APRIL 2025
The drier weather continued through early March with the High pressure holding on over the UK. The mornings were notable in the South having heavy frosts but then the sun broke through any resulting mists and the days were glorious.
This month we will be preparing the wildlife refuges once again on Memorial and Red House commons. The teams will work around the chosen areas to establish an advisory boundary to indicate the areas. Signs will help everyone know where the selected areas are, and main footpaths and walking routes will not be affected. Help is always welcomed, and the dates are Friday 4th April and Saturday 5th April both at 9.00.a.m. until around midday. Tools and gloves are provided so please let us know in advance by emailing ‘mail@chaileycommons.org.uk’ if you can help which gives us a chance to sign people up as ESCC volunteers and plan ahead.
These areas, as in previous years, are specially aimed at helping the regular summer visitor, the Nightjar, which flies in from Africa for the summer breeding season. As a follow up again this year we will be doing late night recording sessions in June on all commons to reveal how many nesting sites and birds present. As the lighter evenings come along, the signs of wildlife becoming active appear again on our heathland. Where there are open flat sandy areas the circular entrances to tunnels (about 1cm diameter) made by the native Minotaur beetle can be seen, which is a smart black beetle that emerges at night to gather rabbit droppings. Hopefully, the Nightjars will arrive soon and can be heard by their very distinctive call made onwards from twenty minutes after sunset – yes, this does actually happen.
Our Annual General Meeting took place in March so now we are off into a new year of activities outside on the commons. New members are aways welcome so, if you would like to join us go to our website or come along to our activities and find out more.
Next meeting: - Sunday 6th April. 8-9.30am. Early bird walk with Adrian on Romany Ridge common. Meet Romany Ridge Car Park.
For further information, visit our website – www.chaileycommons.org.uk
or our Facebook page www.facebook.com/chaileycommons/ or friendsofmarkstakescommon.weebly.com William Coleman 01444 831098