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April is very much the launching pad for spring as the dawn chorus gets into full swing and migrant birds such as house martins, swallows, swifts and the cuckoo arrive from their warmer wintering grounds further south. Who will be the first to hear a cuckoo in Kempshott?
Blue tits, blackbirds and some of our other resident species often have their first broods in April. To help the parents, keep those bird feeders topped up, but please avoid peanuts as large pieces are unsuitable and can be dangerous for young birds.
Reported sightings of red kites over Kempshott are increasing. There were two last year and one this year on 9th March.
On warm sunny days, look out for early butterflies flitting from flower to flower collecting nectar. Peacocks and tortoise shells are amongst the first to make an appearance.
Primroses, one of our earliest flowers, brighten the dark corners of hedgerows and woodland with their delicate yellow petals. The white flowers of wood anemones should also be in evidence and, at the end of the month, the first bluebells will be making an appearance.
In the Old Orchard opposite Kendal Gardens, the Conservation Group has been busy putting up bird and bat boxes and our Junior Planters have been there planting hedgerow shrubs to create cover for small mammals and birds. We look forward to seeing these develop and grow over the coming years.
In the Meadow behind St Mark’s Church we have started a similar process of providing more shrub cover and flowering and fruiting bushes, but on this large site it will take much longer for our work to have an impact.
The main winter work party season will soon be finished. The last meetings are:-
Date & time | Meeting point | Thursday, 10 April 14 00 – 16 00 | Old Orchard, Kendal Gardens | Sunday, 20 April 10 00 – 13 00 | Gate leading to Old Meadow by St. Mark’s Church | Thursday, 1 May 14 00 – 16 00 | Southern end of Old Hedgerow between Coniston Road and Down Grange |
For more news on our summer activities contact us on
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or 01256 470171 or go to http://conservationforum.net/Kempshott.aspx
(Article supplied by Kempshott Kourier)
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