Missed you too

Darn, I slipped up. While I attempted to cover myself with stand-in columns and auxiliary articles, I managed to allow one little week to slip past beneath my radar. So, apologies for the gap in broadcast last week – let normal service continue.

 

And in true Jim Bowen can’t-beat-a-bit-of-Bully fashion: “Here’s what you could have won”; had I found the time to pen last week’s article I had been ruminating on in the wee small hours.

 

Bluebell day; a festival of all things springtime and woodlandy.

 

I touched briefly on the impending day a few weeks ago, but the day itself was so idyllic, it seems only fair to recap here and ensure the date is marked in next year’s nature calendar in good time.

 

The day got off to a flyer (pardon the pun) with a dawn chorus walk, attended by over twenty stoic individuals, who gathered at 6.30am to walk through the woods with Nature Reserves Officer Fraser Rush in search of early birds. All the favourite woodland species were on show, those I have raved about ad nauseam here in columns past. Blackcaps warbled their melodic verse, song thrushes stuttered their tuneful way in triplicate and a handsome male bullfinch put on a dazzling show, resplendent in his pink livery.

 

Bacon rolls followed and the determined few lingered at the farmhouse until the start of the bluebell day itself later in the morning. The first guided walks to see the flowers set off at 10am, and over the course of the next few hours over 150 people had a personal guided walk through the woods and many more set off to follow the self-guided walk.

 

As well as the general wildlife walks, Fraser led a botanical foray looking at wild flowers, ferns and grasses, Kate Tobin hosted a historical romp through the woods in search of the archaeological heritage to be found there and I led a nut hunt for hazel nuts and investigated what small mammals had been feeding in various parts of the woodland.

 

Finally, the day drew to a spectacular close with a night walk to see and hear bats feeding in the night time woods. Many of the same faces who had explored the woods first thing were back to see how they changed with night fall and were not to be disappointed. With the aid of bat detectors, Fraser and Kate were able to bring the hidden world of bats to the eyes and ears of the assembled crowd and this fabulous barometer of wildlife wealth was brought into sharp focus. Bats are a largely endangered group of mammals in this country and duly afforded great protection, with 10 of the 16 native species being found in Holyford, this is a wonderful place to experience your first bat walk.

 

The day was blessed with fine weather, warm and sunny but not too hot. Everyone who came along and enjoyed a walk, a cream tea in the farmhouse garden or simply sat and soaked up the unique and very special local atmosphere left with a rosy glow in their cheeks and a renewed admiration for this very special part of the world.

 

 

A sticky subject

 

I often receive letters and emails on subjects concerning East Devon’s countryside and, when the enquirer is happy for me to do so, I like to reprint my response here for a wider audience. This week an email about the Exe Estuary LNR.

 

I would be very much obliged if you could tell me whether there is any danger from quicksand when walking at low tide.  I often see people out a long way on the sand, but recently my neighbour told me that it is dangerous because of quicksand. I am a sensible adult and walk over the sand regularly at low tide, so would be very pleased to hear from you whether it is in fact safe to do so. I have attached a photo which shows the area in question.

 

I  eagerly await your reply Liz Williamson

 

Hi Liz,

 

Thanks for contacting me.

 

As long as you take a few simple precautions there is no danger in venturing onto the sand at low water on the Exe Estuary. The few times people have got stuck, it has been in mud – there is no quicksand to my knowledge in this location. To avoid becoming trapped in mud it is essential to retrace your steps as soon as you notice the going is getting sticky. The muds here don’t become deep quickly, so the only chance to get dangerously stuck is if you keep ploughing forwards, once over ankle depth.

 

More importantly on the safety side of things is being aware of the tides.

 

Although not an estuary with a ‘dangerous’ tide, it is important to know if the times of tides to ensure you keep your feet dry when venturing out! This information can be found online, or tables can be purchased at most watersports outlets in Exmouth.

 

Best wishes

James