Spring has Sprung

With the days getting longer and slowly warming up, why not get out and enjoy the spring. Although the weather has been somewhat wet of late this has not stopped the plants and animals. Everywhere you look something is happening, spring flowers are popping up all over the place. Snowdrops are almost over but are being replaced by Crocuses and Daffodils and even Tulip leaves are emerging. Hedgerows are bursting into life with Blackthorn out in bloom and Hazel catkins opening up. You may see Hares starting to chase each other around the fields or even spot an early Butterfly looking for nectar.

Catkins on the banks of the Little Ouse © Ed King

With all this wet weather, it's a great chance to look for animal tracks and signs. A nice piece of damp mud could harbour no end of footprints from Hedgehog to Water Vole, Brown Rat to Fox, maybe even a Badger or Otter if you are lucky enough to be in the right place.

So why not get out and explore, take your wellies, a camera and probably your waterproofs and enjoy the spring and see what you can spot.

Saving Ratty

On Friday the 1st December we held our 22nd AGM at Garboldisham Village Hall. Despite a very chilly night we were joined by 68 people. After the formal AGM and Ellie Beach - LOHP Conservation Manager's Highlights of 2023, we started our talks.

This year it was a joint effort given by Vince Lea and Emily Coleman from Countryside Regeneration Trust (CRT) on "Saving the water vole: building a mink-free Great Britain".

The talks were really interesting - firstly a national picture by Vince Lea about the mink trapping project, then what was happening in the LOHP area (location of LOHP rafts below). It was fascinating to hear that genetics and DNA testing are being used to find out where the mink come from. It is great to know all our time and effort put into this project isn't being wasted. Hopefully as the project rolls out across the country our Water Voles will be better protected.

A huge thank you to our speakers and to all those who were able to join us. Hopefully see you next year for another inspiring talk.

Fancy a dip?

Exploring may not be all it's cracked up to be....

Fox captured on one of our trail cameras at the end of May 2023, going for an early evening dip!