Keeper's

With the lack of tree cover and natural food supplies, our feathered friends become far more conspicuous. And they would certainly appreciate the extra help we can all provide - that means food! The more food you provide, the more birds will come to your garden...and the greater the variety of avian visitors too!

Right now is a great time to learn more about familiar garden birds - how to identify them and their habits too. And of course, the best foods to feed them to help them through winter.

So come along this Saturday to the Lock Keeper's Cottage and find out.

This is your opportunity to have a go at making some seed balls and learn some basics about our winter birds. Why not bring along the whole family for a great morning’s fun? (Kids love making the seed balls, which are easy. And grownups - the suet in the seed balls is great for dry winter skin! It also provides essential fats birds rely on in cold weather)

Meet at Lock Keeper’s Cottage for our Feeding the Birds event at 11.00am (around 2.5 hours). Call 028 9049 1922 to book your place.

Laganscape Year 4 Roundup

Siobhan Dignan — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:05:39 GMT

The award winning Laganscape project, dedicated to restoring, protecting and enhancing the Lagan Valley Regional Park’s heritage, wildlife and natural features (as well as amenities), has just completed its 4^th year. As LVRP Information Officer David Scott tells us, new programmes are underway, established projects are making great strides, and visitors to the Park will be able to see the results and enjoy the benefits. (That goes for visiting and resident wildlife too!)

There is plenty of work still in progress, so even more good things for us all to look forward to in 2012. In future blogs we’ll be giving you more details about these developments.

As we completed another year, the Laganscape staff and volunteers are looking back on the last twelve months with some level of satisfaction. It has been a busy time with an ambitious programme of projects successfully completed. Some have been continuing previous work, such as our bird conservation project, with more bird boxes being put up and a new monitoring system put into place. In future updates we hope to reveal just how many of our feathered friends have taken up residence in the deluxe apartments built by our volunteers. Other new projects are nearing completion, including the riverside park in Lisburn. Watch this space for more details.

Again, our volunteers have been working tirelessly in the Regional Park and the Lock Keeper’s cottage. The Saturday Conservation Team (50 members strong) are a committed and highly motivated group of individuals who care passionately about the Regional Park. They have been involved in a wide range of projects throughout the year and have supported the initiatives of many of our partner organisations including:

Woodland management
Hedgelaying (BCC initiative)
Tree planting (Minnowburn project)
Invasive species removal (National Trust)
Bracken bashing

“I appreciate knowing that in years to come I can proudly show other people the trees or hedges we planted and feel a sense of contribution to this beautiful park.” Carol Laird, Conservation Volunteer

Our Survey Volunteers have been out in all weathers taking part in our species survey initiative. They have been helping to build a picture of the health of populations of red squirrel, butterflies, birds and bees, which in turn feeds into conservation plans being developed by the Regional Park and other organisations, such as Butterfly Conservation Northern Ireland.

Thanks to the dedication of the Heritage Guides, the Lock Keeper’s cottage (LKC) continues to be a great success. Through our Guides’ passionate interpretation of the cottage and Lock 3, the public remain enthralled in the story - as the visitor numbers reflect. The cottage would not be open without our Guides’ input. In fact they are responsible for promoting the LKC on behalf of the project and Castlereagh Borough Council. This year the Guides met and helped the project team develop the future management of the LKC and garden. 2012 will see the Guides taking a more active role in the day-to-day care of the building and artefacts as well as weekend opening.

“Volunteering in the cottage is a great way to meet new people. I have particularly enjoyed having the opportunity to develop the cottage garden. Many visitors have complimented the work we’ve done.” David Scott, Heritage Guide Volunteer

However, we are not sitting on our laurels and have already started on Year 5. In 2012, we will see the development of a new wetland project and the creation of 3.54 hectares of wildflower meadow in Minnowburn. In partnership with the National Trust, these projects are already being developed with new accessible pathways being completed by the end of January 2012.

Laganscape is currently developing an Interpretation Strategy, which will look at the signage throughout the Regional Park. It is hoped that new interpretation can be produced, providing more information and helping visitors get more enjoyment from their surroundings.

We have exciting new community projects due to start this year. Local communities were asked to submit ideas for projects in their area, which would benefit local people and the natural or built environment. We have shortlisted the successful community groups and will begin work in the spring.

This year will see the end of the Ancient Oak project with the last 700 trees being planted. These young trees were grown from acorns collected from some of the oldest oaks in Ireland found in Belvoir Park Forest. To date we have planted out over 4000 with the help of our volunteers, school groups and local communities.

Our species conservation projects have everyone excited. We will be building artificial otter holts, swift, bat and barn owl boxes. We hope to have cameras in bird boxes and outside kingfisher tunnels with live feeds on our website. These plans are still in the early stages of development, so keep an eye on www.laganvalley.co.uk for further news. Or, if you'd like to volunteer this year!

Photos from LVRP show the many things our volunteers get up to!

MAKE YOUR CHRISTMAS VISITORS WELCOME

Siobhan Dignan — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 10:55:00 GMT

Santa is not the only one from Lapland - waxwings

Are you expecting festive visitors from many miles away this year? Even if you aren’t, right now they could be winging their way, or even already be making themselves right at home in your local park, garden, and definitely in the hedgerows at the Lagan Valley Regional Park. So put out the welcome mat (better still – a feeder brimming with seeds).

