not quite as cold as lately

 very quiet, minimal litter. Not much bird life moving about. Snipped a bit of bramble, nothing to worry about though there's a bough over the boardwalk that's getting lower.

1 runner 2 walkers

Water medium depth. Signs of pond weed in the pond

Sunday 28th December

Lots of walkers and some courteous runners.

Low hanging branch on the west side of Red Bridge.

Bunch of roses on the top bench, although actually just thorny stalks, minus flower heads, I took off the elastic band.  Two bunches of flowers by the pond, again I removed the elastic bands.

Wednesday 24th December

 Beautiful sunny morning though chilly wind. I One or two joggers and walkers otherwise quiet.

Noticed a tent on the RiverPark side of the park stream but nobody on the reserve. Only a very small amount of litter at Durngate.

Merry Christmas everyone and a Happy New Year!🎅

Monday 22nd December Staff Check

 Hi all,

Rachel, thank you for your tidy up job, I thought the rough sleeper would unfortunately be washed out by last weeks rain, pity they didn't take the gear with them!

Brief visit from me before the Xmas holidays.

Good to see the contractors tidying up the fallen tree from WCC into the Moors by the bench and path junction. 

The culvert/sluice by the mini stream was overtopping the banks so for now I've taken out one of the boards. 

Over the Xmas period we have staff on call. Please only call in if there is an emergency. Otherwise, please continue to report on the blogs and Whatsapp me for non urgent matters. Whatsapp is great if you think I'm missing something form a blog post. I read over a lot of blogs each week so it does happen.

Thank you all for your ongoing support, we truly cannot do what we do without you! We hope you all have a lovely Xmas holidays and see you in the new year :)

Take care,

Sam

dreary

 couple of runners and walkers. spoke to 2 lads with fishing gear. They assured me they were on their way to North Walls (yeah, right)

Couple of noisy songthrushes and usual robin etc

Met a lady looking for a lost pair of glasses. I found nothing but that doesn't mean they're not still on site. I have a contact if anyone comes up with something.

Sunday 21st December

 A few walkers and a couple of runners.  No litter.

Branch to the left of north walls bridge is very low (lower than me and I'm only 165cm).

Kingfisher.

Saturday 20th December

Bonfire site on glade with considerable turf damage. Campsite under willow in SPM with everything except the tent. Three sleeping bags soaked through. Cleared them all in several goes, helped by today's looker for the last one - thanks! Happy Christmas everyone. I can't do next Saturday morning. 

Thursday 18th

Very wet, tent still there. One miserable looking runner otherwise all clear. 

nondescript morning

 dull and not much evidence of life. 1 runner who reported seeing a kingfisher! 3 walkers. No litter! Only tents in the park now.

Sunday 14th December

 Quiet - a couple of runners and a couple of walkers.

Tent pitched under the willow at the north end servers.plums.flag.  I called out and "knocked" a few times but no response so loudly and authoritatively informed the tent that it was in a Nature Reserve and needed to move on and there is a homeless shelter in Jewry Street. Called it in to Fiona. Noted on the way out that there are another three tents pitched in the park.

Thursday 11th December - all OK

One painter, one photographer and a couple of walkers. Pair of jays, two kingfishers, little flock of long-tailed tits. 

No litter, even at the front bench!

Folded up the warning triangle belonging to the tree contractors and left it by the sign post for collection. The tree trash left on the path could do with raking up. No other maintenance issues.

Wednesday 10t December

 Met several people strolling round enjoying the lovely sunny mild morning.

Cleared all the twigs from the bench opposite the art college where the tree work had taken place. Left a dropped glove on it. The warning sign for the tree work is still on the path.

No litter today

Wet!

 I havent been round today but Environment agency is recording higher water at Durngate. 37.28m above sea level. 6" up on yesterday

Tad windy

 Arborists may have left a sign behind. Don't know if they plan to return. At least dsnger is gone and access clear. Bit of a shame though. In the summer I sat on the bench and was treated to 5 squirrels using tree to cross river. 2 runners, 1 walker 3 cygnets taking off together on main channel. Heron still there.

No litter. Bit more water in pond though Durngate level isnt up much despite about double the normal rain.

Saturday 6th December

Enough litter to make it worth a visit.  Cannabis packet at the wavy seat. Lady with a large pedigree dog on the lead was polite when I spoke to her, and she agreed to take it out. 'Oh I didn't know.....'

Friday 5th December

The morning started lovely and frosty with a few friendly walkers in the reserve. Enjoyed a quick sparrowhawk flyby on the boardwalk, as well as a fleeting Kingfisher later on. The tree surgeons were still carrying out their work. Sadly, a deceased Grey Heron was found near the North Walls footbridge. Not sure how this passed away, but maybe natural causes.

Thursday 4th December

All good,

just one runner and tree surgeons clearing a tree from the river by Durngate.

No litter. 

Wet & windy

 Usual 2 hardcore runners. 

Only waterbirds in evidence. No litter. 9mm rain overnight but pond not showing much yet. See what Sam's work does.

monday 1st December

Quick visit as grabbing some aggregate from entrance.

