After a dry period of several months the three small ponds on the Nature Reserve filled up
during the first week of January, and are now frozen over. They are ephemeral, filled only
for part of the year, and it will be interesting to see how long they persist this year. Before
the cold snap the first shoots of Wild Garlic were pushing through along the river bank,
as well as a few pink brush-like flowers of Butterbur.

The reserve has large flocks of Redwing and Fieldfare at this time of year, but the relatively mild winter has lead to fewer sightings of Siskin, and no Snipe or Woodcock so far. For more information about sightings do visit the Bird Registers A-G, H-P and Q-Z.

I am particularly grateful to Jean and Dave Roberts for their help in setting up this register and contributing so many records over the last three years, including information on those birds known to have bred on site. Paul Highman is now continuing this work.

You may have noticed that we have run out of leaflets since we placed leaflet holders on the notice boards. Hans Rieder, who manages our website, is updating the old leaflet and we will have them printed by the City Council shortly.

We have received another small grant from Derby City Council's WildDerby project which will enable us to replenish the stone chippings at the main entrance path and on the steps and bridge, and to do some more scrub clearance on the main part of the Reserve. This work will be done by BTCV volunteers on Thursday, February 9, 2012.

Our annual spring "tidy-up" session will be held in April or May, when we hope our own volunteers will once again turn out in force.

The revision of our Management Plan should be completed in the next few months, and will guide our work on the Reserve for the next 5 years. The Management Group will be discussing a draft of the plan in February; and there will be an opportunity for wider discussion at our Open Meeting to be held on the Nature Reserve on Thursday, April 12, starting at 6.30pm from Mill View Gardens. Please come along if you are interested; you will be very welcome.

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