Wimbledon Guardian: Local news from Wimbledon, Mitcham, Merton, Morden and Colliers Wood

Nature Notes: Lady of the Woods

9:27am Monday 20th May 2013

Five of our butterflies, namely small tortoiseshell, peacock, red admiral, comma and brimstone hibernate. There used to be a sixth but the large tortoiseshell is now virtually extinct in Britain.

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Nature Notes: Habitat destruction

10:10am Tuesday 14th May 2013

Since the second world war, hundreds of miles of hedgerows have been grubbed up to increase areas available for growing food crops. Woodlands have been damaged and farm ponds filled in.

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Nature Notes: Bloomin' marvellous

10:41am Tuesday 7th May 2013

Perhaps as a result of the late spring delaying their appearance, it seems to me that wild flowers have benefitted somewhat?

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Nature Notes: Swift return

9:25am Monday 29th April 2013

Come 1st May I scan the skies for telltale glimpse of sickle wings, those joyful screaming cries; glad to welcome them once more to England green and dear, for summer never can begin for me until they're here.

Nature Notes: Spring all around

9:26am Monday 22nd April 2013

For frogspawn to be laid in mid-April is most unusual but that is what occurred in my pond and elsewhere.

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Nature Notes: Holt! Who goes there?

5:20pm Wednesday 17th April 2013

Most people have read or are aware of author Henry Williamson’s classic tale of Tarka The Otter.

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Nature Notes: A fishy tale

9:23am Thursday 11th April 2013

Water temperatures permitting, the spawning season for course fish, i.e. fresh water fish other than salmon and trout, runs from March through June.

Nature Notes: Intrepid Travellers

9:54am Tuesday 2nd April 2013

Having spent the winter in South Africa, swallows are now winging their way back to our shores.

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Nature Notes: Nest Eggs

9:43am Monday 25th March 2013

If this be spring, then roll on winter!

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Nature Notes: Winter March-es on

6:30am Monday 18th March 2013

Whisked along horizontally on a biting easterly, snow flurries speed past in face-stinging gusts...