Put a new board from main culvert to feed pond levels more.

Noone on site unsurprisingly, no trees down thankfully 

Sam

Sunday 30th November

Lots of walkers. Kingfisher on the Itchen.

Funny smell and a muntjac on the pond path. Probably not connected.

Beer cans.

Had a chat with a group of five runners. 

Friday November 29th staff update

Raked off the remaining cut sections as part of our meadow management.

Cut some low branches on the boardwalk. Another might need cutting but requires and chainsaw.

Levels are very low, particularly rec side. In discussion with winchester city council about potential solution.

Thabks for all your blogs and support!

Sam

Friday 28th November

​Very quiet apart from two squirrels and some blackbirds. Passed a couple of runners but no one else on site 

Thursday 27th November

Quiet, one painter, three visitors, minimal litter. 

Kingfisher at north end of Redhole Stream.

There’s a log/weed blockage solidifying further down Redhole Stream.

Sunday 23rd November

 A few walkers, some not being very courteous to a swan on the path.

My favourite photographers were in.  Very sweet couple, loads of expensive equipment, never see anything!  

No litter.

On the way out, I noted the rugby club were using the pathway between pitches for training exercises.  This is a well used route from the west side of the park to the NW bridge.  They don't normally use it, other than for spectating parents (who have to be kept back from the touchline with tape, but that's another story). I asked politely if they could keep it free for nature reserve access.  I got a load of condescending mansplaining from one of the coaches. I spoke to the person in charge and he said he would keep it free in future, so it is possible after all 🙄.  

Saturday 22nd November

Quiet and damp. Admired the recent meadow cutting. Not much litter today,  but one syringe plunger and one bag of cannabis sweets. 

Thursday 20th - all OK

Just a few visitors and photographers. And an artist capturing late Autumnal colours! Almost no litter. Perfect Thursday visit.

Wednesday 19th November

 Several people wrapped up warmly enjoying the fresh air and sunshine  after the sleet showers and a swan snoozing on the river bank near NML

No litter for once!

cold

 not much of a frost but some was on the board walk. Very quiet apart from swans. Met a Catholic lady saying Morning Prayer. Cant help but agree it's a good place to do this.

3 runners

Sunday 16th November

 Two photographers one fast runner.  Bramble blossom.

Thursday 13th

Three visitors.

Pizza boxes and coke bottles in the undergrowth on the track up to the pond. Cleared away.

Otherwise all good. 

Wet!

 Only 2 walkers, no litter. 10 - 20 finches in glade area plus a pair of blackbirds. Usual swans & moorhens along river. Also fungus season

Sunday 9th November

 A few walkers.  More litter than usual.  A kingfisher on Red Hole Stream

The branches over the boardwalk at the southern end - mangrove swamp - seem a bit lower than normal (or maybe the boardwalk is higher, or I have grown).  Someone a bit taller than me or running may bump their head.

Family with a dog.  Hadn't seen the THREE signs at Durngate.

Thursday 6th November

All good, 7 visitors and one artist. New species recorded on the chalk board at Durngate, unfortunately I didn't see it ;-)

Weds 5th Nov staff visit

No evidence of encampment, had a good search around the original location and some other secluded spots. Nothing else to report. Thanks all for your checks!

Wednesday 5th November

 All quiet ahead of fireworks!

Had a chat with a photographer with an impressive piece of kit. He's just applied to be a volunteer lookerer for Winnall - suggested if successful he'll need a pair of wellies! Sorry Sam forgot to ask his name.

Also had a nice chat with a couple on holiday from Kent who hadn't been before and keen to find out more about the reserve.

Sadly more litter than of late in the usual places and a blue jacket has been left on the Durngate bench.

damp

 no sign of rough sleeper.

no litter. Couple of runners and walkers.

Very quiet including on the wildlife front. Heard a cetti's.

Has anyone seen evidence of water voles? I've seen nothing lately, no spoor, no chewed leaves, but then I'm not surveying from the water :P

Sunday 2nd November *person camping in the woods*

Lots of people about: walkers, birdwatchers and a number of not-very-courteous runners.  Spoke to one man on his second lap, he was polite and walked past me on his third lap.  Also spoke to a couple running abreast, they were also polite.

A man is camping in the woods by Red Bridge at agency.outgrown.seaside.  Looks like he has been there for a while.  He was friendly, said he wasn't homeless, just "passing through".  I let him know there was a homeless shelter in town.

A woman with a huge dog by the Durngate entrance, I pointed out the sign on the gate and she loitered for a bit then turned around and left.

Thursday 30th October - all good

 Nothing to report. Swan fast asleep at the top end …

cold and quiet

 Well, it is half term. 1 family 5 walkers, 1 runner. 1 lady said she'd seen a kingfisher but I missed it! Sign at NML is back up but could do with refreshing as it's faded. When laminating paper for outdoor use it's best to have the paper smaller than the lamina as any breach allows water to penetrate paper and ink, shortening its life.

