With an obvious eye for a view, Soonu Dilke sent us this photo of the Mere (with the willow basket sculpture on the opposite bank) taken on a sunny afternoon in March…
Many thanks Soonu, we look forward to more of your photos in the future.
It’s that time of year.
A clear, cold and still morning on site to do a bit of general tidying and a few sightings in the process, all seen on the mere within 15 minutes or so;
………… a kingfisher enjoying the sunshine
a tufted duck …….
the ubiquitous mallard showing his colours ……. 
…………………….. and is that a little grebe? …. 
Spring is almost sprung!
and a previously waterlogged path disappears
mallard head for the high ground
This female ‘leaflitter crab spider’ – Ozyptila praticola – was found at the reserve yesterday on an ivy-covered tree trunk beside the bog. These spiders are very well camouflaged amongst earth or on tree bark and they move very slowly, playing a sit-and-wait game to capture their prey rather than making a web or actively hunting. They will also rely on their camouflage or play dead (thanatosis) rather than run away if disturbed. Ozyptila praticola are fairly common in southern England.
The sunshine today was enough to tempt out plenty of wolf spiders plus
this smart young Nursery Web Spider (Pisaura mirabilis)
Seen perching on the boardwalk handrail, Tuesday morning…. and yes, there are two. No copying or pasting here …..
A rare dry day saw the volunteers out in force for the first cut of the meadow area ……
Make the most of it! Recent showers have had no effect on the continuing fall in water level.
On the subject of our local chalk stream, a new book has been announced ……
– The River Ver – A Meander through Time
by Jacqui Banfield-Taylor
This first major and comprehensive work on the River Ver
reveals a fascinating story from source to confluence and prehistory to the
twenty-first century of a chalk stream that has shaped not only the local
landscape but the lives of people past and present.
With a forward by the renowned television presenter and
wildlife photographer Chris Packham of Spring/Autumn Watch fame, the book tells
of the Ver’s long, interesting and chequered history, including archaeology and
geology, milling and watercress growing, problems with abstraction along with
rainfall and aquifer records, abstraction and flow charts and comprehensive
records and details of a selection of local flora and fauna.
There are wonderful personal memories and experiences
sprinkled throughout the book of people who have lived, worked and played on or
near the river, helping to bring the past to us here in the present, all
complemented with over 300 illustrations, many never seen before in public and
some going back more than 250 years.
The River Ver, A Meander through Time, makes it clear how
valuable and important our chalk streams are and how vital it is to raise their
profile and that of the rich diversity of wildlife they support. This
beautifully written and illustrated book hopes to encourage readers to take an
interest in exploring and caring for this superlative resource and its
surroundings and help to give the River Ver its rightful importance now and for
future generations.
