Lapwing flock

One of the first things we saw as we came into the meadow was a flock of lapwings circling around the southern hedgerow. Among the flock we could hear the calls of golden plover. Both birds are members of the same family, as lapwings are also plovers. One lapwing left the flock and circled round briefly with one of the wild red kites and for a moment we expected a confrontation, but the two soon separated and the lapwing went back to its flock.

The meadow has an especially bare and empty appearance this winter, for a number of reasons. The foliage was mowed right down to the ground and removed in late autumn, to give less vigorous species a better chance of holding their own among the dominant plants such as wild carrot, lady’s bedstraw and wild marjoram, which were so successful in the meadow last year. We hope that this may produce some new species for our 2006 plant list, and also the return of some of the plants that were found in 2004 but that appeared absent in 2005. The hedgerows on the northern edge and bottom of the meadow were pruned quite rigorously in the autumn, to make them less dense and straggly. Pruning should encourage new, stronger growth this year.
The weather this winter has been fairly consistently dry and cold, slowing down the germination of some plants, so it is possible that a number of species will appear slightly later this year. Many plants require warmth and moisture after a period of cold to trigger the germination process.

Oak bud	Ash bud
Hazel bud	Wayfaring tree bud

This month we decided to look for the first signs of spring in the meadow. The signs are very small but they are there. Along the hedgerows and in the copses there are tiny buds on the trees and shrubs, most still tightly closed, waiting for warmth and moisture to swell and open them. It is possible to identify many species simply from their buds, as some of these are very distinctive in their appearance. Here are some of the most easily recognizable ones found in Reg’s Meadow.

So far this winter we have concentrated on what was happening in the hedgerows, as very little was going on in the middle of the meadow, but small shoots are now beginning to appear out in the open, some of them already recognizable as familiar plants.

Sycamore	Beech	Wild Rose	Elder	Cherry

The tiny, embryonic cowslip leaves are always the first to appear and could already be seen in January.

Cowslip in Log Pile

These are now growing strongly and it is quite difficult to walk in parts of the meadow without treading on them. In the copses, where the foliage has not been mowed, the cowslips and other young plants are more advanced, as the long grass and the log piles have sheltered them from the worst of the frost and wind and in the seating area we found the first open flower of the year, a sturdy little daisy with one open bloom! Among the other young plants we found out in the open area were Black Medick, Wild Marjoram and Ground Ivy.

Cowslip	Black Medick	Wild Marjoram	Ground ivy

Featured Tree – Hazel (Corylus avellana)

Male & Female Catkins	Male Catkins

An abundant shrub or small tree, growing to around 25 feet and found throughout Britain in woodland, hedgerows and scrubland. It is easily recognizable in late winter and early spring by its catkins, which appear before the leaves. At first these are tight and pinkish-brown, later opening into the familiar “lambs’ tails” which distribute the pollen. The female catkins grow on the same branches and are small and bud-like, with bright red tips opening into tiny feathery plumes. More mature trees and bushes produce nuts in late summer and early autumn.

Alternative names usually refer to the nuts and include Cobnut, Filbert, Filbeard, Hale, Halse, Hasketts and Woodnut. The name Corylus is thought to come from the Greek word korys meaning “helmet” and probably refers to the way in which the calyx partially covers the nut like a cap. Avellana refers to Avella, near Naples, where the plant was grown for its crop of nuts. The common name is possibly derived from the Anglo-Saxon haesel meaning “command”, as hazel sticks were used to enforce obedience, by beating animals or slaves.

In parts of Ireland hazel featured in folklore and was considered a tree of power, giving protection from evil spirits. Carrying a nut in the pocket was thought to prevent rheumatism and a double nut, called a “loady nut” would cure toothache or drive away a witch if thrown at her! Hazel sticks have traditionally been used as tally sticks for recording debts and forked twigs have long been used as divining rods when dowsing for water and occasionally for metal.

Hazel is a very versatile wood with many uses. It has been managed by coppicing for thousands of years, cutting down the trees almost to ground level. From these coppice “stools” new shoots grow up straight and fast and these can be harvested at various stages of growth for different purposes. The poles can be split lengthways to form thin stakes or spars and can also be bent and twisted at sharp angles without breaking. The wood has been used since Neolithic times for making wattles, split canes woven into a lattice and used for fencing, hurdles and wattle-and-daub walls for houses. It has traditionally been used to make pegs to hold down thatch and is still used in modern thatching. Another traditional use still continuing today is the burning of hazel wood for charcoal. The thinner, whippy rods are used for pea and bean sticks and for capping newly laid hedges and medium sized poles for walking sticks. Modern uses include wattle fences to screen out motorway noise and “mattresses” of hazel faggots and reeds sunk into rivers to build up sediment and strengthen the riverbeds and banks.

Keep a look out for the long yellow catkins along hedgerows and woodland edges and you will know that spring is on its way.