Sunday 26th October

A few walkers and birdwatchers.  A few bargy runners.

Found the No Entry sign in NML and wedged it back on the gate.  Will need some staples or one of Adrian's secure frames (but I assume he's busy with orders from the Louvre) .

Saturday 25th October

Lovely sunny morning. Quite a lot of low-level litter including drug paraphernalia at the glade and the wavy seat. Nice to be back after being ill in bed last weekend.

Friday 24th October

 Very nippy this morning, but the sun made its way through the fog

5 deer were very bold grazing along the path towards north walls 

Saw a couple of buzzards

A mix of walkers and runners this morning 

All good

Thursday 23rd October - all good, nobody around

 Just the usual detritus outside the gate and around the bench 🙁

Wednesday 22nd October

 Beautiful morning very peaceful on the reserve apart from sudden explosive calls of a Cetti 's warbler!

Sunday 19th October

 A few soggy walkers, one runner barging past on the boardwalk (recognised as previously abusive).

Friday 17th October

Lovely morning on the reserve. I saw two kingfishers and was stood watching one by the bench at the top of the board walk and two people, one on a phone and one with headphones in walked past completely oblivious. lots of long tailed tits about to :)

Thursday 16th

All quiet, just a couple of visitors. Some litter at the top end of the reserve which I cleared away. Nothing else to report. 

damp & dismal

 Fairly low on litter. I'm blessed with the excellent weekend team!
1 runner (no regulars) 3 walkers. Quiet on wildlife front.
Sadly a fire at Colebrand's bench. I did what I could, but needs a return visit with dustpan and brush. I won't have time today.

Nice fungi

Sunday 12th October

Very busy today with lots of walkers, families and birdwatchers enjoying the balmy Autumn day. Michaelmas daisies abound.

Much excitement among the birders as four firecrests  had been seen in the tree by NW bridge.  I saw a kingfisher beside Red Hole Stream.

A few issues:

A couple with two dogs off lead who, like so many others, hadn't seen any of the three signs at the Durngate entrance.  Winchester does have a Specsavers. 

They told me that there was someone taking drugs in the glade.  There was a man sitting in the glade who was a bit out of it but very pleasant.  He wasn't taking drugs and assured me he was ok.

Another man was smoking drugs at the top of the boardwalk. He's a regular and no trouble.

A couple far off the path looking for mushrooms.

A couple running laps but they did slow to walk past me

As I was leaving, a man was about to enter via NW bridge with a dog. I showed him the sign on the gate.  He hadn't seen it, of course, and I pointed out the other sign at the end of the bridge.  He hung around in the park waiting for me to go.

Lots of litter in the glade and around the path from  the Durngate entrance.

Saturday 11th October

Oh dear, a bumper litter morning. Mostly around the entrance, Durngate bench and Durngate sign. Four dogs to pick up after, 2 bagged up and chucked, one person had defecated and another thrown up, plus food and drink litter, in which I found this wallet thrown away. Trinity was open, and when I told the staff member that I found it among the bottles and cans he offered to take it. When we found the driving licence he offered to take it to the address. I was short of time and accepted his kind offer.

Friday 10th October

 Hi all,

Early morning rush but only a couple walkers and runners today. Nothing really to report.

Thursday 9th October - nothing to report

Wednesday 8th October

 Very quiet this morning- just a solitary jogger and a couple of people strolling round. Saw a Little Egret by the old outdoor swimming pool area. Good to see and hear a variety of calls from little birds - Very few in the garden at home.

Very little litter mostly at the Durngate bench.

 

fresh, not frosty

 lovely light across reed bed. Lots of birdsong. 5 runners and a couple of walkers.

1 curry paste jar in Glade and a ripped up book at pond. Nice backlit web and midges dancing in the sun

Interesting fungus on the uprooted tree at reedbed walk

Sunday 5th October

One runner, a few walkers.  No trees down.

Beer cans under the willow.  A man with a dog in the glade, hadn't seen the signs.

Saturday 4th October

No trees down. Hope that didn't change later in the day. Litter around the Durngate bench and board. Quiet. Swan pair on the path.

Friday 3rd October

No problems this morning on the south, met 3 pairs of runners and a couple of Robins singing

Thursday 2nd October

All quiet, one runner, two visitors, one kingfisher. 

another light frost

 couple of runners and walkers. Very little litter except at Durngate bench.

Light frost where sun hasn't reached by boardwalk. Nice light for a spider web.

It looks like the fallen branch is where the whole willow stool had moved.

Sunday 28th September

A few walkers braving the rain.

Big branch down in the river from the Fishing Club side opp NML gate at suitable.sharpened.dumpling

Dead pigeon on the path, I moved it under a plant.

Saturday 27th September

A chilly autumnal feel but beautiful muted colours with bright flashes of berry colour. Long tailed tits flocking and house Martins on migration overhead. 

More litter than usual and this fire site under the trees on the way to the pond, surrounded by used nappies, wipes and lots of other litter. Glad to get rid of it!