January 2019

Buckden Roundabout

January 2019

Wildlife in Buckden

Wildlife in Buckden

by Mark Ward

The days may be short, but our wonderful local wildlife has

plenty to offer for those of us keen to get outside, plus a spe-

cial treat if you want to watch from the comfort of your

home…

Even if you don’t fancy going out in the cold, there’s plenty to

see. Why not take part in the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch –

the world’s biggest wildlife survey – by counting the birds in

your garden or shared space, for one hour between 26-28

January? The Birdwatch is 40 in 2019 – a birthday it shares

with me! It has built up a great picture of trends in our garden

birds. Sadly, it has revealed big declines in species such as

Starlings and Song Thrushes, but there are winners too. Feed-

ing them all helps in these difficult times when food is scarce.

Visit

www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch

for how to take part or if

you are an RSPB member, your January issue of

Nature’s

Home

magazine will have a counting form.

You might be lucky and have colourful finches such as Siskins,

Redpolls, Goldfinches, Bullfinches and perhaps even Bram-

blings visiting your garden. It looks like it could be a “Waxwing

winter” so keep an eye on the Rowans, Hawthorns and other

berry-bearing trees and shrubs in the village – and let me

know if you spot any, please!

We have lots of wonderful trees around the village. There are

a good number of species and some of the very best native

ones for wildlife. Have a closer look at their trunks and you

will find a variety of beautiful lichens. Some grow flat on the

trunk making intricate patterns while others make beautiful

decorations as they flow down from branches of trees. Oaks

are very good and the lovely ones near me along Mill Road

have many species, as do the other trees in the fantastic

hedgerows along the road. Come and have a look – and check

out the churchyard too as it has dozens of species of lichen on

the stonework.

Every tree, shrub and piece of scrub is valuable for wildlife as

well as playing its part in making Buckden such a green and

healthy village for us – even in the depths of winter. Trees,

bushes, scrub and standing dead stems of flowers also help

with stopping soil erosion and drainage. Nature offers us lots

of natural “services” like this – all for free! Please do all you

can to keep the scrub and cover in your garden and your part

of the village to maintain our patchwork of natural habitat.

As you look at what might first appear to be an annoying

thorny bramble this winter, think about the hundreds of crea-

tures sheltering, hibernating or overwintering as insects with-

in its stems and leaves. In autumn, you’ll benefit from the

lovely blackberries and insects love the white flowers. It has

recently been shown there are more than 100 species of

bramble in Britain and not just one!

Our Buckden wildlife needs us more than ever at the moment,

so let’s all do our bit to help and protect it in our special posi-

tion in the beautiful Ouse Valley. The perfect New Year’s reso-

lution!

If you have any questions or concerns about wildlife in Buck-

den, feel free to email me on

goldenbins@hotmail.co.uk

or call 07974 432 460.

Mark Ward is a wildlife author and the RSPB’s Editor-in-Chief.

His latest books, Wildlife on Your Doorstep and A Year in

British Wildlife are available online, in book stores

and from Mark.