Wildlife
Wildlife on the Allotment - the Good, the Bad and the Ugly!
Good or bad - Allotments are a haven for animals and birds.
On the plus side, many animals and birds feed of the insects that are decimating our crops; on the minus side they can be destroying the crops themselves. As in all walks of life there is a fine balance to maintain.
Most of us enjoy seeing the birds and animals that inhabit our allotments and are happy to put up with small losses. We actively encourage Owls to nest, hoping they will feed on vermin. Birds are on the whole welcome, with the exception of pigeons, which do so much damage and perhaps the larger birds such as rooks and crows.
Foxes have tracks across the allotment; pheasant’s nest and grass snakes keep warm in toolboxes over winter. Toads and frogs inhabit ponds, mice make nests in compost heaps and of course there is always the ever-present Mr. Ratty (who we are trying to evict by fair means or foul).
During the course of this year I would like to try and make a list of birds and animals that inhabit our site. If you see anything unusual or out of the ordinary could you please inform me: Jill Owen, Plot 1 or leave me a note in the Hut.
I would be most grateful.
Recent sitings:
- Robin
- Linnet
- Wren
- Jackdaw
- Pigeons
- Blackbirds
- Pheasant
- Grass Snakes
- Foxes
- Toads
- Crows
- Mice
- Slow worms
- Starlings
- Long tailed Tit
- Blue Tit
- Great Tit
- Green woodpecker
- Buzzard
- Pied Wagtail
- Swallow (8/4/08)