Forshaw Heath & Earlswood BoD in Warwickshire

Well as you all know my photography and filming is not that good. I promise I am working on it. I have been spending my time clearing corners of the garden that had all but been forgotten about. In fact I am quite proud of my accomplishment. I am by no means finished, in fact I don't think the garden will ever be finished its just one great big constant merry go round, which to be fare has been left and got slightly out of hand for one reason and another. I personally am not one for straight lines and manicured gardens, I like the slightly wild and natural aspect where each corner holds a surprise and the unexpected reveals it self. Its each to their own and no one is correct. Anyway! you may be asking what has this got to do with wildlife, technology and fly tipping. To start off with I am no expert on wildlife, I just appreciate it and enjoy watching it when the priverlidge is available. The one thing I am aware of , is that from March to September hedges or trees should not be d...

It doesn't matter why but recently I have noticed how our garden springs into life when all us humans are tucked up in our little houses. Why this surprises me I really don't know, perhaps it is just the current times that actually allows me to notice and appreciate our very welcome wildelife. We have our regular visitors who are taking ownership of our very soggy wet, muddy garden. The little Muntjack who is a regular visitor makes his/her way across the garden stays for an hour or two chewing its way through the undergrowth and staying protected by the holly bush, actually brought a friend with them the other night . As the lane is getting quieter the wildlife is getting braver. We have a regular feline friend  who struts around the garden as if s/he owns it. Don't worry we dont leave food out for our furry feline friend but do wonder where s/he comes from. We never see it during the day but like clockwork  s/he does an evening parade. Then we have the little mice scurryi...

I have to share this with you all. Earlswood Lakes, Terry’s Pool. For many reasons Paul and I hadn’t walked around The Lakes for a long time. On Saturday 11th January 2020. I packed the dog in to my little car and had a firm plan that Paul & I would walk the dog around the lakes. I actually can’t remember walking Buds around Earlswood Lakes previously. In fact the last time I walked any part of the lakes was as part of a rememberance for a member of our family probably Feb 2017. In any case our walk in 2020 was a very pleasant surprise. I can’t tell you or explain how much hard work has been done by local volunteers, local organisations & those providing grants. The whole experience was very different and the hard work that must have gone in to preserving wild life, foot paths, litter free  (Almost) some selfish Barsteward managed to leave A calling card.  Tree care, Birds, Bats and little Critas. The feeder was clear and flowing and I really can’t remember the ...

Many of you will know I got really hooked on the Bald Eagles Live cam last year. As I watched the tweets today on my tweet stream I noticed the Lamb Cam from Umberslade Hall and in a strange way it reminded me of  last years Eagles. Well folks the Eagles are back and doing their thing they started courting if that's what you call it yesterday and their web cam started broadcasting yesterday as always there may or may not be something to watch. There are adverts on the video stream But welcome back to the  Decorah Eagles

Matt Cox is a Youth Officer at  Warwickshire Wildlife Trust , who manage the Nature Reserves at  Clowes Wood, New Fallings Coppice  and  Earlswood Moathouse . Last month the Trust was successful in its bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund, receiving £30,900 to deliver a 12 month Youth and Community Project in Earlswood called the  Earlswood Heritage Project .  The project aims to engage young people and all other members of community, in an attempt to capture a lot of the unique human and natural history of the area, for posterity and the benefit of future generations. The project will involve a diverse range of activities and events, so by July 2012 the young people involved, with the help of all those willing, will have produced two documentaries, an information leaflet and interpretation board, all celebrating the heritage of the Earlswood area. On top of this, all of the Nature Reserves at Earlswood will be more enjoyable places to walk and discover nature...

