Our polytunnel which was installed nearly 18 months ago is
now in full production, helping to grow on a multitude of wetland plants for
our own reserve here at Tophill Low and further afield. The polytunnel is a
hive of activity at the moment, with volunteers pricking out new seedlings,
establishing them in larger pots before they are ready to plant our on the
reserve. Volunteers are really the key to the success of this project as their
hard work and enthusiasm to try and germinate a whole range of plant species
has been a real success. They started planting seeds in March, seeds that were
collected from the site the previous summer and autumn. These are a mixture of
wetland plants like greater water parsnip, bog bean and purple loosestrife. As
well as plants such as wild carrot, knapweed, tansy and yarrow. Last year by
the summer we had 6,000 plants of 33 varieties. Plants have been spread around
on the new mounds overlooking D and O reservoir and in the meadow areas at the
entrance to Tophill, providing more biodiversity. Other landowners around the
Hull valley area are also benefitting from their knowledge too, as plants are
being taken for planting at Dumble Farm and on Leven Carrs, an area owned by
Albanwise. Last week staff from RSPB Bempton came to pick up an array of plants
to help them establish a new habitat on their reserve. During the week students
and staff from Kingsmill school have been planting foxgloves around the nature
trail. These have been grown from seed collected on the reserve. A big thanks
from the reserve staff for everyone’s hard work. Plants will be on sale at our
Open Day which takes place on Sunday 9th June, from 10am – 4pm.
People will also be able to look around the polytunnel and may even be tempted
to volunteer and help out! Also, on the Open day we will have a range of local
conservation organisations stalls and displays, guided walks, pond dipping and
craft activities.
Spring is slow to arrive, and the recent summer arrivals
must be feeling the cold. Although we’ve sighted a range of summer migrants,
there hasn’t been the number that we would expect for the end of April. The
first cuckoo was heard just this morning so we are hoping that it will stay to
breed. Last year we probably had three pairs that were successful breeders. Just
the one sighting of swift has been noted, and small numbers of swallow and house
martins. Sand martins have been on the reserve for a number of weeks and have
been making their new nesting tunnels in the sand martin bank which overlooks
south marsh west. Our new tern rafts, which were funded by a biodiversity
enhancement fund, secured by Natural England, are in place on Watton, in
anticipation of the return of common terns to the site. These will hopefully
help the growing common tern colony which had five successful breeding pairs
last summer. Both Albanwise and Dumble farm have also benefitted from this fund
and welcomed the arrival of their own tern rafts, in addition to sand martin
banks, let’s hope they too are successful.
Volunteers have been helping out with our annual breeding bird survey which was reinstated last year following the few years of disruption. Two visits have already been carried out and highlights are the signs of snipe breeding on Hempholme, plenty of activity in nestboxes in the woodland areas and a probable successful breeding pair of marsh tits in the south end of the reserve. By the end of the breeding season we should have a much better idea of which species have had a successful season. When people visit the reserve, please make sure that you note any sightings in the log books on their way out and if you see any signs of birds breeding please note that in the log book too.
