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Again this week with Pete (The Wildman of Kinglake) and the Friends of Surrey Square finest, Julian we were down to the Wild Life Area and Hedge (but also a bit around the park) for a spot of maintenance, cleaning and surveying.
Again this week with Pete (The Wildman of Kinglake) and the Friends of Surrey Square finest, Julian we were down to the Wild Life Area and Hedge (but also a bit around the park) for a spot of maintenance, cleaning and surveying.
The weather wan't that great but at least it did not rain (too much).
The weather wan't that great but at least it did not rain (too much).
Julian is proud of the work he has given to the park and community, in fact the Wild Life Hedge and Meadow, amongst other features of Surrey Square Park, wouldn't be there without his endeavour (The Wildman needed a little cooling due to his over-excitable nature, intriguingly when in the proximity of lesser burdock -Actium minus- !?!).
Julian is proud of the work he has given to the park and community, in fact the Wild Life Hedge and Meadow, amongst other features of Surrey Square Park, wouldn't be there without his endeavour (The Wildman needed a little cooling due to his over-excitable nature, intriguingly when in the proximity of lesser burdock -Actium minus- !?!).
As we decided to keep the path open in the Wild Life Area there was quite a bit of work to do and also a spot of cleaning was needed as, especially on the Kinglake side there was some detritus to be attended to. Since last time, less than a month ago, all seemed to be overgrown again.
As we decided to keep the path open in the Wild Life Area there was quite a bit of work to do and also a spot of cleaning was needed as, especially on the Kinglake side there was some detritus to be attended to. Since last time, less than a month ago, all seemed to be overgrown again.
but with some perseverance and some lawn shears we found abandoned in the WLA last year we managed to do restore some semblance of access.
but with some perseverance and some lawn shears we found abandoned in the WLA last year we managed to do restore some semblance of access.
The oak sapling seemed fine and the Wildman calmed down
The oak sapling seemed fine and the Wildman calmed down
and retreated onto himself
and retreated onto himself
Eventually he managed to produce (by accident) few documentary evidence of our visit.
Eventually he managed to produce (by accident) few documentary evidence of our visit.
At first the usual aphids and ladybirds combinations (lots of aphids, surprisingly, this year - noticed the droplets of sugary excrete they produce due to the plant sap pressure)
At first the usual aphids and ladybirds combinations (lots of aphids, surprisingly, this year - noticed the droplets of sugary excrete they produce due to the plant sap pressure)
Soon its rooting trough the undergrowth revealed some little marvels. Here some bonnet clamps (Mycena cinerella) that he managed to capture (after being dissuaded from biting...)
Soon its rooting trough the undergrowth revealed some little marvels. Here some bonnet clamps (Mycena cinerella) that he managed to capture (after being dissuaded from biting...)
Some Tettigoniidae (bush-cricket) nymph on a dog daisy or this ant nest was not above his interest but really he scored a hit finding a dock bug (Coreus marginatus)
Some Tettigoniidae (bush-cricket) nymph on a dog daisy or this ant nest was not above his interest but really he scored a hit finding a dock bug (Coreus marginatus)
or with this buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) and definitively with the heather bumblebee (Bombus jonellum) [ note this is only a tentative ID!]
or with this buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) and definitively with the heather bumblebee (Bombus jonellum) [ note this is only a tentative ID!]
Lastly some undoubted beauty:
Lastly some undoubted beauty:
Delicate Druces Cranesbill ( Geranium x oxonianum ), budding burdock , cheerful mallow (Malva sylvestris) and the plentiful dog rose bushes.
Delicate Druces Cranesbill ( Geranium x oxonianum ), budding burdock , cheerful mallow (Malva sylvestris) and the plentiful dog rose bushes.
The mallow has actually a very interesting insect on it possibly a Cerambycidae beetle but I did not notice...
The mallow has actually a very interesting insect on it possibly a Cerambycidae beetle but I did not notice...
At the end some more common visitors were also spotted. Squirrel have been returning to the park and the Wild Life Area only since last year after a hiatus of more than two years.
At the end some more common visitors were also spotted. Squirrel have been returning to the park and the Wild Life Area only since last year after a hiatus of more than two years.
So their presence is more than welcome.
So their presence is more than welcome.
We rapped up by visiting the alleyway next to the Lord Aladura Church were Julian has started planting, some ferns in the wooden breastwork containing the playground.
We rapped up by visiting the alleyway next to the Lord Aladura Church were Julian has started planting, some ferns in the wooden breastwork containing the playground.
The Friends of Surrey Square Park have debated about what to do to improve this alley and the general consent was to try and utilise the structure for some less common type of vegetation.
The Friends of Surrey Square Park have debated about what to do to improve this alley and the general consent was to try and utilise the structure for some less common type of vegetation.
It will be a long slogs as some of the new planted vegetation has already be purloined but with time...
It will be a long slogs as some of the new planted vegetation has already be purloined but with time...
The start choice was very good. The Hart's-tongue fern (Asplenium scolopendrium) and Broad Buckler Fern (Dryopteris dilatata) are actually already native of the -at least- Kinglake estate so there is some kind of continuity and method. One can only hope that they'll take tallus...
The start choice was very good. The Hart's-tongue fern (Asplenium scolopendrium) and Broad Buckler Fern (Dryopteris dilatata) are actually already native of the -at least- Kinglake estate so there is some kind of continuity and method. One can only hope that they'll take tallus...
Well done (as usual) Julian!
Well done (as usual) Julian!
So we were all pleased with ourselves and departed to our ways with a glow of spiritual satisfaction that only comes to those who do good (well, the Wildman seemed more overwhelmed than most!!!)
So we were all pleased with ourselves and departed to our ways with a glow of spiritual satisfaction that only comes to those who do good (well, the Wildman seemed more overwhelmed than most!!!)
Last but not least we nearly managed to get the house sparrows (Passer domesticus) that have been studiously managed to evade all our attempt at recording and that have been nesting in the east side of the Wild Life area to give us a little chirping.
Last but not least we nearly managed to get the house sparrows (Passer domesticus) that have been studiously managed to evade all our attempt at recording and that have been nesting in the east side of the Wild Life area to give us a little chirping.
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