20130616 WLA Light Maintenance
Sunday is often a good day to summon people to the WildLife Area to help in making the place as good as it can get.
Even if the time was not all that bright at the start of our session it soon turned bright and sunny.
The usual troop was there and first of all Julian as expected the first to arrive with his wheelbarrow and all the tools.
Coro did not miss the opportunity but most of the gang had a more civilized approach. Pete, Daniel both broght with them cameras and equipment to record and film but most importantly tea, coffee and biscuits!
Eventually however everybody was buzzing around, and our group was joined by the renowned an locally living artist Shane Waltener He was coming carrying some twigs, he serendipitously found on the ways and kept us company. He showed how to make the bark material he uses for some of its art and Daniel managed to film the process and sneaked in an interview on top.
It was a good day. We all had a good time, did something useful for the community and learned something.
Daniel made loads of shooting and the video he will produce for the Friends should be something to look forward to.
Pete had occasion to take pictures of some of our wild neighbours and their beauty shows that away from nature we are away from ourselves.
Maybe a juvenile Enoplognatha ovata spider (very tentative identification) non the less magic in it green translucence.
Sphenella marginata (Ragworth fly). Family Peacockflies, fruitflies (Tephritidae)
Oedemera nobilis (Thick-Legged Flower Beetle) beautiful regular guest of our little park wild life areas.
An aphid, parassitised by (probably) a Braconid wasp (possibly Aphidius colemani) and reduced to a golden mummy.
Some wonderful variety of dog rose (Rosa canina ssp) have become permanent feature in the Wildlife Area and hedge. Adding beauty to our little oasis year after year.
(Ranunculus repens) Creeping Buttercup, has an incredibly intense golden yellow, that makes nearly impossible to photograph them.
Geranium pratense, the meadow cranesbill is one of my favourite wilfflowers. So delicate and elegant!!
Above all we shouldn't forget that areas like this are a haven for a lot of different and struggling species.
In particular bumblebees and bees are having hard times in our countryside possibly due to modern farming practices and micro oasis like the one we offer can provide sanctuary to, or at least help, some of them survive.
