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.