Rockingham Forest Vision
@rforestvision.bsky.social
Celebrating and connecting the landscapes, wildlife and people of this area of Northamptonshire. Frequent updates on www.rockinghamforest.org.uk
1st guided walk of the year. Ian Clarke showed us amazing cliff faces in Priors Hall Quarry & talked about the ironstone extraction on which Corby’s former steel industry depended. Coming up is a Series of walks to Rockingham Forest’s lesser known places. Book at www.rockinghamforest.org.uk/events
I spent the last couple of days in Oxford where two huge farming conferences happen simultaneously. I was there to talk about the vital importance of access to nature, and why farmland has to be part of that.
Why are there Wood Ants in only one wood in #RockinghamForest ? www.rockinghamforest.org.uk/post/wood-ants @wclnews.bsky.social @wildlifebcn.bsky.social
Wood Ants and Nature Recovery
The amazing colonies of Red Wood Ants in Bedford Purlieus raise many questions. Here's a few answers ... and more questions! Can you help?
rockinghamforest.org.uk
The #NewYearPlantHunt is starting tomorrow! 🌼Taking part in @bsbibotany.bsky.social's Plant Hunt is a really valuable way of contributing towards building an accurate picture of how our wild plants are responding to the climate crisis. Find out more & register at: bsbi.org/new-year-pla...
2024 highlights: back in spring I showed Phoebe Weston @theguardian.com the 22 yr Marsh Tit study at Monks Wood, documenting their decline. Despite a good spring, summer survival was poor again and the slump continues. But the 9 yr old bird still survives! www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘These birds are telling us something serious is happening’: the songbirds disappearing from Britain’s woods
The dramatic decline of marsh tits in an ancient Cambridgeshire woodland is a story repeated across the UK as human activity drives species towards extinction
theguardian.com
Planning some winter walks around #RockinghamForest but not sure which route to take? Check out our list of nine hard tracks for ‘Walking Without Wellies’ in the Forest this winter. New today - a walk in Ring Haw, the @wildlifebcn.bsky.social nature reserve. www.rockinghamforest.org.uk/www
Did you play a part in our recent "Building the Links for #RockinghamForest" project? There's a summary of what was achieved here, with lots of pictures too www.rockinghamforest.org.uk/building-links
Building the Links for Rockingham Forest
The National Lottery Heritage Fund are funding this two-year partnership project to link people to the habitats and wildlife of Rockingham Forest.
rockinghamforest.org.uk
Did you play a part in our recent "Building the Links for #RockinghamForest" project? There's a summary of what was achieved here, with lots of pictures too www.rockinghamforest.org.uk/building-links
Building the Links for Rockingham Forest
The National Lottery Heritage Fund are funding this two-year partnership project to link people to the habitats and wildlife of Rockingham Forest.
rockinghamforest.org.uk
A wet weekend - just the time to settle down and take part in this important public consultation. Comments must be in by Monday!
Rockingham Forest Vision@rforestvision.bsky.social · 2y agoJust 9 days left to comment on North Northamptonshire's important new strategy for nature recovery. If you need a bit of help to get started have a look here. www.rockinghamforest.org.uk/latest @wildlifebcn.bsky.social
Not the ideal day for a walk in the forest!
Out today is our December newsletter featuring the celebration artwork at the end of the 2-year Building the Links for #RockinghamForest project. Download it here www.rockinghamforest.org.uk/contacts
There's an awful lot of deer in #RockinghamForest! and they cause lots of damage to trees as well as crops. Read about the local deer problem here www.rockinghamforest.org.uk/deer-1
Just 9 days left to comment on North Northamptonshire's important new strategy for nature recovery. If you need a bit of help to get started have a look here. www.rockinghamforest.org.uk/latest @wildlifebcn.bsky.social
Please help bees, butterflies and birds by reducing the mowing next year! By leaving a patch of grass in your garden to flower you'll be helping wildlife while reducing effort, cost and carbon emissions. Cartoon courtesy of the wonderful @sepponet.bsky.social #Nature #ClimateAction #biodiversity
Beautiful evening light but still sad to see all this felling in Bedford Purlieus just now. This woodland's probably the jewel of the #RockinghamForest crown - read more about it here www.rockinghamforest.org.uk/woodland
More good #NationalParks news from Scotland. Scottish Gov consultation finds strong support for reforming Park purposes to prioritise biodiversity, and to deliver more on climate. Legislation looks likely to follow soon. www.gov.scot/publications...
Looking up into the crown of an enormous stool of Small-leaved Lime, perhaps close to a thousand years old, brings a sense of calm and perspective...and shows crown shyness nicely... #ThickTrunkTuesday
Despite last week's freeze, still fungi to be found in Old Sulehay Forest including a very fresh huddle of Mica Inkcap, some Purple (or Budding) Jellydisc on a mossy stump, Clustered Bonnet inside a hollow oak stump and a scatter of Oysterlings on a Hazel twig. #MushroomMonday #FungiFriends 📸🍄
This new study suggests that high-quality old grassland may be particularly good at supporting pollinators because diverse food sources provided by such grassland provide additional health benefits. besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... | Pornon et al. @funecology.bsky.social
Species‐rich old grasslands have beneficial effects on the health and gut microbiome of bumblebees
Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
No rain warning from the Met Office for Northamptonshire yesterday but, with hindsight, an Amber warning may have been warranted. It was a significant weather event for the county leading to widespread flooding & damage to property. Some exceptional rainfall totals for 24/11/24:
The River Welland forms the northern boundary of #RockinghamForest and there's a green lane allowing access across the river at Turtle Bridge - but not today! See more details here www.rockinghamforest.org.uk/places-to-visit
It's harvest time in Wakerley Wood - as seen during #StormBert. "All is safely gathered in, 'ere the winter storms begin"? Some valuable timber here, and perhaps another take on #NationalTreeWeek ?
Groups across #RockinghamForest are working on Nature Recovery in small or more major ways. Here's a post, published today, about what's going on in Oundle. www.rockinghamforest.org.uk/post/oundle-... We'd love to share what else is going one here - please get in touch.
Nature Recovery in Oundle
Hilary describes projects to help nature recover in Oundle - planting native bulbs and erecting nest boxes for Swifts
rockinghamforest.org.uk
Lots more about this amazing woodland by Carolyn Church here - a full year's diary describing working and living in the wood. Well worth a read! www.rockinghamforest.org.uk/blog/categories/rawhaw
@hannahcarpenter.bsky.social · 2y agoLast week I visited a wonderful independently owned coppice woodland. Third photo shows their award-winning 'dead-hedging' that keeps the deer off the young hazel growth, but naturally degrades just as the hazel is old enough to withstand the nibbling! Very clever stuff!
As #COP29 draws to a close in Baku, perhaps it is a good moment to be reminded that despite the complex global politics, there are practical things we can do on the ground here in England. & in acting to build resilience to climate change impacts, we can restore Nature too.
