Plethora of Pytchley plants

After yesterday’s work party, we took time to admire the ever changing Marsh.  Many Dragonfly and Damselfly were attracted to the receding waters, green, red and blue were spotted.  One pair were even egg laying!  

 

 

5G – Five Golds

Great news!  Once again we have won Gold in the Rugby in Bloom competition.
 
Here are a few words from our Chairman Steve Batt:-
 
 
 I’d be grateful if you could let the team know that we have got to five in a row by winning Gold again this year in the Environmental Category of Rugby in Bloom J. That’s first and or Gold every year since 2008 when we first entered, brilliant.

 Yet again a fabulous tribute to all the Rugby Group team, but also a huge thank you to the input from Nature Force, Rugby School and RBC and not forgetting Phil Bett and team on Pytchley Marsh.

 Steve”

 We would be very grateful for more volunteers,  perhaps you know of a young person who would like to improve their CV by volunteering with us.  You don’t have to commit to every session and you don’t have to stay for the whole time.  We usually do about three hours when we work on a Sunday and two hours when we work on a Thursday (see calendar).  Stout shoes and old clothes are recommended, tools, gloves and instructions are provided. 

 The Nature Force groups typically arrive at 9.45  and leave at about 3 pm.  You would be very welcome to join in, you would need a packed lunch, but tea, coffee and biscuits are always provided.

Margaret (Secretary) 

Voluminous Vegetation

After the recent often heavy persistent rains the wildflowers are in profusion with Great Willow herb in abundance, after the Parsley/Pignut & St. John’s Wort came the Vetch, Vetchling, Birdsfoot Trefoil & Clover.  On a sunny day there was much activity from Bees, Ringlet and the odd Meadow Brown Butterflies.

Pytchley Marsh @ Easter

The Moorhen has returned to the Marsh, & a Chiffchaff’s plaintive 2 note call was heard nearby. 

Ashlawn Update 6-4-12

Its something of a shock to find us back with winter weather, but during the recent warm spell we had local sightings of Small White, Orange-tip, Holly Blue, and Specked Wood.

A Garden Warbler was heard in the cutting and a Stoat was seen near Onley Lane.

 

Ashlawn Update 23-3-12

We have now virtually completed the work on the Pytchley Marsh and will be diverting our attention to tidying up other areas in the cutting.

The frogs have now finished spawning and presumably are heading back home to the gardens nearby.

I think it was a very poor year for spawning as many of the pools they have previously used were dry or encroached by vegetation. My counts indicate less than half the spawn set compared to 2008

The good news was that they have started to use the marsh again where 93 frogs were counted on 2nd March and by 5th there were 30 clumps of spawn.

The greater numbers in nearby Reservoir Pond were good to see but it didn’t make up for the loss of other pools in the cutting.

As the weather has warmed up the overwintering butterflies have emerged from hibernation and Brimstone, Comma, Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock are on the wing.

To check out what was seen in the Cutting follow our link to Butterfly Conservation –  Warwickshire website & view ‘by location’ Ashlawn North or South s on the recording pages.

You can also add your own sightings here which once vetted will go on to the county database. You can even put in records from other places in Warwickshire including your garden.

Look in the warm sunny spots out of the breeze and near a nectar source such as Pussy Willow, Dandelion & the similar looking Coltsfoot.

Also just flying are the Bee-Flies which look like a bee but have a short proboscis sticking out in front.

We were pleased to get a positive report of Grass Snake seen basking in the cutting on  22nd March.

Violets are also just starting to show, and things will move on fast now if the weather forecast is correct.

Keep your eyes open.

Pytchley Marshes

I just wanted to say thank you & WELL DONE! We just went for a
walk along the Great Central Walk old railway line & saw all the work
you’ve been doing down there on Pytchley Marshes….FANTASTIC! It looks
great! It’s brilliant: the chopping back you have done will let light in
& encourage even more wildlife! It also makes it more accessable.There
were loads of frogs spawning everywhere & the noise of them was
suprisingly loud! We even saw some tiny fish. Carry on the good work, it is
certainly much appreciated by us! 

Alex Davies of Rugby

Copulation Chaos

If you go down to the marsh today…… For the next ten days the marsh will be alive with the sight & sound of frogs and toads breeding.  It is quite a spectacle!  Reservoir pond had at least 200 amphibians alone, yesterday.