If you have ever wondered why there seem to be so many more thrushes and blackbirds about at this time of year, and small birds too like the finches, wonder no more! Many of the garden birds we regard as favourite residents are actually migrants from Scandinavia, coming here to escape even colder weather up North. But as we all have experienced, the ‘balmier’ conditions here can sometimes become too cold for comfort even for these hardy visitors.

Over 4000 species of birds migrate; 40% of the world’s species. The proportion of migrating birds varies from region to region. Cold places like Scandinavia have a higher ratio, while about 50% of our birds migrate. In tropical regions far fewer travel. Insect eaters are particularly hit hard by winter and are forced to hit the skies in search of food.

Peckish jackdaws travel here to swell local ranks each winter

Though Northern places are an insect smorgasbord in summer, few birds can survive the extreme cold and short days of the far North. So we get an influx of birds from the Arctic, Siberia and Nordic regions. Fortunately for birdwatchers, we are located on the major East Atlantic flyway, so plenty of birds stop off en-route or decide to winter here. And it’s not only the bigger species like waders, waterfowl and geese that make the move. Many smaller species and common garden birds are migrants.

When did tiny adorableness ever stop me from flying thousands of miles? Go chaffinches!

There are several types of migration. The regular seasonal migration we associate with great flocks of geese passing overhead – each spring and autumn we see summer visitors arriving then departing and winter visitors coming and leaving as the weather improves. Most of our winter visitors come from the North and East such as fieldfares and redwings (members of the thrush family) which can turn up in our gardens.

Irruption is when a population outgrows its local food supply. Birds must then move en masse elsewhere, like the waxwings did a couple of winters ago, crossing the sea from Scandinavia in search of a better berry supply and arriving in large numbers, even in gardens. (The LVRP reported numerous sightings.) Irruptions within a population only happen every few years.

Are you calling us an irruption? Waxwings don't know whether to be flattered or offended!

Some birds that are year round residents can migrate within a region, moving from harsher conditions upland to milder conditions in the lowlands. Skylarks and meadow pipits do this when winter conditions get severe.

Partial migrants is the term for species which are resident here all year round, but also reside during the warmer months in Eastern and Northern Europe. The colder winter conditions force these birds to decamp to more hospitable places like Northern Ireland, swelling local populations. In spring, these visitors return home to breed. Partial migration explains why our skies from November onward are filled with amazing formations of thousands of starlings, or why we see even more robins, and chaffinches in our parks and gardens in winter. Other partial migrants that may have braved a long flight from the Baltic include bluetits, siskins, great tits, wood pigeons, coaltits and even many of our favourite finches.

Even tinier and more adorable long haul flyer - the bluetit

Fieldfares, a relative of the thrush, move south and west and will keep pushing on if severe weather makes the going tough. They can be nomadic following food sources. Any you see in your garden or a local park could be passing through if the food supply is not plentiful.

So how do they do it, especially the more solitary types like blackbirds? Birds make sure they fatten up well in the summer and early autumn before setting out. (see the chaffinch above!) These aviators seem to be able to navigate by the stars, some sort of innate magnetic sense, the position of the sun in the sky indicating relationship to poles, and on cloudy days, through polarised light. Hard to imagine beautiful songbirds flying thousands of miles, but goldcrests migrate by night using the stars to navigate. A sudden onset of cloud and fog can disorient them and ground thousands. But it is still not understood how they work out their exact destination. (And we think the 3 Kings are intrepid voyagers and flying sleighs are impressive!)

OK, I have already featured the bluetit but can we ever have too much of them?

All of these common garden birds are partial migrants – robins, song thrush, mistle thrush, blackbird, starling, chaffinch, goldfinch, siskin, linnet, greenfinch, yellowhammer, wren, goldcrest, pied wagtail, dunnock, redpoll, jackdaws, rooks, hooded crows. Winter visitors in our gardens: fieldfare, redwing. And sometimes...waxwing

No wonder winter is such a good time for feeding and watching birds! They provide such welcome colour and song in the dark days of winter, so be sure to put out a warm welcome for them.

Beautiful but no thanks.

P.S. It looks like we won’t be having a white Christmas this year. : - }

Remember conditions last year? Then the LVRP volunteers and staff helped brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrirds make it through extreme conditions when all food sources were frozen over by providing feeders all along the towpath and throughout the Park.

Merry Solstice/Christmas!

Last Christmas, feeders kept these birds from starvation.

Christmas Day 2010 photos provided by T. Dignan and all other photos from the LVRP and RSPB

Holly or Ivy? Which takes the crown?

Siobhan Dignan — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:06:00 GMT

Traditional solstice rivals, the robin representing the new year....

Last Christmas I blogged about the traditional rivalry at this time of year between the robin and the wren for King of the Birds. This solstice legend, dating back to pre-Christian times, represented one bird as the New Year and the other as the old and inspired songs, customs and even Christmas cards!

....and the wren representing the old

A similar rivalry also exists between the holly and the ivy. Both plants come into their own and bear their fruit in winter. In folk carols (many also predating Christianity but since adapted) the ivy represents the female and holly, the male. So which of these native plants should wear the crown as the top plant in the woodlands? Usually, in the old carols, the holly wins out.

Holly is extremely hardy and can grow on mountainsides where few other trees survive. Depending on which resource you consult, holly can be considered a tree or shrub. It can reach 15 metres, but I have seen some much bigger than that! Generally though, in its natural woodland setting, holly forms part of the understorey shrub layer. In forests and hedgerows, the dense growth and prickly leaves provide perfect protection for small birds. Both male and female trees have small creamy blossoms, but only the female produces the red berries.

