Welcome to Minchinhampton Walking and Wildlife Group
The group was formed to share knowledge about the unique wildlife habitats in the parish of Minchinhampton and to enjoy the local environment in the company of like-minded people. We also monitor and investigate local habitats in conjunction with conservation organisations. Knowledge that we gain is shared on this website and by creating documented walks around the parish.
Large Blues Flying on Rodborough Common
Observed on Rodborough Common, 23 June 2021. Not many - only about four seen. Photographs by Mary Astle. Hopefully we will see a few more for our monthly walk on Sunday (though the weather forecast is not looking too good at the moment).
Update: Unfortunately, the weather was good for butterflies on 23rd June - thought the orchids were great. However, my wife and I walked a Rodborough path on 5th July and saw several Large Blues without particularly stopping to search. They are doing OK.
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- Details
- Written by Michael McEllin
- Category: Butterflies
Stuart Fawkes Nature Reserve - May 2021
We were back together again, after the lockdowns, with a good turn-out and good weather for a walk to Stuart Foulkes Nature Reserve, lead by Ros - primarily to look at the rare Meadow Clary. (The Box Meadows nature reserve is one of only a few sites in the UK where this rare plant can be found.)
We descended down to Iron Mills Common, where the experts had a long, and I suspect unresolved, discussion about which species of Milkwort we were seeing, and unusual site for Bird's-nest Orchids and several butterfly sightings, including Adonis Blues, Chalkhill Blues and Brown Argus. Return via Scar Hill and the Stone Mines revealed that the Lizard Orchid may have reappeared on a former known site.
Adonis Blue
- Details
- Written by Michael McEllin
- Category: Local Walks
Sunday Walks Restarting
We are aiming to restart our programme of Sunday walks, in compliance with the recently relaxed Covid regulations.
See the Events page for details. The first event will be on 30th May: a walk from Beaudesert Car park (western side of Minch. Common) to Box Meadows, looking for the Meadow Clary.
I shall also try to keep our Facebook page up to date with up-coming events.
- Details
- Written by Michael McEllin
- Category: Activity
Lizard Orchid
We have a Lizard Orchid flowering in the locality. Unfortunately it suffered somewhat in the severe downpours we experienced yesterday - now almost flat on the ground - so we may never see it fully flowering. This photo was take on Monday 15th June.
- Details
- Written by Michael McEllin
- Category: Flora
A poetic contribution from Robert South
A poetic report from our very local patch
As eggs in hedgerows begin to hatch
Above us skylarks are singing away
A pleasant diversion from the pandemic fray
Near Tom Longs we stumble on a larks nest
Seeing three eggs fills us with zest
Alas days later we lost our elation
As disaster struck in the form of predation
On feeders pretty long tailed tits still gather
Unaware of social distancing palavah.
In the garden there are Tortoiseshells and Peacocks
On the early flora they run amok
And then Orange Tips and a Holly Blue
Its bright shade of colour as good as Kew
And then a bright Comma flashes through
Making our garden feel so new
A walk to Rodborough yields Skipper and Hairstreak
Spotting the tiny latter is not for the meek.
And early purple begin to bloom
But in this heat they will be over soon
Primroses in profusion adorn this year
As we meander around people living in fear
Wood anenomies flower where once there was bracken
Clearance of scrub is so amazing to make things happen
No hirundines Tony, but across sky Buzzards dart
A sight that gives us humans great heart.
By Amberley church a Jay speeds by
Its cutting call a familiar cry
Laughing Green Woodpeckers in the distance heard
And Great Spotteds drumming are yet another bird
And then Speckled Woods spiral into the sky
We watch them go ever more high
On verges native bluebells and Ladys Smock are seen
And on the Common Cowslips flower where drab winter had been
On the 16th, a green-winged orchid is seen
In its spot not far from the 11th golfing green
In the garden a Mouse and Vole are about
As to the type of Vole the jury is out.
In branches many Chiff Chaffs now softly call
Lovely to hear but oh so small
Then melodious bursts from a pair of Blackcaps
Spring is now truly on the maps
Not yet the downward trill of the Willow Warbler
Rest assured they will be just round the corner
Indeed, just a day after our meeting
At Little London, us they, in profusion, were greeting
Hairstreaks again but alas no Dukes
In such wind, sighting would be a fluke
Tawny Owls calling are heard at night
A diversion from our human fright
So much to observe and more vividly so at this strange time.
Unsurprising then that some of us escape to rhyme.
Finally two lines to end from a local bard
W H Davies with a poem aptly entitled "leisure" plays his card
"A poor life this if full of care
We have no time to stand or stare"
Robert South - Performed on a "Zoom" meeting 20 April 2020.
- Details
- Written by Michael McEllin
- Category: Poetry
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