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Buckden Roundabout
October 2019
Buckden Wildlife
Early autumn wildlife in Buckden
There’s been a lot going on this summer when it comes to
Buckden’s fantastic wild places and wildlife with some highs
and, sadly, some lows at a time when a climate and ecological
crisis has been declared.
The 200-year old western hedge on Luck’s Lane is gone. Ripped
out to make way for the new housing there, leaving a histori-
cal, landscape, wellbeing and wildlife gap that can’t be re-
placed. Most of the hedge was Elm which, as you may know,
we nearly lost completely in Britain after the Dutch Elm Dis-
ease epidemic. For these wonderful little trees to have sur-
vived and fought back to be treated like this is extremely sad. I
for one, will not be enjoying my regular walks down this once
beautiful little lane anymore.
Elms are also home to some rare and specialised insects. One
of these is the beautiful little White-letter Hairstreak butterfly
which is a priority species for conservation and restricted to
elm trees where it lays its tiny eggs. It flies from late June
through July and I spent some time looking for it on Luck’s
Lane and Stirtloe Lane as I had a hunch it would be there with
so much Elm. Sure enough, there was a strong and important
colony flitting around the tops and nectaring on brambles, well
into double figures. This was along the western part of Stirtloe
Lane leading up to the slip road. I also found some in the cen-
tral reservation of the A1 there: an important species on our
doorsteps that should be protected as planning law dictates. I
hope we do see those hedgerows and trees where they live
protected, as we have been assured they will be during con-
struction - and just as importantly once the new development
is in place. I’ll be keeping a close eye…
Spotted Flycatchers nested in the grounds of the Towers and I
also saw them in the churchyard using the lovely oak there.
Another pair nested in the tall poplar trees by the marina car
park. This is another priority species for conservation, so great
work by the landowners in attracting and maintaining this
much-declined species which we’re lucky to still have.
I keep adding to the list of wildlife species on the field on Mill
Road, east of Greenway’s – still, unbelievably, a proposed site
for development despite not being part of the signed off HDC
Local Plan to 2036. I now have over 1,000 species of wildlife
recorded living in the field and its surrounds. Not bad for a site
that we were told was of low ecological value by the develop-
ers! Barn Owls, another protected species, bred successfully
there this summer and I was often startled by their ghostly
shrieks coming from the field once the youngsters fledged.
Grass Snakes have also been very active using the west part of
the site and one popped into my garden to shelter in our com-
post heap (see photo) one day in the summer!
We should all be proud of the wildlife that’s thrived in Buckden
this summer and let’s do all we can to protect it and champion
it. It’s part of our community and what makes the village so
special for us all.
With winter coming, it’s a good time to think about making
homes for nature in your garden. I’ve been getting my hands
dirty making some bee and insect “hotels” and got a bit carried
away with how big the main one was (see photo)! Five species
of solitary bee used the holes I’d drilled in the sections of wil-
low trunk this summer, all commuting “over the fence” to use
the wildflower-rich Mill Road field to forage and perform their
role as vital pollinators, so well worth the effort.
I’ve been using leftover materials in our garden including cut
drainpipes (great winter homes for Frogs and Toads), roof tiles
(perfect for bee hotel roofs as you can see) and sheets of cor-
rugated plastic placed in the sun (for Slow-worms and Grass
Snakes). You can use twigs, leaves and bits of wood for insect
hotels as well and the two I built below will also be great for
hibernating hedgehogs, Build it, cross your fingers, and they’ll
come!
If you’d like any advice on making insect hotels, or would like
to come and see mine for ideas, please drop me email at
goldenbins@hotmail.co.uk
.
I’m hoping the photos with this
article might inspire Buckden residents to make some for your
garden and for around the village – great projects and fun for
children and our local groups to get involved in. Again, I’d be
delighted to offer some help and know you can do better than
me!
Mark Ward is a nature author and the RSPB’s Editor-in-Chief,
producing its magazines and other communications for its 1.1
million members. His latest book, “Wildlife on Your Doorstep” is
based on his experiences with the wildlife of the Buckden area.
It is available from Amazon and all good booksellers.
Grass snake in Mark’s compost heap
Mark’s insect hotel