Sunday 15th March

Lots of walkers, a couple of grudgingly polite runners.

A dead mole in the pond. No new fires.

Saturday 14th March

A beautiful bright morning.  Excellent sighting of a reed bunting at the pond, a muntjac on the path, heard my first chiff chaff, the sparrowhawks were seen mating by the photographer (I only heard them). Another fire on the glade - they keep coming back, whoever they are.

Thursday 12th March

A quiet but windy morning on the moors, only one jogger, a couple sat on bench on the wacky backy but absolutely no litter. Drying out slowly.

One beautiful Roe Deer.

Wednesday 11th March

 An afternoon visit. Very quiet and very little litter. Two people sitting on the pond dipping platform and acting as guards for all the frogspawn as a couple of mallards coming in and out! No sign of any frogs.

Reminder - no lookering cover Thursday 12th, but there will be warden cover

Dryer but cool

 Saw the Glade fire, but otherwise no litter..

Couple of walkers, 2 regular runners. Lots of birds.

Sunday 8th March

Busy with walkers, families, birdwatchers.  Nice to see some young people with their cameras and binoculars.  One silly runner.  Couple of people far off the path, including the artist.

New fat balls in the feeder at ///pelting.rollers.succumbs (near path on the west/Art School side)

The remains of the fire in the glade is mostly ash, I cleared up the paper. Might need to a shovel for the rest.

Saturday 7th March

A bad litter day plus a large new fire site on the glade. Lots of paper ash and still hot, so I didn't have the means to clear it all. At the Durngate board a capped syringe which I took to Trinity as they have a sharps box. Human excrement next to it which I had to bury. A guy drinking beer at 9.30am at the paddling stream, who ga

ve me his empty can. 

Friday 6th March

​Lots of bird song this morning and a couple of grey squirrels. A few walkers and runners enjoying the site. 

Thursday 5th March - all OK

Very quiet, minimal litter. No sign of the frogs, but the little muntjac was grazing on the open ground in front of the pond. Thursday Group finishing up willow burning in Swimming Pool Meadow. 

Wednesday 4th March

 Beautiful day - first outing without a jacket!

More frogspawn in the pond since last week but no sign of frogs today. A muntjac deer in the brambles nearby. 

Had several friendly chats with people enjoying a stroll round and a not so friendly exchange with a rather beligerant cyclist sunbathing on the bench at the northern end. Picked up a collection of 6 lager cans this morning.

sunnier Monday

 much the same as Lynne and Jim: 2 walkers, lots of frog activity in the pond.

Water levels going down a bit (don't speak too soon!)

Sunday 1st March

 Two people and lots of frogs.

Thursday 26th - all OK in the South - frog party

Just a few folks around. Visiting couple from Isle of Man very complimentary about the reserve. Not much litter. Adjusted side gate at Durngate entrance.

A frog party (fest, rave, orgy) going on in the pond.

Wednesday 25th February

 Blue sky and sunshine! A peacock butterfly abd two brimstone sunbathing! A red kite flying over northern end. Lots of small birds calling with wrens and great tits in competition for the loudest! Not much litter.

Several people walking round and one gentleman reading your notice Sam - result!

Thursday 19th Work Party

Our work party got through a large chunk of the cut material next to the willow in Swimming Pool Field and burnt through almost all of it!

Weds 11th of Feb Work Party

More cutting of Willow in Swimming pool meadow today. Quite hard to negotiate the dense branches but we made decent progress. A primary school group came through on a walk and I had a nice chat with the kids about what we were up to, they hopefully left less concerned about us cutting trees! 

I hadnt published this correctly it seems.

Less wet!

 Water levels down, & not so much over paths. 3 walkers, 1 runner, no regulars. No litter. Aside from watrrfowl, great tir, blue tit, siskin, robin very much in evidence

Sunday 22nd February

Several runners and some walkers. Most people are doing a detour along the river bank to avoid the pond puddle.

Some logs on the wavy bench at the Durngate end.

Had a nice chat with a gentlemen who was enjoying a morning walk (and the only person appropriately dressed with wellies, coat and brolly!).  Big fan of the reserve.

Flood defences still up in River Park by the art college and school.

Saturday 21st February

Wet, muddy and quiet. Only significant litter around Durngate. One large dog running around off the lead, she took it out when I spoke to her. Red elf cup out but no picture. Stepped into the river to get polystyrene out - I promise it was very shallow.

