John Clare, the poet, knew what he was talking about when describing his nineteenth century rural world, although even then he was concerned about the changes taking place. I wonder what he would have made of the present ‘lockdown’ and the restrictions that have been placed on
Read more →It’s been the driest, hottest April on record which has been good news in some ways as we struggle to cope with the social restrictions and distancing that is required during the Covid 19 pandemic. Those of us who are lucky enough to have a garden have
Read more →What’s happening in the Wood? The Jubilee Wood continues to show signs of bursting into life, with green shoots emerging on the hawthorn trees and brambles, and one of the crab apples around the central area is already flowering, if somewhat half heartedly at the moment. The
Read more →As the New Year begins the paths are still very wet underfoot. Surprisingly the rainfall has been about average for the month but the ground is saturated so any additional water is just settling on the surface. We’ve had one or two frosty nights and mornings but
Read more →December is traditionally the time for looking back over the year before looking ahead to the new one, which will undoubtedly be better and shinier with all the New Year’s resolutions we’ve so carefully made. The effects of too much eating and drinking can easily fool us
Read more →Winter maintenance work continues in the wood by hard working volunteers, with strimming around the pond and other areas, tidying up around the paths and hedges, and general clearing up where necessary. All these jobs improve the access and quality of the wood, and to help those
Read more →Jubilee Wood Species List June 2019, identified by Hunts Fauna and Flora Society
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The days are rapidly getting shorter and the sun is moving lower in the sky as September comes to an end. As I write this on the twenty-third of September, I’m reminded that it is the Autumn equinox when day and night are of equal length. To
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August had been disappointingly cold and quite wet until the scorching bank holiday weekend, when butterflies fluttered around the edges of the wood and swallows flew high to find food… when swallows fly high, the weather will be dry. Of course there is a practical reason for
Read more →It’s been a month of very varied weather from windy and wet days interspersed with blisteringly hot ones including the hottest temperature officially recorded in the UK at the Cambridge Botanic Garden of 38.7C. It looks like it’s going to be the second hottest year ever recorded
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