I am really pleased that British Waterways have reconsidered their trial of Kayak Fishing on Earlswood Lakes and have now ceased the trial. I would like to thank them for such a prompt reply and considering the thoughts of Local People. Great News and Thanks British Waterways Please see the Earlswood Lakes Patenership news letter for full background. http://earlswoodlakes.blogspot.com/2011/08/earlswood-wildlife-partnership-news.html

Taken This Morning.  Video taken with Nokia 5230 phone by Carrie

Today has been a sad day at work. I went out for a ciggie and noticed a crowd looking up the road.  Just because I am nosey I wanted to know what they were all looking at and went to investigate and was presented with what I now know was a young fledging Seagull. I must admit s/he didn't look damaged or hurt, looked well fed and could run s/he just couldn't fly.  By the time all the onlookers had gone there were two of us left. The gentleman asked me if I could make sure the bird didn't go on the road whilst he went to call the RSPCA.  After 10 minutes he came back to tell me what I already knew because someone else had called the RSPCA if the bird is in the road it's a Police matter. BTW the RSPB directed us the RSPCA website so as advised and very apologetically I did call Steelhouse Lane Police Station Explained the reason why I called them and wouldn't normally only to be met with the response call the RSPB. The office decided to make a box up and go and...

This little fellow or fellowess crossed my path and really didn't take much notice of me. I am not sure if s/he had a brief encounter with the cat.  S/He wasn't marked in any way I didn't really know what to do with it. I couldn't leave it where it was as it was easy cat fodder My decision was to pick it up and tuck out the cat's way in the undergrowth where it appeared to be heading. Fingers crossed I hope s/he catches its breath and finds its way home. 

http://www.bats.org.uk Last night whilst sitting in the garden I noticed quite a few bats I even managed to get some film of them. I really am perplexed as to where they are coming from but at dusk they start whizzing around . Memo to self must find a way of uploading the video from the camcorder! not that I expect it will be any good. I am no David Bailey.

The week before last it was the beautiful Bluebells now its the turn of our buttercups.

Decorah Eagles 24/7 Live Cam  The  Raptor Resource Project  brings you the Decorah Eagles from atop their tree at the fish hatchery in Decorah, Iowa. Decorah Eagles http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles

Beautiful Earlswood Woods New Fallings Coppice.  Please note all photos were taken with a mobile phone by Carrie.  Please feel free to reuse if required.

WARWICKSHIRE Wildlife Trust is urging nature lovers to muck in during the Royal Wedding weekend. The Trust is holding a series of work parties for volunteers to get hands-on at wetland nature reserves and ancient woodlands. The first work party will be at Brandon Marsh, a Coventry Site of Special Scientific Interest, starting on Thursday at 9.15am. On Sunday there will be woodland work at Clowes Wood in Earlswood , Crackley Wood in Kenilworth, and Ryton Wood in Ryton-on-Dunsmore – all from 10am. The conservation continues on Monday with from 9.30am at Rugby’s Cock Robin Wood. For further information contact Michael Drummond on 024 7630 8998. http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/2011/04/26/muck-in-during-royal-wedding-weekend-urge-wildlife-experts-92746-28584568/#ixzz1KqyYp07P

An Earlswood & Forshaw Heath Bod: The Earlswood Wildlife Partnership Many thanks to the Earlswood Lakes Partnership and its volunteers see the launch of the new Tern Raft. Video provided by  Birds Of Earlswood The Feathered Variety

http://www.waterscape.com/features-and-articles/news/3015/good-tern-from-wildlife-enthusiasts British Waterways has teamed up with a local wildlife group near Solihull to improve facilities for visiting terns on Earlswood Lakes. A British Waterways ecologist will work alongside Earlswood Wildlife Partnership to install a tern raft at Terry Pool on Monday 14 March. The location may be just a thirty-minute drive from a major Midlands city, but it’s also popular with a variety of wildlife , including common terns, which spend the summer in Africa and come to the UK to breed each April. Although seabirds, terns often venture inland to build their nests on islands safe from predators and tern rafts provide an ideal artificial breeding habitat. Earlswood Wildlife Partnership identified the requirement for a tern raft after several seasons of common terns visiting the Earlswood lakes but not having anywhere to nest. The partnership has worked hard on the island an...

I spotted one of thse in my garden this morning