Nature Notes

May and June are the months we associate with the flowering of our wayside plants but even in August there is quite a variety to be seen. The other day I saw masses of knapweed (hardheads) flowering on either side of a path in the Chilton Foliat area: it was quite an attractive show. In Ramsbury, not far from the Knap bridge where some soil was dumped a while back, two plants of chicory have sent up tall stems sporting many beautiful blue flowers, while close by, a teasel was flowering. These were cultivated in the past so that the seed heads could be used to fluff up the woollen cloth after weaving. The tall spikes of the rose bay willow herb are now at their best. When seen from afar the colour could almost be mistaken for heather in a hilly area. Near Aldbourne, the pink of the soapwort is to be seen: the leaves were once used in place of soap. In spring, quite a few flowers are yellow; this is also true, as autumn approaches, with flowers such as the nipplewort, which each year is keen to grow amongst my potato crop. Corn sow thistles, a bit like dandelions on tall stalks, give patches of yellow by field boundaries. In the garden they can become a pest as, like twitch grass, their roots quickly spread underground. A short while ago, a garden programme stated that the dandelion came to England from China, I wonder how many of our wild flowers are true natives. Recently I became aware of prickly lettuce. It will grow several feet tall with a mass of flower buds at the top. These tiny flowers would make a grand show if they all opened at once instead of two or three at a time. The plant has oval leathery grey green leaves with spikes on the under side of the mid rib.

With the approach of autumn, moths become more noticeable, ranging from the very small to large hawk moths. Some blend in so well with their surroundings that they are frequently overlooked but the other day I saw a pure white one on a village telegraph pole. It was the large white plume (pterophorus pentadactyla), but with its wings shut, their jagged outline could not be seen as it is not very large. As there has been so much rain I doubt that it has been a good year for butterflies but hopefully September will bring us some fine sunny days. At least the moisture has been good for some garden crops, including my sweet peas.

Rosie Pauline

Bird Notes

'It has been a good month for the birds of prey. The Buzzards and Kestrels are always busy, and in the space of two days there were sightings of Red Kite, Hobby and a Sparrowhawk. Another day saw two favourites within minutes, the Nuthatch and the Eurasian Treecreeper.

The Nuthatch is the only bird that can walk down a tree headfirst as it searches the crevices in the bark for food. It also has the habit of wedging nuts in a tree crevice and hammering through to the kernel with its long, strong bill. The Eurasian Treecreeper has no such descending ability and it is fun to watch it climb high into a tree before flying down steeply to the base of another tree to start searching the bark all over again. The Nuthatch is quite a common visitor to the birdfeeder and is a great storer of food. This can lead to its reported habit of taking bird seed and ‘hiding’ it in the cracks between paving stones, or in patio pots.

So, if you find a sunflower growing out of your patio, you may know what to blame. A rarer sighting (for me this year) was an exquisite Kingfisher on a branch over the Kennett at Mill Lane, which lingered for a while and then disappeared in a flash of extraordinary colour – a privilege indeed.

John Marshall

Rainfall

Rainfall for the month to 18 August was 5.35 ins.; average 2.16 ins.

ADVANCE NOTICES

The Horticultural Society’s talks will resume on Monday 1 October, at 7.45 pm, in the Memorial Hall. Richard Cripps of Lackham College will give a talk on "Aspects of Garden Design".

St. John’s School and Community College will be running beginner and intermediate language classes in French, Spanish, Italian, German, Russian, Arabic and Mandarin Chinese starting on Tuesday 2 October. Classes from 6.30 – 8 pm once a week on Tuesdays or Thursdays for ten weeks will be held in the Language Suite, St. John’s School and Community College, Stedman Building, Orchard Road, Marlborough. The course costs £70. Call Mary Francis on 519558, email mfrancis@stjohns.wilts.sch.uk for more details.

There will be a series of six lectures given by Mora Abell in the Memorial Hall on ‘The Masters of the Renaissance’ starting on 4 October. For further information on this fascinating course and to secure a place, please contact Molly Sawbridge 521079.

Axford Harvest Festival Service will take place in St Michael's Church at 6 pm on Sunday 7 October followed by a Harvest Supper in Axford Village Hall. Everyone and all ages welcome. To book for the Supper, please ring Bridget Treherne 512406 or Rose Russ 520499 not later than 3 October - £5 per head, children aged under ten £2.50. Gifts of flowers, fruit or vegetables would be gratefully received. The fruit and vegetables will be donated afterwards to Coombe End House as usual.

Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time will be held in the Memorial Hall on Tuesday 9 October. The doors will open at 5.30 pm and recording will start at 6.30 pm. Tickets are restricted to members of the Horticultural Society up to 1 September. Thereafter, they will be available to the general public. Call Sue Arnold on 520322 or email hortsoc@ramsbury.org for tickets that are free, but there will be an opportunity to buy a £3 voucher that includes a glass of wine or soft drink, and free entry to a draw for a £50 garden voucher. All profits will go the Pre-School appeal.

Christmas Lights in Whitehill Close. Details will be coming soon.