Thursday 19th

All quiet, Tom and working party burning some willow. No visitors and no litter. Water levels still high very slightly down on last Thursday.n

Wednesday 18th February

 Very quiet - dull and chilly. Still very wet at the pond junction A goldcrest flew down and joined me as I was picking up litter from the brambles by Durngate entrance. 

Met a group of 3 visitors in Swimming Pool Meadow who commented on chopping down the bushes as it was a loss of nesting habitat for small birds. I explained the reason and they then appreciated the work, turning a negative into a positive reaction.

SAM/TOM - I know you are very busy but it would be very useful if a temporary sign could be put up explaining what is happening and why on the reserves with public access. 

Sunny but wet

 After nearly 1 week's worth of rain in 24 hours: loads of water about and flowing - no surprise. Nice job on the cutting back in Swimming Pool Meadow. Lots of birdsong, almost no litter. 1 regular runner. The other 2 have half term child duties. 1 man urinating near telephone pole at Durngate entrance. As there were people around I said "not there, mate". He just stared and silently departed.

Sunday 15th February

 Less water on the paths than last week but still quite wet, especially around the pond junction.

Two walkers with the Wrong Shoes.

Hole in Red Bridge.

Thursday 12th

Water, water everywhere. Breaches along riverside and reedwalk paths several inches deep. Pond path junction more or less completely flooded. 

No visitors, several bits of litter but inaccessible unfortunately. 

Flood defences

 On Park Avenue entrance to North Walls Park. Bound to have an effect on the reserve.

Tuesday 10th feb work party

Hi all,

Our work party team tackled the scrub in swimming pool meadow today and will be back tomorrow. Mixture of pollarding and coppicing as scrub rotational management. Reducing scrub encroachment into the reedbed and providing denser scrub cover for bird nesting oppurtunities.

We will burn on a platform so we dont harm the peat soils below.

Lots of material so lots of burning over the next couple of weeks!

Thanks all,

Sam

Still wet

 And getting deeper. More flows over path as reported by others. Environment Agency levelz are reported steady but at the top of their range. 3 runners, 1 walker, fair amount if birdsong. And actually quite a good sunny morning.

Sunday 8th February

Some walkers, lots of runners.  One maintaining a fast pace and loudly informing people that he would be passing them.  I'm sure he thinks he is polite.

Lots of standing water on the east side.

A bird feeder with fatballs in a tree at ///trickster.storm.painter  I assume the WT didn't put it there.

Friday 6th February

​No visitors on site this morning just lots of birds again and lots of water across the paths. 

Thursday 5th February

All quiet, lots of water. no litter, two bird watchers, two general visitors and one young lad walking with a fishing rod. I let him know that fishing was not allowed, he was very polite about it but I suspect once I'd gone he continued to find somewhere to fish. 

Wednesday 4th February

 Lovely sunny and very mild morning. How lucky am I?!

Lots of bird song and several people out enjoying the reserve. River levels high but not actually overtopping. Lots of puddles especially by the pond junction but manageable to get round.

No litter!

Damp underfoot.

 Much the same as last week. Not much litter but plenty of birdsong. 1 runner. Bit of water over paths. Main channel high - ish

Sunday 1st May

Quiet.  One polite runner, one walker, one family letting their small child balance precariously near the water by the sluice for a photo.

Friday 30th January

A very nice morning in the reserve was very quiet today, just one jogger. Enjoyed a Grey Heron on top of the dead tree, as well as a Sparrowhawk, as I was leaving the reserve. Also walked around the reserve yesterday, and all was ok both days.

Thursday 29th January - all OK

Met Mike (work party volunteer) who checked the entrance and southern half. Just a couple of folk around.

quiet

 only 2 walkers and not a lot of litter. But I'd love to talk to a psychologist about the whys and wherefores of what people do leave behind. I can understand fag papers by a bench but a pork chop still in its packet? I'm totally baffled.

13 ducks by art School being rather noisy. A mix of other birds. Tiny bit of water running over path but I confidently predict there will be more if tomorrow's weather forecast is accurate.

Sunday 25th January

 A few soggy walkers and runners.  Had a chat about fast running with two young (to me) lads and they were very polite, and one middle-aged man who wasn't.

Someone fishing by the Art College.  Two boys with fishing rods were dropped off by the Durngate entrance as I left.

Saturday 24th January

Sad to see more evidence of fires on the glade.  Two areas of turf damage. A party at the paddling stream to clear - litter and a muddy hoodie in the water. Otherwise quiet, and a little sun breaking through on a lovely morning. 