In the ancient songs and folktales, scarlet holly berries are often associated with the blood of Christ and the spiny leaves with the crown of thorns. Even the bitter bark of the holly can be contrasted with the sweetness of the infant Jesus. That’s why the English name, Holly, is derived from holy.

Holly has been used for Christmas and New Year decorations for centuries, as a sign of green life to come and to ward off evil spirits. Holly also features prominently in St. Stephen’s Day celebrations, particularly the violent variety. In Wales, boys and men beat the arms of women with holly branches until they bled. Also, the last person to rise would be whipped with holly and forced to do chores. In Scotland too, local boys beat each other. The bloodletting was believed to bring health benefits (back then bleeding was considered a form of treatment for many ills). To the Scots, every drop of blood lost meant an added year of life. While in Ireland, the wren boys would tie the just-killed bird to a holly branch and go from house to house.

Holly crops up frequently in Irish pre-Christian mythology and the sagas of the early saints, as a weapon, a plant with magical properties and as a symbol of championship and strength. Due to its protective properties, it is unlucky to cut down holly in some areas, but the hard pale word is valued for woodcarving and was a popular choice for early weapons.

Today holly with berries continues to be a favourite decoration at Yuletide (so much so that female trees are endangered in some places) and features on many cards and ornaments. What’s more, the name Holly is very trendy for girls, whereas Ivy has fallen out of favour. It’s all a hard act for ivy to compete with!

Poor old ivy is even maligned for killing trees. But this is a subject for ongoing debate. As a non-parasitic climber, ivy does not cause direct harm to trees. The clinging hair-like roots on the stems are for support only. Often trees that have an abundance of ivy growth in the canopy are already old or diseased and weakened. The ivy can then affect tree stability and in gales, the tree could blow over. But in the right place, such as a forest, a fallen tree is no bad thing. Indeed, as I will cover in a future blog, it’s a boon to biodiversity.

However, many contend that this prolific plant can interfere with the natural shape, balance and canopy of a tree. Ivy can then compete with the tree for light and for nutrients at the root level. So ivy may need to be kept in check if it is getting too large, affecting a tree’s shape unduly, or depriving it of sun and sustenance - especially if ivy threatens to take over a specimen tree you value.

Often mistaken for mistletoe, holly only takes this form and produces flowers and fruit when it reaches sunlight

Ivy is also perfectly happy as a ground cover in woodlands. But if there is any standing object it can climb in search of light, it will quickly scramble up. Ivy only produces flowers and fruit when it reaches the top of a wall or a tree canopy, which it can do in no time, as it grows 3 to 4 feet a year. Ivy compensates by engulfing everything it can and has covered many an eyesore.

Adding insult to injury, the more glamourous Virginia Creeper is also often mistaken for ivy. When people talk about an ivy clad home, or the Ivy League colleges in the US, they are referring to an entirely different plant with large leaves known for their red autumn colour. That said - variegated versions of the humble ivy are big sellers at garden centres!

Blackbirds sing the praises of ivy - the female is on the right.

But ivy is favoured by two of winter’s most beautiful singers, the blackbird and thrush, who enjoy dining on ivy berries - at their best in late winter. In fact, both plants are a real gift for birds at this time of year. These hardy native species are in full leaf so they provide essential protection and shelter for vulnerable small birds through winter, and in spring, are ideal for roosting and nesting. Not to mention a rich food source when other sources of nutrition are scarce. As two of our few native evergreen species, holy and ivy are more than just plants, but entire habitats.

So this year, bring both indoors as part of your festive decor. A few strands of ivy make great garlands - trailed along the mantelpiece among the twinkling lights, wound round the stair post, mirrors and up a bare tree branch - adds welcome native greenery and a touch of tradition. Not only free, but a great way to manage ivy in your garden. Just pull what you need off your favourite trees!

(photos provided by the RSPB and LVRP)

GOOD AS GOLD

Siobhan Dignan — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:31:00 GMT

Even this late in November, there’s still a good bit of colour about – surprisingly so! The larches and beeches are providing a welcome hit of gold and vivid russet against the charcoal and black of the bare trees and the gloomy grey skies. Both these trees are a real feature of the Lagan Valley landscape and seem right at home – yet neither is native to Northern Ireland.

The magnificent beech is indigenous to most parts of Europe and probably came over with the Normans in the 13^th century. Beeches have been here so long, they are very naturalised – the climate and conditions clearly agree with them.

For all their huge stature and impressiveness, beeches do not live longer than 200 years. It’s hard to believe the Minnowburn beeches, with their great height and hidey-holes in the trunks so beloved by little children, are not permanent features.

Fantastic foliage

These trees are distinctive for their huge shading crowns, massive, smooth grey trunks and largely horizontal branching. The profusion of overlapping small leaves creates a wonderfully impressionist image when looking up and watching the light filter down through – one of summer’s great pleasures. And right now, multitudes of crispy leaves on the ground make a nice cushion for an impromptu nap – if the weather ever dries up – or just fun for kicking along.

Such a wealth of leaves shades out all growth underneath, so very little can thrive beneath a beech, with the exception of bluebells.

Photos provided by LVRP show just some of the biodiversity the Laganside woodlands support...

