Giant Hogweed – 30 Days Wild (Day 9)

Out of all the plants in the UK, the Giant Hogweed is one plant that I would recommend knowing about. Why – to keep well away from it.

Not to be confused with Common Hogweed, the Giant Hogweed is a plant that was introduced in the 19th Century as an ornimental but is not native to the UK. Since then it has spead and although there is no requirements to report it, you should check with the local council if you spot it.

So why keep away? The plants sap burns skin and makes it photo sensitive (phytophotodermatitis). Cases have been from slight to severe burns and once burnt by the sap you cant expose that area of skin to sunlight as it will burn again. Effects can last for 7 years.

More Facts on the Giant Hogweed https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2019/06/giant-hogweed-facts/

Where is Giant Hogweed in the UK? https://www.planttracker.org.uk/map/giant-hogweed

Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heracleum_mantegazzianum

Bats – 30 Days Wild (Day 8)

For this 30 Days Wild last night at Dusk I went outside and there flying around as usual was our local bats. A bit too fast to take a photo with my phone, but great to watch them flying around the front of the houses and over the wooded area in front of the house.

Although I cant confirm it as they are a bit fast to fully see, I think they are Common pipistrelle bats. These bats can eat around 3,000 insects a night and weigh about the same as a 20 pence piece (5 grams).

A great sight if you get the chance to see them flying around catching insects using their ears and sonar to find them.

In the UK we have around 18 species of bats which include

Brandt’s bat
Brown long-eared bat
Daubenton’s bat
Greater horseshoe bat
Leisler’s bat
Lesser horseshoe bat
Whiskered bat

Full list of UK Bats https://www.bats.org.uk/about-bats/what-are-bats/uk-bats

There are over 1,400 species of bats in the world, and more are still being discovered.

Hedgerows – 30 Days Wild (Day 7)

Hedgerows form the part of many fields and country lanes. Typically forming a barrier to break up the land into plots for farming and stock, whilst also to mark territorial boundaries and local parish lines.

Early hedgerows can be traced back to Anglo-Saxton Charters.

Overtime the replacement of hedges with modern fencing has seen the removal and decline of the big and bushy hedgerows of yesteryear, however there is a bit of a resurgance of the hedgerow as the benefits of encouraging wildlife back to areas is increasing.

Last weekend I was on a social distanced walk with a friend as we went around the local area and luckily from where we are we were soon out of the primmed garden hedge to the wild hedgerows of the lanes and fields nearby.

The great thing about hedgerows is the variety of plants and wildlife that make them their home. Throughout the seasons hedgerows change with flowers to berries and the different wildlife that inhabits them.

The hedgerows on our walk consisted of:

Beech
Hawthorn
Hazel
Blackthorn
Dog Rose
Cow Parsley
Hemlock
Stinging Nettle
Ivy
Elder
Bramble
Cleavers

As well as lots of grasses and other plants on the verges next to the hedges.

Plenty of birds in and out of the plants, but no mammals were seen. Typically you could see:

Squirrels
Rabbits
Stoats
Weasel
Hedgehog
Voles
Mice
Shrews

Next time you are out on a walk keep your eyes open to what you can find.

Nature under your feet – 30 Days Wild (Day 5)

When your out looking at nature you dont have to go far to find it. We often are looking straight ahead or up in our search to find something, that we miss whats under our feet.

Standing on grass? Look down, get down and investigate whats under your feet. The picture to the right is from my back garden lawn.

Lets have a look more closely at some of it. Straight away you can see:

Grass
Buttercup
Clover
Moss

What else can you find?

If you start to move the growth of plants to the side and look into the thatch of the lawn you will find a myriad of creatures.

Ants
Beetles
Grubs
Slugs
Snails
Weevils
Worms

To some gardners these may be pests, but there is a whole eco system going on right under your feet. Have a look. What have you discovered? What plants and animals make a lawn or field their home?

Water – 30 Days Wild (Day 4)

Recently we have had some fantastic weather in the UK. Its been very warm and sunny which has been great. The weather has now changed for a bit and its raining again.

Whilst this can be not the weather we want, its what nature needs after a long dry spell.

During the dry spell lots of creatures cam to drink from the pond from birds to insects. It was great to see the pond being a focal point of the garden at the time. Due to some work in the garden the bird bath was not out, but now that work has finished its back out in the garden and ready to serve its purpose. This for me shows the importance of having a supply of water in your garden.

Grasses in the gardenis a great plant to show the nature of resilience in these times. During the dry spell it has been changing colour as it starts to save its nutriants into its roots to keep alive turning the grass blades to a brown dry colour. The rain has started to revert this process and bring the plant back to life to the colour that most gardeners love their lawns to be.

So have a water feature in your garden or small tub or plate of water to help the wildlife have somewhere to drink from.