Waterside Natural History Society visit Martin Down
Martin Down is often regarded as the jewel in the crown of Hampshire’s
nature reserves and in the past it has never failed to disappoint. The visit in
the third week of May occurred during warm sunny weather and started from the
Sillens Lane car park. Skylarks rose into the sky and serenaded the small party
as they walked out on to the rolling downland of the reserve.
A small copse was
reached a short distance into the walk consisting of a mixture of Hawthorn,
Blackthorn, Gorse, Brambles and Rose bushes. The outwardly impenetrable thicket
hid a narrow track which opened out into a sheltered clearing about the size of
a tennis court. The sounds of a Chiffchaff and Whitethroat gave way to the
purring of a Turtle Dove and the distinctive call of a Cuckoo. If the sound of
a Wood Pigeon is the most irritating of the Pigeon family then the sound of a
Turtle Dove must be the most pleasant. Unfortunately they are becoming more and
more scarce with every passing year but remain one of the great attractions at
Martin Down.
There were several butterflies in the clearing including
Speckled Wood, Brimstone, Green Hairstreak and Common Blue. Small Blue
butterflies rose from the vegetation at every step and seven specimens were on
one plant of Common Gromwell.
Common Gromwell is a member of the Borage family with a
square stem, green lanceolate leaves and small pale yellow flowers. The seeds
turn into small white beads that remain on the plant over the winter looking
like a pearl necklace. In the past it was thought that to cure an illness you
had to find a plant that resembled the problem and as the small beads of
Gromwell were taken to resemble gall or kidney stones the Gromwell was eaten as
a cure. However Gromwell also caused bleeding and damage to the liver so was
never a complete success.
The Cowslip flowers had mostly turned to seed but in parts
the yellow of Cowslip was prolonged by the Greater Butterfly Orchid. Although
not as prolific as cowslips there was quite a number in various stages of
flower. Greater Butterfly Orchid can be distinguished from its Lesser variety
by having diverging pollen guides in the flower.
Many other plants were beginning to flower including Horse
Shoe Vetch, Kidney Vetch and Birdsfoot Trefoil. A few Hairy Violet were
flowering on the chalky soil, Salad Burnet flowers sprang up everywhere and
Dropwort plants were in bud. Yellow Rattle also put in an appearance.
Birds normally hide themselves in the vegetation but some
sit on the highest part of the bushes to attract a mate. The Yellowhammer was
one such bird which apart from being a golden yellow also has a distinctive ‘A
little bit of bread and no cheese’ call. A Willow Warbler also sat on the top
of a small tree with its descending warble being broadcast to all points of the
compass.
It was a pleasant experience to meet people interested in
nature; some looking for orchids, some for birds but all willing to pass on
information. Nature was all around on the reserve; even when stopping for lunch
a Raven could be heard, a Dingy Skipper butterfly flew past and Trembling grass
or Briza grew on the poor soil. Martin Down provided interest and atmosphere on
an abundant scale.
The indoor meeting for May was an illustrated talk on ‘The
plight of the Bumblebee’ by Jenny Abery on behalf of the ‘Bumblebee
Conservation Trust’. Bumblebees form only one group of the wide variety of Bees
of which Honey Bees are perhaps the best known and the talk began with a
comparison of Bumblebees against other types of Bee. It was not long before the
subject of the decline in Bee populations raised its head.
Honey Bees provide a
clear service for humans in the form of honey and consequently are well catered
for but Bumblebees in contrast are on their own. Nevertheless they provide a
vital role in pollinating both wild plants and commercial farming.
There is a concerted effort at the moment by organisations
such as the Bumblebee Conservation Trust and Friends of the Earth to count and
monitor the number of Bees and members of the public are invited to help.
The speaker gave a clearly spoken and flowing talk with a
clear passion for Bees which was much appreciated by the audience even though
most of the audience was over thirty years older. It was good to see the next
generation taking such an interest in nature and making sure it is there for
generations to come.
