Another new species of bird was added to the reserve list when a couple of Redpolls were spotted feeding on the willow flowers. They bring the total number of birds recorded there to 70 which is a respectable number for a site that just a little over a hectare. A Tawny Owl was roosting there on the same day and the warmer March days saw Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock butterflies on the wing.

At one corner of the reserve, a sizeable Elm tree stands in the shelter of a bigger Ash. Hedgerow elms normally die off from Dutch Elm disease when they are about 4 metres tall but this one is substantially taller and has not succumbed – yet. I’m hopeful it may host White-letter Hairstreak butterflies one day as they are said to be found away from woodland but they can be notoriously difficult to see.