First a polite request to all dog owners. Dog mess on the footpaths is becoming an increasing problem. Given that walking with the dog is one of our own favourite activities, the last thing we want to do is to place restrictions on dog owners using the Common. However, a recent environmental study reveals that the dog mess is now becoming a problem. Please do not leave dog mess in a place were it may be trodden on by other users and their children. If you have bags with you, then pick it up and dispose of in a dog bin in the village. If you have a stick or other suitable implement, and the offending mess in a suitable location, then “stick and flick” into the bushes. Nature will take care of the rest. Thanks in advance for your cooperation.
Now to the news. First lambing. This took place from 27th March to 19th April and the final scores was as follows: Balwens – 11 rams and 4 ewes, Gotlands – 13 rams and 16 ewes, Zwartbles – 5 rams and 4 ewes. The Gotlands included one family of quads and one family of triplets. These have been under special care in the bee field at Kilk where they have flourished under the tender care of Dennis. So a very good result and special thanks to Pip, Thor and Edam (the fathers)!
Work on the Commons since the Spring has been limited to general maintenance and the surfacing of the path at the top of the Commons alongside the pond and picnic bench. Once again, Peter Siddle was the genius on the Michael Vanstone digger and very ably assisted by Shaun the “under instruction” dumper driver. So no more slippery mud along this section of path come the winter.
Water Voles – the planned release in May had to be postponed due to an occurrence of the dreaded American Mink. This little “killing machine” is largely responsible for the 90% decline in the UK water vole population and the detection and control of mink is a key feature in any reintroduction of water voles to areas where they previously flourished. Although there has been no sign of mink in the past two years that we have been looking, two turned up in quick succession at the beginning of May. However, the monitoring and live trapping system worked well and the threat was quickly removed. The final release of water voles in our three-year programme will now take place at the end of June. If you want to see voles on a summer evening, the best place at the moment is the “stock pond” by the barge workshop at Hele Bridge. We are keen to log sightings so do let us know if you are lucky enough to see them.
We have a new member of the WCS team. Here she introduces herself:
My name is Teagen; I have been employed by Westland Countryside Stewards as a Wildlife and Conservation Officer for the past couple of months. Recently I have surveyed at Kilkhampton Commons, for all fauna and flora species and I currently complete butterfly surveys multiple times a week. after a huge decline, the small pearl-bordered fritillary (Boloria selene) has been recorded in abundance, along with more common species such as the small skipper (Thymelicus sylvestnis) and meadow brown (Maniola jurtina). If any local groups are interested in joining my butterfly surveys, please feel free to get in touch, contact details are all on the Westland Countryside Stewards website.
Teagen is too modest! she has a degree from Duchy College that she has attained by hard work and dedication whilst holding down a part-time job in Bude to subsidise her studies. It’s great to have her on the team.
As I write this on copy deadline day (15th June) we are hard at work haymaking. Thanks to the kind weather, we have more hay than we know what to do with this year so the barn is already pretty much full!
Have a great summer and see you all on the Common.
John Duncan