Friday 23rd January

​All looks okay on the South. Very quiet, apart from a few mallards and I think a flock of siskins. 

Thursday 22nd

All quiet, just me and a Muntjac deer today. Plenty of water around and the river the highest I've seen it for a while. Some litter cleared and someone has left a hoodie and a glove at the top picnic area. I've left them on the bench in case someone wants to claim them. 

Wednesday 21sr January

 Wet!!!!

Lots of surface water on the path. River high vut not quite overtopping at northern end 

Only ducks for company on the path they at least didn't seem to mind the weather!

No litter today

uneventful morning

 4 runners 4 walkers, quite a bit of birdsong, no litter. All looked good.

Sunday 18th January

 Fairly busy with runners and walkers.  Some litter including used loo roll. No camping.

Said a cheery good morning to the resident artist, did not get one back.  Hasn't forgiven me!

Thursday 15th January - all OK

Rain getting rainier. Nobody there, except one nice lady pushing her bike. Couple of beer cans tossed into the reeds behind the bench opposite Rugby Club Meadow. Gave the signs near the entrance a wipe over so nobody can now claim they couldn’t see them 😂

Wednesday 14th Jan - Staff check

 Foggy day today so not much could be seen on the wildlife front. 30 odd siskins flittering between the rec and the west of WM.

Inspected some of the rivers for any windblown trees and reported some to WCC, looks like they had been down for a while but they are much easier to see as the vegetation dies back off the banks.

There was a wooden pile/structure in the glade, some of the seats had been moved and evidence of another fire. All cleared and seats put back in place, hopefully this was a once off occurrence.

Other than that not much more to report, quite, calm day on the reserve :)

Thanks all for your support,

Sam

 

just beat the rain

 all quiet. 2 runners and a couple of walkers. Ducks getting fruity as reported yesterday. No litter, and no concerns.

Sunday 11th January

Quiet.  No tents.

Ducks having a mass meeting by Red Bridge.

Saturday 10th January

Very little to report on a beautiful crisp morning, minimal litter, though some nasty tissues ...enough said...on the glade. Glad to get rid. Too many runners to enjoy a nature walk, to be honest, but there we are. One early family with little children, having a lovely time, which always makes my morning. 

Thursday 8th

All quiet, three visitors and one discarded drinks can, cleared away. 

7 January 2026

Another pleasant day on the Moor. I've noted a few people fishing recently some are receptive to being advised of the rules others not. Further evidence today was this fishing hook caught in the trees near the North Wall Park bridge. To far away to retrieve. 

6 January 2026

Very cold and bright on the Moor today, a few people out walking and running. The tent on the way to the Pond has gone.

 

BRRRR!

 but beautiful. No litter. Signs of many feet in the snow and rather more walkers than usual. Ducks are getting fruity. Couple of blue tits, 2 robins, 1 moorhen and passing gulls but not much else. Tent still by pond with footprints but no response.

Sunday 4th January

Nice and crispy.  Lots of people out and about.

Unfortunately, it was one of those mornings:

• The resident artist was found in NML.  He is Ukrainian and doesn't speak English so with a lot of hand waving and Google Translate I explained why he shouldn't be in there.  He was a bit sulky and petulant about it.
• Two young teenagers bashing at the ice in the river with a large branch because it was "fun". I had a chat and they were very polite.
• A tent pitched by the pond, no sign of life.  
• The runner who pushed me a couple of years ago is back. 

Weird ducks: something that looks like a white mallard or small Aylesbury duck or maybe a freakish cross-breed of the two.  Something with a red beak, maybe a pochard?

 

Saturday 3rd January

Quiet, frosty and cold. Found enough litter for a big bag and chatted to some early visitors.  Fantastic kingfisher sighting and heard a water rail. Happy New Year everyone.

Friday 2nd January 2026

Lovely day today. There was a painter on the reserve painting a river scene, and I also bumped into a photographer. Wildlife-wise, saw a mixture of Tits, Chiffchaff and watched a Kingfisher catch a fish before disappearing downriver. Winnall Moors was the beginning of a long New Year's Day walk, seeing how many species of birds could be seen on the local patch, finishing on a total of 78, with Winnall being where we ticked off a lot to begin with.

Thursday 1st January 2026 - all OK

Made a round at lunchtime (late start this morning!), missing the bright sun and early frost. Quite a few visitors but little litter.  Noisy ring-necked parakeet in the top of a tree opposite the tent on the riverbank in the Rec. Otherwise not much around. 

No maintenance issues.