....like treecreepers and lichens

The rich yellow small-leaved hedges that come into their own at this time of year are also beeches, but pruned way back. Soon the leaves will go brown, lingering on until late spring. So now is the time for the beech hedge to shine. (See them at their best on the roadsides near Shaw’s Bridge)

A host of native animals have come to rely on the beech tree. Bats for roosting high in the branches, feeding and nesting birds, barn owls which make a beeline for a lofty perch or convenient cosy bolthole and above all, red squirrels who love the sweet nuts.

...native reds

A big tree is a great spot for owl, bat and bird boxes, as these LVRP volunteers show

Along with oaks*, beeches are members of the fagus family. This name may be related to the Greek word for ‘to eat’ as beeches provided a food source in times of famine in Europe. *(Which are native – thousands of years ago this island was covered in oak trees.)

Often around our countryside, a massive spreading tree can be seen out on its own in the midst of a large field, dominating the scene, of course. Usually it’s a beech, making a statement. More stunning still – the copper beech. No wonder so many are landmark trees.

....and birds of prey. But these days owls have a harder time finding mature trees with handy nesting holes

The only deciduous conifer native to Europe, the European larch first came to the UK in 1620 as a high quality source of wood. There are also Japanese larches in the British Isles.

Tall, yet delicate, larches are distinctive for their bright grassy green colour, small soft needles and autumn golden tone. With their loose, spreading branches, larches provide a more open woodland habitat and let in more light; attractive features for birds of prey.

Bluebells make their show in deciduous forests before leaves appear to cut out their light

Beautiful though both trees may be, (as well fellow incomers like horse chestnuts and sycamores), they can’t compare with the locals for boosting biodiversity. Native trees, (broadleaved varieties are best of all) and the plants, fungi, insects and animals that depend on them have evolved together over thousands of years. This is particularly true of invertebrates. That’s why today, the emphasis has shifted towards planting more native species. Even so, every tree is a valuable habitat in itself.

A leaf strewn forest floor makes the perfect puffball habitat

In the past year there has been a good deal of concern about these two species as they have been infected by the fungal disease also known as Sudden Oak Death. Thousands of Japanese larches have been affected and had to be felled. In Co. Down, the disease appears to have jumped species and has infected several beech trees. Most likely, the fungus was brought in with imported rhododendron shrubs. Whatever the cause, it has now been spotted in several NI locations. Naturally the LVRP team are on alert for any signs of trouble with both species, which are among the favourites in the Park. (even if they are relative blow-ins!)

SPOOOOOOKKKKKYYY HALLOWEEN WALK

Siobhan Dignan — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 13:05:00 GMT

"See you on Monday!" (pipistrelle bat photo from RSPB)

Like things that go bump in the night...in the forest? Join us on Halloween evening.

6.30pm is the witching hour for our fearsomely fascinating walk around one of the most haunted areas of the Lagan Valley Regional Park. Hear weird and wonderful stories of ghastly, ghostly goings-on around Belvoir Park Forest, a site steeped in local mystery and legend.

Visitors should meet at Belvoir Park Forest car park at 6.30pm, Monday October 31st. Torches and wellies welcome.

HALLOWEEN AND HIGH WATER

Siobhan Dignan — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 18:28:00 GMT

Mist, magic and mystery in Belvoir Park Forest.

I was all set to write a Halloween blog about the ghoulish and fantastic things to discover along the Lagan – Gruffalo hunting in Belvoir Park Forest, spotting giant glistening spiderwebs at dawn, exploring Where the Wild Things Are in the hollowed out treetrunks at Minnowburn Beeches, and witnessing a murder of crows* high in the biggest trees – but my plans have been swept away (somewhat) by the flood waters.

You're being watched.....

A walk yesterday revealed what the super natural rainfall has wrought. The first clue was the sound of the water. Is the Lagan usually so noisy and gushing? Then I spotted the heron. Usually he’s perched on a tree limb sticking out from the water. Not now. For one thing any tree limbs are either submerged or washed away in the brown torrent. No, he was staying safely on shore. The ducks too were keeping to the still pools and overflow ponds.

Scary mini monsters, now in a park near you!

The ‘causeway’ to the brown bridge near Stranmillis was barely keeping its head above water. And the canal, now suddenly full of flowing water, had set off on a course of its own, breaking its banks to create a shortcut which swamped some of the lower lying paths and seems to have washed away others.

Slowly sinking, Belvoir Park Mausoleum - for day trippers only!

Closer to the Lock Keeper’s Cottage, the rushing river came within a foot of the towpath. While on the other side, trees that normally lined the banks now had their feet underwater. Water meadows are now more water than meadows.

Giant, ghoulish, ghastly glow-in-the-dark green ghost? Or just a giant fungus?

The ponds at the Lock Keeper’s cottage were brimming, much to the delight of the ducks and moor hens. But fishermen won’t be pleased. The wooden landing and steps beside the Red Bridge have vanished beneath the Lagan!

Dusk....and the hungry bats are coming out. (They're completely harmless of course, adorable in a funny sort of way, and actually pretty nice to have around!)

Let’s hope it all dries out before long and normality returns. In the meantime, my advice to walkers – if you want to go off piste, stick to the higher paths. There the only hazards might be some mud and slippiness. Take the lower, riverside trails and you will probably have to double back before long. And keep a close watch on dogs and your children! The current is a powerful thing. The only scare you want this year at Halloween is a dodgy witch costume or a B horror movie.

Man eating tree? Or lair for a family of trolls, a smallish ogre or a witch's hideout. Belvoir's 300 year old oak.

