Autumn is truly upon us now with the abrupt change from the unusually dry spring and summer into a wet and windy season. This year has seen some spectacular colour changes as the chlorophyll has slowly withdrawn from the leaves, taking away their green hue and leaving behind the beautiful reds and golds, which we all love so much.
With winter drawing ever nearer, this is also hibernation time for many species with bats, snakes, hedgehogs and dormice taking refuge from the harsh conditions, relying on their fat reserves built up over the warmer months. The squirrels and jays are busy too stocking their winter food larders with seasonal nuts such as acorn, chestnut and hazel. The differing habitats of hedgerows, grasslands and woodland offers a range of niche environments allowing for a greater biodiversity and shelter to the Park’s many residents.
The yellow rattle sown last autumn has been a great success with a good coverage appearing all over the grassland areas. This species, being parasitic to the grass, along with our ongoing cut and collect regime will offer greater opportunities seeing a slow but steady increase in wildflower species in the forthcoming years.
This year has seen the team busy with a variety of tasks in all of our four peaceful habitats with grass cutting, bracken and bramble clearing, tree safety work and tree management in the Diamond Jubilee Wood.
Winter brings its own unique challenges and we usually undertake tasks such as updating our mapping records, hedge and verge cutting which creates less disturbance to our wildlife along with the cleaning and refitting of the bird boxes. Cleaning nest boxes is considered good husbandry reducing the number of parasites and waste debris from the previous year. The boxes are still used by birds in the winter months as they tend to roost, providing much needed shelter from the elements and predators.
Today I have performed one of my favourite tasks which may seem unusual to some but certainly appreciated by all. At the beginning of Autumn, the roadside hedge and verge receives its annual cut which unfortunately exposes a myriad of litter. The litter, discarded by a few individuals who presume by some magical force of nature that it simply disappears.
Crisp packets, coffee cups, takeaway wrappings, beer cans and tobacco products are just some of the items collected although this year there was noticeably less. I like to think, as more of us have been out and about in the natural environment, that this will be a continuing trend.
I always chat to a couple of local villages on the way and often receive a wave or thumbs up from passing drivers; all in all a most satisfying task. So please wherever you are or no matter how small the item of rubbish, always discard in a bin or take it home to ensure we all play our part in taking care of our surroundings. .
On behalf of the team at Norfolk Bluebell Wood we hope you all stay safe well and make the most of the great outdoors for walking, fitness and meeting family and friends. You are welcome to walk in the Park with access via the main gate Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm and by the pedestrian gate at the eastern boundary outside of these times.