October 2019

Buckden Roundabout

October 2019

Buckden Wildlife

Early autumn wildlife in Buckden

There’s been a lot going on this summer when it comes to

Buckden’s fantastic wild places and wildlife with some highs

and, sadly, some lows at a time when a climate and ecological

crisis has been declared.

The 200-year old western hedge on Luck’s Lane is gone. Ripped

out to make way for the new housing there, leaving a histori-

cal, landscape, wellbeing and wildlife gap that can’t be re-

placed. Most of the hedge was Elm which, as you may know,

we nearly lost completely in Britain after the Dutch Elm Dis-

ease epidemic. For these wonderful little trees to have sur-

vived and fought back to be treated like this is extremely sad. I

for one, will not be enjoying my regular walks down this once

beautiful little lane anymore.

Elms are also home to some rare and specialised insects. One

of these is the beautiful little White-letter Hairstreak butterfly

which is a priority species for conservation and restricted to

elm trees where it lays its tiny eggs. It flies from late June

through July and I spent some time looking for it on Luck’s

Lane and Stirtloe Lane as I had a hunch it would be there with

so much Elm. Sure enough, there was a strong and important

colony flitting around the tops and nectaring on brambles, well

into double figures. This was along the western part of Stirtloe

Lane leading up to the slip road. I also found some in the cen-

tral reservation of the A1 there: an important species on our

doorsteps that should be protected as planning law dictates. I

hope we do see those hedgerows and trees where they live

protected, as we have been assured they will be during con-

struction - and just as importantly once the new development

is in place. I’ll be keeping a close eye…

Spotted Flycatchers nested in the grounds of the Towers and I

also saw them in the churchyard using the lovely oak there.

Another pair nested in the tall poplar trees by the marina car

park. This is another priority species for conservation, so great

work by the landowners in attracting and maintaining this

much-declined species which we’re lucky to still have.

I keep adding to the list of wildlife species on the field on Mill

Road, east of Greenway’s – still, unbelievably, a proposed site

for development despite not being part of the signed off HDC

Local Plan to 2036. I now have over 1,000 species of wildlife

recorded living in the field and its surrounds. Not bad for a site

that we were told was of low ecological value by the develop-

ers! Barn Owls, another protected species, bred successfully

there this summer and I was often startled by their ghostly

shrieks coming from the field once the youngsters fledged.

Grass Snakes have also been very active using the west part of

the site and one popped into my garden to shelter in our com-

post heap (see photo) one day in the summer!

We should all be proud of the wildlife that’s thrived in Buckden

this summer and let’s do all we can to protect it and champion

it. It’s part of our community and what makes the village so

special for us all.

With winter coming, it’s a good time to think about making

homes for nature in your garden. I’ve been getting my hands

dirty making some bee and insect “hotels” and got a bit carried

away with how big the main one was (see photo)! Five species

of solitary bee used the holes I’d drilled in the sections of wil-

low trunk this summer, all commuting “over the fence” to use

the wildflower-rich Mill Road field to forage and perform their

role as vital pollinators, so well worth the effort.

I’ve been using leftover materials in our garden including cut

drainpipes (great winter homes for Frogs and Toads), roof tiles

(perfect for bee hotel roofs as you can see) and sheets of cor-

rugated plastic placed in the sun (for Slow-worms and Grass

Snakes). You can use twigs, leaves and bits of wood for insect

hotels as well and the two I built below will also be great for

hibernating hedgehogs, Build it, cross your fingers, and they’ll

come!

If you’d like any advice on making insect hotels, or would like

to come and see mine for ideas, please drop me email at

goldenbins@hotmail.co.uk

I’m hoping the photos with this

article might inspire Buckden residents to make some for your

garden and for around the village – great projects and fun for

children and our local groups to get involved in. Again, I’d be

delighted to offer some help and know you can do better than

me!

Mark Ward is a nature author and the RSPB’s Editor-in-Chief,

producing its magazines and other communications for its 1.1

million members. His latest book, “Wildlife on Your Doorstep” is

based on his experiences with the wildlife of the Buckden area.

It is available from Amazon and all good booksellers.

Grass snake in Mark’s compost heap

Mark’s insect hotel