The hard winter brought a variety of interesting birds to the nature reserve.

Large groups of up to 50 siskins, a small yellow finch, regularly visited the alder trees along the river bank, in Darley Park as well as the reserve, feeding upside down on the small alder cones. Snipe, green and great spotted woodpeckers are regularly seen, as well as beautiful pink breasted bullfinches, treecreepers and Britain’s tiniest bird, the goldcrest with its punk-like orange head stripe. A pair of reed buntings have also reappeared.

In Nutwood bright yellow hazel catkins have been abundant since January.

Spring will bring a variety of warblers to the site, including whitethroat, chiff-chaff and willow warbler, and sand martin, house martin, swallow and swift over the riverside in March and April.

Regular activities using volunteers include grass cutting, scrub clearance and balsam pulling on the site, with the aim of maintaining biodiversity.

A class of pupils at Walter Evans school are working on a logo for the nature reserve, which we hope to include on notice boards

(see below).

Janet Dean is organising a Worm Survey in March to May on the site, as part of a nationwide project.

A number of members of the management group plan to visit a nature reserve in Birmingham in July to see how grazing animals can be used in an urban setting.

We are seeking grant funding for the following projects this year:

• Gates to restrict access to the site to pedestrians
• Notice boards at the entrances
• Interpretation boards on the site

Please note the following events planned for this year

• Spring bird watch – Sunday 3rd May, 9am to 12 noon
• Open meeting in the village hall – Thurs 7th May at 7.30pm
• Discovery day, Autumn nature walk – Sunday 25th Oct, 2pm to 4pm

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