But just to keep the Halloween spirit – a bit – I’ve included some suitably horrifying pictures. Yes, all the spooky stuff shown here can be found at the Park. So be very frightened. Or if you love nature in all its wonderful weirdness - this is the place this Halloween!

OK ENOUGH OF THE SCARY STUFF!!

I asked LVRP Information Officer David Scott for the expert view on how the flooding affects pathways, plants and animals along the Lagan. To quote Tom Jones - it's not unusual.

As publicised in the news over the last week we have been experiencing some heavy rainfall. While not wishing to sound like a weather forecaster, this is not unusual for the time of year. The levels of rainfall are greater than the average, but the cry of a ‘hundred year flood’ seems to happen every other year! Is this climate change, drainage issues, a lack of investment in infrastructure or just bad luck? I believe that is a debate for another day and probably another forum.

High waters are good news for seals coming up stream.

In LVRP, we experience flooding regularly, as the Lagan is affected by the tides in the lower sections near Belfast and has a huge catchment area from its meagre beginnings in the Dromora Hills. As the river winds its way down toward Belfast Lough, it picks up speed and volume as more and more smaller rivers and streams flow into it.

This is the natural cycle of river valleys and has its benefits. The duckweed, which has choked slow-moving sections, is washed away and the water is oxygenised making it more favourable for aquatic life below the surface. Life in the muddy coloured torrents also benefits from nutrients being washed into the Lagan. Fish trying to swim upstream have a greater depth of water making the shallow stretches easier to navigate.

On the downside, along with the nutrients, invasive species such as Himalayan Balsam, Giant Hogweed and Japanese Knotweed seeds are dispersed. These plants thrive on riverbanks and historically it is watercourses that have helped their march across the country. When the river bursts its banks these seeds are taken inland and the invasion continues.

What’s more, when dumped on natural meadow areas, the nutrients that are great for aquatic life can be devastating for wildflowers and native grasses. As these plants prefer poor soils, a sudden deluge of fertile soil washed down river causes other plants to take over and the meadows are lost.

But otters are left temporarily homeless.

Otters are have been washed out of their riverbank holts; bad for the otters but right now we have a better chance of seeing them. After the last big flood at the beginning of the year, otters were seen porpoiseing down the river in the middle of the day.

Kingfishers are struggling too, as the river in many areas is flowing too fast for them to fish. Their prey can stay well below the surface out of diving reach. Herons look on from the bank as the waters rush by. But the mallards seem to be having a great time breaking world speed records for white-water rafting.

Kingfishers are among the creatures hit hardest.

Some areas of the towpath are quite bad for flooding (Drumbeg being one of the worst) but it is passable now. I would recommend a walk along the Lagan while it is this dramatic (taking care not to fall in of course) as you never know what you might see.

This is a difficult time for much of our wildlife, but not anything they haven’t seen before, and they are well equipped to deal with this natural phenomenon.

Don’t forget – Feed the Birds Day is October 29. So there’s still time to get the food and the feeders in. And watch this space for news of a Halloween Walk on Monday the 31st at Lagan Valley Regional Park.

*Collective noun for crows. And what about a charm of finches?

Thank you Lagan Valley Regional Park for all the photos of the wildlife, the giant tree in the mist and the archive photo of the mausoleum. Thank you RSPB for the bat illustration (it's not easy getting a photo of these shy nighttime creatures), and in particular Stephanie Sim for her photos of the ancient oak and the giant fungus.

FIND YOUR CREATIVE INSPIRATION HERE

Siobhan Dignan — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 09:12:19 GMT

FIND YOUR CREATIVE INSPIRATION HERE

Deep Reflections, winner in the Heritage and Art Category - John Meikleham

The variety of scenery and historical attractions, the wildlife, the plant life – Lagan Valley Park has so much to inspire artists and photographers. Which is why a record number of ‘visionaries” entered the 2011 Laganscape Photographic Competition and the standard of entries is soaring. Missed your chance this year? The winning images shown here could motivate you to bring the camera next time you’re by the Lagan. The 2012 competition will be here before you know it. Or if you can’t wait that long to express your creativity, there’s still time to enter the Art in the Park competition. But hurry!

LVRP Information Officer David Scott has all the details on the Photographic Competition results, Art in the Park, and a new story trail!

Snap Happy The 2011 Photographic Competition has been another resounding success. Laganscape would like to say a big thank you to all who entered. The quality of the entries gets better and better and we feel that the images represent the Park wonderfully. The themes, The Natural World and Heritage & Art allowed budding photographers unlimited scope for capturing the beauty of the Park during its changing seasons.

Foxglove in the Walled Garden - Geoff Mahood

The winners were announced at a prize giving ceremony held at the Lock Keeper’s Visitors Centre where the exhibition will be on until the New Year. The exhibition is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, and will eventually be on show at other locations throughout the Lagan Valley.

Art in the Park

Time is running out to enter Laganscape’s Art Competition which closes on the 28^th of October. The competition aims to get you, the visitor, to think creatively about the great outdoors and create a piece of art that represents ‘your’ Lagan Valley Regional Park.

NATURE LOVER SEEKING FUNGI?

Siobhan Dignan — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:21:00 GMT

Proof fungi can be things of beauty - especially in princess pink!

The mushrooms of your dreams can be found at Lagan Valley Regional Park, where they are at their pungent profuse peak right now!

