View down the Cattle Drive

Last month I said we would have some pictures of our trees as their leaves changed colour.

Here is a little question for all the budding young biologists out there, What causes the change in the colour of the leaves? If you know the answer then please let me know. I'll try and have it for the next report.

As you may already know, the River Dane forms part of the farms boundary. In my journal for February 2000, I reported that there had been an accident on the M6 motorway, and as a result of which the river had been polluted with oil. fortunately it was a relatively small spillage the light oil soon dispersed.

Sadly, oil is not the only material that finds its way into the river. Along its banks there are numerous willow trees and occasionally due to erosion, one will fall into the river. Although this does not stop the flow of the water, it does collect any items that may be floating in the water as it flows through the branches.

The picture on the right shows, despite a lack of clarity, just how bad the problem is. I have highlighted some of the bigger objects for you, but there were at the least a couple of hundred other items on the surface alone. All the rubbish you see collected in just a couple of days, and it all got there because people further up the river could not be bothered to bin their rubbish.

A little further along the bank I found this recently excavated fox earth. As it was only about 1 meter above the water line, I do not think that it will prove to be a dry home for very long.

Foxes are very common, and are to be seen even in towns.

 

The foxes are not the only home builders, This is a picture of a nestbox in a pear tree on the orchard a blue tit nested in it during the spring however as you can see the entrance has been enlarged as a grey squirrel has decided it will make a good winter home. For a closer view roll you mouse over the image.

Well thats about all for now

More next month PHIL

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