Environment

It has been a variable spring, weather-wise, but the Amblers are looking forward to more warmth in the coming months, and all the joys that early summer brings through nature.

Swaddywell Bainton Church Helpston to Ashton

Before we move on to that, though, we are looking back to the beginning of March when seventeen of us celebrated our third anniversary with a walk around Swaddywell nature reserve, in the company of ecologist, photographer, and one of Langdyke Countryside Trust’s artists-in-residence, Sarah Lambert. It was a bleak, overcast morning and a little early in the year to see much evidence of the wealth of wildlife that the site supports, but Sarah was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic about nature and the environment that we enjoyed it nonetheless. It is home to several rare plants and creatures and we look forward to enjoying a treasure hunt later in the year, using her pointers. As a celebratory treat, our walk was followed by lunch at Willow Brook Farm Granary Cafe – warm and welcoming, after the cold and damp we had endured! As you would expect from a nature reserve, Swaddywell is really peaceful and the sort of place where you need to be looking around constantly – up, down, left, right, ahead, behind, above, below – in order not to miss anything. It is a site that rewards close observation and patience - an excuse to stand and stare, to breathe, revel in the tiny details, and switch off for a while - and a place that demands respect: visitors should take care not to disturb the environment unnecessarily. I took my binoculars - although not crucial to one’s enjoyment of nature, they come in handy to observe the birds in greater detail without scaring them off, and allow for more accurate ID - especially if they are higher

Helpston to Ashton Swaddywell up. A magnifying lens (small, lightweight and inexpensive) is also useful if you want to get ‘up close and personal’ with a tiny flower or seed head: the details and colours we miss at normal visual distance are amazing and really do add to the experience; previously hidden minutiae produce some genuine ‘wow’ moments and enthuse children as well, even in the garden. Speaking of enriching experiences, another Amblers’ highlight in March was a visit to Bainton churchyard where there was a magnificent display of primroses, glory-of-the-snow and violets. It was a bright, sunny day too, and lifted our spirits before setting off for a stroll in the locality. We have also discovered a Helpston-Ashton route, taking in part of the Torpel Way; finally Helpston to Ashton

Marholm

made it to Marholm (starting from Werrington) to look at the beautiful carved bench there, the pretty village itself and the churchyard and; wherever we walk, the locals are always friendly! So, what can we look forward to in the next couple of months? Happily, birdsong has picked up again and adds another sensual experience to the outdoors. International Dawn Chorus Day is on Sunday, 1 May, but of course you can hear them at any time. And the dawn chorus is a thrill to be experienced more than once – set your alarm early and delight in a joyful start to your day! We shall be heading to the woods to see the bluebells again – highly recommended, especially on a sunny day. In the wider countryside, roadside verges, meadows, field edges and margins are gaining colour as the wildflowers emerge once more – speedwell, dandelions, scarlet pimpernel, dead-nettles, self-heal, meadow cranesbill (part of the geranium family), wild orchids and bird’s-foot trefoil are just some that can be seen at this time of year. And of course, where there is colour, there are ‘insects’ – it won’t be long before we will be spotting caterpillars, butterflies, bees, damselflies and dragonflies - and the jewel-like, swollenthighed beetles, probably busy pollinating cow parsley. What a privilege to experience, first hand, our wonderful world!

If you feel you would like to join us sometime, text ‘Amblers’ with your message to 07714021131, or PM Anne Lees on Village Tribune’s Facebook page. We look forward to meeting you!

Bainton Marholm Marholm

Marholm

Marholm

Fed up with hearing about climate change? Well, I can’t blame you, but sadly we do have to talk about it, because we must make a number of major changes very quickly if we are to have any chance of avoiding the worst of it - that is: extreme weather patterns and the catastrophic collapse of our ecosystems. Climate Change Action! Judy Staines

Glinton Parish Council has therefore created a new working group to work on nature recovery as well as to progress the more well-known carbon footprint reductions such as increasing eco-friendly power use and cutting down on waste. The Glinton Climate Change Action Group has several members who are local councillors, while others are members of the public, and some are also members of the Langdyke Countryside Trust.

We are currently doing a rough survey of eco-friendly power sources within our village. We’re looking at who has solar panels, heat pumps (ground source or air), electric car charging points, etc. so that we can see where we are at the moment. Once we know that, we’ll be in a better position to try to improve things. The group is in communication with both Arthur Mellows Village College and the Peakirk-cumGlinton primary school to try to work with them on reducing electricity wastage and increasing the use of alternative sources of power. We are very keen to contact local businesses who have the knowledge and skills to inform and advise residents about the various ways to improve a home’s carbon footprint, whether with insulation, boiler replacement, the switch to ecofriendly power, or in any other way, so if you have an idea or two we’d like to hear from you. We hope to hold an event in the village hall at some point, when local people will be able to come and talk with a variety of experts to discuss options, so if you are a local tradesperson or business owner with good knowledge of environmentally friendly solutions, please contact Gerry Kirt at the email address below.

Three of the members of the GCCAG are working with the Langdyke Countryside Trust to improve two of Glinton’s green spaces: the Nature Recovery Area adjacent to the McDonald’s roundabout at the south side of the village, and the green between The Willows and Clarendon Way. The latter area is being managed at the moment by a brilliant residents’ working group who have already undertaken mowing, pruning, and bulb planting. They have been advised by ecologist Sarah Lambert about the best places to plant wildflowers and native bulbs to encourage pollinators, and also about the best species to plant, and where. The Glinton Wildlife & Nature Group already has members growing or potting up wild plants for use in these locations, although we are still waiting for a Licence to Cultivate from the Peterborough City Council, which has been requested by the Glinton Parish Council.

Talks have begun with the Glinton Horticultural Society and it is hoped that together we can help those who wish to become more wildlifefriendly in their gardens and other outside spaces. The Glinton Climate Change Action Group was formed in February 2022, and consists of Gerry Kirt (Chairman), John Holdich, David Cowcill, Gordon Wright, Claire Bysshe, Denis Batty, Andy Staines, and myself, Judy Staines.