Oct 28th 2014. On a lovely warm though rather cloudy day we all drove off to Pont Felin Gat, apart from Howard who walked and got there just as fast as we did.
Over the next few years this part of the Garden will, if everything goes according to plan, be restored to something approaching what it would have looked like in the nineteenth century. Bearing that in mind we decided that we had better start monitoring what it was like now and to perhaps speculate on some of the changes that will inevitably take place. What effect will these have on the bird, insects, trees, flowers, etc? Below are some photos which show the Chalybeate Spring as it is now and a few other shots. But these and any others that we take won’t really show what it is like, not to mention the changing seasons. Possibly what is need is a video record, or even a flyover from above.
But what was pleasing to find were Badger sets in use. And not only in use now but from their huge spoil heaps it would appear that they have been in use for perhaps hundreds of years, maybe even before the estate was originally created.
Despite the recent rains the ground was not particularly wet, and this was probably the reason why we didn’t really see a lot of Fungi. The ones that are shown below were the result of quite a bit of careful searching, the biggest find, in more senses than one, was the Beech log covered in what we think are Porcelain Fungi.
As for the birds, not a lot to report, though the Whitethroat nest box near the bridge which we had monitored last year and photographed with chicks inside, was full of fresh looking moss indicating that it had been used this year.
Many thanks as always to John and Peter for their splendid photos. And if any volunteer or member wants to join us please send an email to Jane Down– you DON’T have to be an expert in anything, just interested. If you click on the Wildlife Walks heading on the left-hand side under News you will see a list of the last 10 Wildlife Survey blogs. If you find an injured bird, hedgehog or other wild animal and want help and advice then phone the Gower Bird hospital. on 01792 371630.