Autumn is the favourite time of year of fungi. Something about all that damp and murk, rotting bark and festering leaf mould brings fungi into full ‘bloom’ in the shadowy reaches of the forest. Around the world the arrival of mushroom picking season is a time for foraging, feasting and celebrating. But the less edible cousins get to strut their stuff too.

To see the Park's incredible (though mostly inedible) display at its best, join the Fungal Foray at the LVRP this Saturday morning. The Park is full of fantastic and surprisingly colourful fungi – it’s easy to see why they are the stuff of fairy tales, gothic legends and mysterious lore!

My colleague Stephanie Sim at the RSPB has been doing some digging! And she took these brilliant photos also.

Magic mushrooms

Fungi are a big deal at this time of the year. When the weather turns wetter and a little cooler their weird and wonderful, slippery and slimy shapes, creep up, sometimes in their hundreds on likely hosts, turning a rather mundane log into a veritable alien invasion.

There is definitely something about mushrooms. I think it is because they are neither fish nor fowl, so to speak. Are they a plant? Are they a parasite? Are they living things in their own right? Are they beautiful or ugly?

What is the purpose of fungi?

Well they break things down. If we didn’t have fungi, we would have lots of lots of dead things all around us. We think of the beautiful fly agaric, the red toadstool, as the archetypal shroom, but most fungi is microscopic. They are everywhere too. In your nostrils, on your sandwich, on your hair, in your mug as many a student bedsit will testify... just everywhere. And given the right conditions, like being on a neglected sandwich at the bottom of a school bag, they will sprout.

Athlete's foot this ain't. But it is a distant relative.

The top bit that we always see is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of the fungus. Most of the fungus really is not visible. It travels under the food source and breaks it down, and then when the conditions are right, it produces the fruiting body, and spores are dispersed – in a variety of ways.

I could go on about the weird and wonderful names that fungi have. Puffball, stinkhorn (from the family of Phallaceae which just about tells you everything this fungi looks like), to toadstools, and this is what i was thinking about as i walked about Belvoir Park, looking at the various varieties which had sprouted up, mostly in the pine forest, when i finally arrived at Ireland’s oldest oak tree.

On a single ancient tree, a fungal metropolis....

In the soft afternoon light, it was immense. Actually as a tree it is not very large as it has mostly collapsed, but the bit that was still alive was green and vigorous. It was its 700 – 800 year old presence that was immense. What really captivated me was the colonies of fungi that had gathered to live on it. Its bark was a coppery green and spun with spiders’ webs, the inside had a papery thin black fungi that gave the tree the appearance of being charred. On one side, a vermillion bracket fungus had sprouted; that was moist and soft with dew. And then along the length of its entire ‘back’ were hundreds of miniature butter yellow umbrellas. How could i not believe that gnomes and sprites did not live here?

...mushrooming everywhere! Just add gnomes.

If you’re ever in Belfast visit the Belvoir Oak. It is as close to being in the presence of Merlin or Taliesin as you’ll ever get.

The coming weekend – 15 October – a Fungal Foray will take place at Loughmacrory Woods in Omagh. Dr Roy Anderson, foremost mushroom expert in Northern Ireland will be taking the walk himself. I’ll be there talking about feeding the birds. Come along to see what you might find. For more information, email Julie.Corry@omagh.gov.uk.

Or for a Foray a bit closer to home, go to www.laganvalley.co.uk for details. Booking ahead is advised, as fungi have a certain mystique!

ARE BIRDS ON YOUR WINTER CHECKLIST?

Siobhan Dignan — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 14:15:00 GMT

Yikes! Remember this?

They’re forecasting yet another brutal winter this year, so we’re all starting to get ready. Shoe grips for the ice, check! Car anti-freeze, check! Boiler service, check! Woolly tights and big jumper, check and double check. And don’t forget bird food and feeders.

If you spent any time along the Lagan during the height of the snow and ice last winter, you’ll know how desperate the conditions were for birds, particularly small seedeaters like the tit family and sparrows. Every source of food and water was either frozen over or picked clean. Realising birds faced a life and death crisis, the Lagan Valley volunteers and team placed feeders all along the towpath. Robins, blackbirds and finches abandoned their usual wariness around humans to flock to these life saving food sources.

And this?!

Now we’re bracing ourselves for a repeat. Which is why, for all of us, feeding favourite garden birds (including seasonal visitors from the Arctic) is so critical. This is the urgent message the RSPB is getting out for their annual Feed The Birds Day campaign.

Cold feet and empty tummies - Christmas Day 2010 was pretty grim for birds.

Come dine in my garden

Last winter, and the one before, garden feeders saved numerous bird lives. Without a lot of effort involved. It’s actually amazingly inexpensive and easy to keep birds happy. Hosting a bird garden party needn’t mean fancy nuts ‘n seed combos – common household leftovers make great bird fare. Like those leftover porridge oats at the bottom of the bag, those chopped nuts that never got used, apples going a bit brown.

Birds will repay your kindness by bringing much enjoyment and pleasure – so welcome during the darkest days of winter. Put out food and wee bluetits, coaltits and sparrows will definitely come flocking. And in the case of blackbirds and the mistle thrush – singing!

Nope, no grub anywhere as far as I can see.

Kids in particular, love feeding birds, so it’s a great project for families and schools. Feed The Birds Day is about much more though; it’s a timely reminder to appreciate and care for the wildlife on our doorsteps.

