Lovely to see the ox-eye daisies coming on the glade, and the knapweed won't be long. And no new fire damage, thank goodness. I heard the cuckoo, near the paddling stream, which was a real treat.
Condom packets and syringe packets at the Durngate bench. A beer drinking party to clear behind the Durngate board, plus lots of graffiti. The new boards are easy to clean!
A family with a toddler were admiring the swans with her cygnet as I was coming out. That makes it all worth it!
Started the day with a lovely brief sighting of a cuckoo as I entered the gate from Winnall Moors South. Cattle and Ponies in the meadows all content and looking well.
Fairly quiet on the reserve but busy in the old outdoor swimming pool though everyone keeping to the river bank on the park side. Two tents and a shopping trolley further down but again on the park bank.
4 broad bodied chasers flying over the pond - 2 male and 2 females. Think it must be damselfly day as demoiselles everywhere along the river and stream banks on both ends of the reserve.
Met a couple of people down from London for a few days - a bit hot for bird watching but seemed pleased with what they had seen. Not much litter.
SAM - a lady by the broken seat on the river bank at the north end of the board walk was asking when the seat was going to be repaired as she liked sitting there.
Lots of runners. I was out a bit earlier. Very little litter. Low water. Otherwise nothing not already reported. Lots of methane leaving the Pond. There are a few holes on the approach to the Glade. Ankle twisters, not very visible. Had nothing to mark them with. Our cyclist was pushing it so I said hello but otherwise left well alone
Some walkers, a pair of runners and one swimmer who hadn't seen the signs.
No litter in the party zones.
Five vials of Water for Injections BP discarded at the glade fire site, with used plasters. Otherwise no signs of drug paraphernalia. Predictable beer cans etc at all the seats, now we have these long, warm evenings. Lovely to see the flag Irises.
Quiet. Modest litter usual spots. Met Mike who was fixing a spring on the Rugby Club gate. Measured top rail SPM/NBL barrier for Sam’s job list.
The volunteers have done a great job of cutting back the overgrown edges of all the paths and tidying up the glade.
Found the gate leading from Swimming Pool meadow into No Man's Land has had the top wooden bar snapped virtually in two and is hanging on the ground along with the metal catch. Now easy access into NML!
Also found a broken up blue holdall bag on the path bear the pond dipping platform. It was soaking wet and too heavy for me to drag - sorry Sam!
Came across a lot of pond dipping and surveying equipment on the bench by the stream dipping platform - presumably the school/ college students are at lunch off site.
several walkers around. Little litter. Only 1 swan. Met a group from Peter Symonds' College.
Race for Life on in the park. A few walkers out and about. Party litter in the trees by the pond path. One woman told me that last time she visited, there were police present which put her off coming. I reassured her that it was safe place, but may not have been very convincing given I was clutching four empty voddie tins at the time.
Barbecue and bonfire on the glade. Lots of cider cans and beefburger packets. A dead deer by the River Park bridge. I phoned Sam. Lots of broken glass at the paddling stream. The same man cycling very fast stopped when he saw me. I thanked him but he got on again afterwards!
Otherwise another beautiful morning with chats to visitors and lovely Ragged Robin, Guelder Rose and Water Avens.
Very quiet, couple of runners, minimal litter barring picnic remains in the Glade.
Very quiet but there had just been a heavy rain shower! Chatted to a couple of bird watchers who come out regularly from Andover taking photos at the pond. The water level in the pond has greatly dropped. There is a bottle in the pond but too far out to reach otherwise only a bit of litter at the Durngate bench
Little egret fishing in the old outdoor swimming pool area.
A few walkers, one of my well trained runners. Quite a bit of litter around the sluice area. Man sitting with his back to the pond, earphones in and drinking beer.
This handsome chap crossed my path. I'll look him up when I get home. Lovely to see the mouse ear out. Reed buntings calling around the pond. Moderate litter with no mucky nasties today. Some keen and interested visitors who enjoyed a chat.
Quiet on the reserve this morning with only two couples strolling round. Heard my first cuckoo very faintly as some distance away.
Very little litter.
All okay on site, lots of runners and bird song and I’ve seen my first ducklings of the year.
