2008aprilsnowfall

06 April 2008 Unseasonal snowfall

The unseasonal snowfall on the 6th of April 2008 sticks in the mind becase it was a rare event. It illustrates why areas of parkland left as a wildlife reserve are so important and useful to help overcome crisis.

The Surrey Square Park coverd with Snow. A sadden drop in temperature and large open spaces have stopped a sunny springtime on her path.

All the vegetation has suffered damage and with it insects life and all that feed on them, like young chicks for example.

This cherry tree in full blossom will suffer badly and will have lost most of their flower by the end of the cold spell.

Later on in the year all the birds and other animals that feed on them will go a little more hungry.

The vegetation canopy act as a overall cover.

Large volumes of relative warmer air is trapped under it and most important all most of theplants and animals are protected by full contact with the snow and are ready to spring up in action when the better wether return. With only little loss of vitality and diversity the community can provide a springboard for important ecological function like pollination and provide food in the critical immediate aftermath.

This "blanket effect" is clearly visible. A lot less ground would be affected even by a thick snowfall.

In close knitted communities all organisms help each other to provide a kind of "disaster insurance". Our manicured parks are not so lucky.

Beside all that there is to be said that the place is a charming one:

(Old) Wildlife Area Introduction page Return to the 2008 timeline on "My Surrey Square" site