There are a few simples dos and don'ts, so before you set up your bird cafe, make life easy and find out more. Visit the RSPB website rspb.org.uk/feedthebirds for oodles of great tips. Call into the RSPB headquarters next time you are take a weekday meander through Belvoir Park. You'll find a good selection of food, feeders and information leaflets. Or best of all, find out in person and have a fun day out while you're at it!

Feed The Birds Events The RSPB has cooked up two full weekends dedicated to Feed The Birds Day at the Ulster Museum, October 15-16 and 22-23. If you’ve ever seen birds in distress in your ice-bound garden and wondered what you can do for them, the RSPB has the answer. Expert beak geeks will be dishing up advice and menu ideas to help attract feathered friends to your garden and bring them winter cheer. They’ll be running workshops all day, giving talks and doing cookery lessons. It’s free and everyone is welcome.

Not peckish anymore! RSPB's Colin Graham and friends at IKEA last weekend dining with some human beings! (Lynn Campbell from IKEA and her daughter Maya)

To learn about other events around Northern Ireland, visit the RSBP site – details above.

This year, as you go through your pre-winter checklist – don’t forget the birds! Mark your calendar. Feed The Birds Day is Saturday October 29. Maybe it should be everyday.

Photos taken last year along the Lagan by Tony Dignan and last week at IKEA by the RSPB

MEET THE LAGAN'S NEW BIRD CONSERVATION GUY

Siobhan Dignan — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 10:14:06 GMT

Bird conservation along the Lagan is getting a major boost, with the arrival of a new Lagan Valley Bird Conservation Officer, the RSPB’s Michael McLaughlin.

Michael McLaughlin TABLES GIANT BIRD conservation plans

The conservation programme is an important strand of Laganscape, which is making the most of the natural and historic diversity along the Belfast to Lisburn stretch of the Lagan – and winning awards.

RSPB’s Lagan programme began life as a survey conducted by the RSPB’s Kevin Mawhinney a few years ago. Kevin identified the most vulnerable bird species within the Park and recommended measures to help their recovery. (Get the full story on the home page of this On the Lagan blog site including information about each of the targeted birds.)

Now in its third year, the conservation programme is making great progress towards its targets, even exceeding some!

Des res for nesting birds Phase 1 focused on nest boxes for barn owls, house sparrows, swifts and spotted flycatchers, as well as tunnels along the riverbanks for nesting kingfishers. Michael’s predecessor Nicole Robinson made real strides on this front, working closely with key landowners along the Lagan, such as the National Trust and the Agricultural and Food Biosciences Institute, (AFBI) and forming important relationships along the way. With help from LVRP volunteers and local landowners, much of the groundwork of creating more nest sites has now been done.

Michael says the AFBI on New Forge Lane have been particularly active, putting up many swift boxes, nest boxes for sparrows and a giant bird table. And the National Trust has done great work, not just installing barn owl boxes, but also monitoring them. Even the Scouts pitched in, putting up boxes on their Ardnavally site.

Easy once you know how. Park volunteers learning to build nest boxes

So the stage is set for Phase 2 – monitoring progress and repairing or moving unused or damaged boxes. Michael hopes local landowners and park volunteers will play a part here.

Al Fresco dining With the nest box programme well advanced, Michael is putting his emphasis on improving habitat and food sources for seed eating birds. He plans to introduce more Giant Bird Tables, providing valuable nutrition. A Giant Bird Table is an area of flowering and seed bearing plants, including some cereals, left to grow and reseed naturally. They look stunning in summer –“much nicer than mown grass”.

Michael has a wish list of ideal Giant Bird Table sites and is hoping to work closely with Lisburn, Belfast and Castlereagh Councils to make them happen. He has joined forces with the LVRP – their Laganscape grasslands project dovetails neatly with his objectives.

Looks good enough to eat. Volunteers conducting wildflower surveys.

“If we could provide the seed and guidance, the Councils could provide the site and the labour. A Giant Bird Table involves less maintenance than lawns; once it is planted, just leave it to grow and set seed. It does not need cutting back until the end of the year, and maybe occasional resowing, but that is about it. So a simple, jointly funded project like this is a good way of helping councils meet their biodiversity targets,” says Michael.

Fieldwork with farmers He also plans to forge contacts with other landowners along the Lagan, in particular farmers. No better person, as Michael has extensive experience working with farmers. Originally from Donegal, Michael switched from studying art to studying nature. He now holds a BA in Environmental Science from UU Coleraine and a Masters in Ecology from Queen’s.

His RSPB connection began as a volunteer on the yellowhammer recovery project, doing farmland survey work. This led to a post with the RSPB agri-environment scheme, where Michael focused on small farmland birds, in particular yellowhammers and lapwings.

“Farmer liaison is important to me. Since the initial survey, the programme has not had much communication with local farmers, so some may not realise they are within the Park. They may also not be aware that they could receive funding from the Countryside Management Scheme, so some friendly encouragement could benefit them.”

Local farmers will be getting to know this face around their place

Under the scheme, arable farmers are paid to keep their winter stubble – a vital cold weather food resource. “The area has a lot of arable farms, so this is a very important habitat for seed eating birds. I am hoping to start up contact by offering farmers a tailor-made nest box package based on the survey results. I can let farmers know what birds rely on their land and provide the boxes plus advice on putting them up. If farmers know it costs nothing and involves no extra work, they will be more interested and engaged."

Go on...be a volunteer! Michael is also looking forward to working with the LVRP on ongoing nest box and survey work. So if you have been toying with the idea of volunteering, this is your time! There are volunteer days coming up in October, including a nest box building day.

To learn more about LVRP volunteering opportunities, visit www.laganvalley.co.uk/volunteering or talk to Volunteer Co-ordinator Jo at 028 90491922.

While you still can! – relish the wonderful sight and smell from the sweetpea hedge at the Lock Keeper’s Cottage.

Mind your head - Falling conker alert!

Photos provided by the LVRP and RSPB (Michael)

BLINK AND YOU MISS IT

Siobhan Dignan — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 10:39:27 GMT

Many people regard August as an autumn month. But the idea that summer is already over can be hard to accept, when it feels as if summer has hardly gotten started yet – still waiting for that heatwave! But it’s true. Now that the swifts have gone, it’s sadly silent around the Crescent Arts Centre. But the house martins under our eaves (now on their second brood) are still swooping and flitting outside my window...for now.

LVRP Information Officer David Scott has been spotting the signs of autumn all round the Lagan.

Blink and you miss it!

As the summer (what we had of it) draws to a close and the nights draw in it’s that time of year when our wildlife goes on the move, falls asleep or just plain snuffs it. I know it’s maybe a bit early for some of you to be thinking of the long winter months ahead, but at this time of year blink and you miss it!

I’ve noticed the starlings have started to gather into small flocks which will soon begin to merge into ‘super flocks’ which can be seen over the skies of Belfast at sunset. Though not in Lagan Valley Regional Park, the super flocks in action are well worth a look. The Albert Bridge is a good place to see this aerial spectacle.

Predator particularly partial to starlings - the peregrine

The reason starlings flock together is due to safety in numbers. Sparrow hawks will pick off any outside the main flock, so the starlings fly in close formation in synchronised patterns to confuse these agile predators. Peregrines are also fond of the occasional starling before bed. I’ve seen them twice flying over Belfast then plummeting to earth in an almost impossible dive. Unfortunately there have been no sightings in LVRP for a while, so if you spot any please let me know at the usual address david@laganvalley.co.uk.

Crows are starting to gather as well. I spotted several family groups feeding in the fields and gathering in the trees, although not quite the huge and noisy flocks known as a ‘murder of crows’. (see earlier blog)

The jackdaw knows - sleek and black is always a good look

The swifts are almost all away and it won’t be long before the swallows and martins follow. Unlike the swifts that seem to disappear overnight, the swallows will gather along telegraph and electrical wires until a large flock has formed. Then they take off together; the safety in numbers thing again.

We have had a few concerned folk popping into the office wondering where all the mallards have gone. At this time of year they are moulting and tend to keep out of the way when this is happening. As soon as they are back to normal (the vain drakes do not like to be seen without their finery) they will reappear and be hanging around the river listening out for the rustle of a bread bag.

One family of birds that has made a late, very late, appearance after a long absence is the swans! A pair has successfully reared cygnets (I couldn’t count how many as they were in the weeds), which are still quite young looking for this time of year. I assume they either started late or possibly were disturbed first time around, then tried again. The swans are in the Lambeg area, but please if you go for a look, keep your distance to avoid stressing the parents, and for your own safety too, as they are very protective!

Swans are back and breeding - let's hope they stay

I also saw this week the distinctive ‘V’ shape of birds flying overhead. In this case it was swans heading in the direction of the Broadwater, which was once a reservoir on the Lagan Navigation between Moira and Aghalee. There is a guided walk along the Broadwater on the 25^th of August. Check the events calendar on the LVRP website for more details. This area is brilliant for watching waterfowl during the winter months as many spend their time here feeding and waiting for spring to come around again.

The honk of geese isn’t far away and I’ve had reports from Scotland that a few have started to arrive already, (which is early) though with the temperatures in Greenland and the Arctic around freezing I’m sure I’d be heading south if I could.

Looking from Terrace Hill it doesn't seem like autumn

With that cold weather around the corner and spreading down from the north, it marks the end of the butterflies for another year. Those that don’t fly back to the continent like the Painted Lady (which I confess I’ve not seen this year) will go into hibernation or simply snuff it and hope that the last batch of caterpillars form chrysalises and survive the winter.

The badgers will be munching like mad to put on a bit of extra weight before their staple diet of worms head deeper underground to avoid the frost. Badgers tend not to hibernate in this country, as the winters aren’t that severe in Northern Ireland. But they definitely slow down a bit and prefer to stay underground, so time is running out if you want to go for a night-time walk and try to spot a family group munching in the moonlight.

We might be in denial that the nights are drawing in and that the long winter after the short summer is almost upon us, but unless you keep your eyes open at this time of the year things will pass you by.

Go Wild on August 20th

If you would like to get up close and personal with some native and exotic birds of prey, we will have the Northern Ireland School of Falconry down at the Lock Keeper’s Cottage on the 20^th of August as part of our Wilderness Day. The day runs from 11.00am to 4.00pm and will feature exhibits from the Ulster Wildlife Trust, RSPB, and Butterfly Conservation Northern Ireland. Meet LVRP staff and volunteers too. The Lock Keeper’s Cottage will be open for visitors. There will also be woodturning demonstrations and arts and crafts for the kids. This event is completely free and LVRP would like everyone to come along to our family fun day. For more information check out our website www.laganvalley.co.uk or call us on 028 9049 1922.

ALL PHOTOS PROVIDED BY THE LVRP