Natural History in Barnsley
Last year we had a field visit to Barnsley Main Colliery Site and recorded a large number of species. On Saturday 3 June from 11am until 2pm, Barnsley Main Heritage Group have an open day. Barnsley Nats intend to have a stall there.
Our field visit on Wednesday 24 May was to Netherwood Country Park and Nature Reserve, at the side of the river Dove, between Wombwell and Darfield.
As well as the river and large ponds, there are open grassy areas, scrub and a bit of woodland. Not much in flower yet but it was good to identify what was there, as well as other wildlife.
We managed 13 birds including Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Willow Warbler. The young of the Greylag and Canada geese were a delight!
Our nine insect species included Red & Black Froghopper, the Soldier beetle: Cantharis rustica, Redheaded Cardinal beetle, and 7 spot and 14 spot ladybirds as well as Early bumblebee, Red tail bumblebee and Common carder bee.
Of particular interest were the Oak Current Gall, the gall wasp of which creates oak spangle galls in a later stage; and a spiral gall on some fantastic Black Poplar trees.
On our field visit on Saturday 13 May to New Hall Farm, between Ardsley and Darfield, David and Helen Rhodes showed us their approach to arable farming which aims to encourage wildlife whilst ensuring their farm is viable; they maintain hedgerows and hay meadows, and have a variety of features that support birds, insects and other wildlife. It was a really interesting visit.
More later.
Our Saturday 22nd April field visit to Adwick washlands, was led by Linda Graham in association with Colin and Linda’s birdwatching group. It’s a familiar area of farmed fields transformed into wetlands, wet grassland and marshes; a rich site for breeding waders including Avocets.
A total of 56 bird species were seen, the highlights included Lapwing chicks, many Avocets on eggs, a Spotted Redshank, 2 Bar Tailed Godwits, a Sandwich Tern, a House Martin, 2 Sedge Warblers, a Reed Warbler and a Kingfisher.
It’s time again for another quiz from Jill. Here it is! If you are on our mailing list you will receive an emailed copy. Have a good Easter
Stuart Foster is giving an illustrated talk on the fascinating True Bugs on Wednesday evening, 22nd March, 7pm at Barnsley Town Hall. It’s a chance to find out how to identify the different species and the habitats where they are found.
All welcome: just ring the bell at the Experience Barnsley door
Around 20 people joined our field visit that was postponed to Saturday 18th March to measure some veteran trees at Cannon Hall. We mainly looked at the notable oak trees below the stream and lake, coming back past the old yew tree.
If you’d like some information on ancient and other veteran trees, and how to recognise them, just let us know.
Great find on a recent visit to Potteric Carr.
On an old pallet and about 5 mm diameter in size.
Chris Tomson is giving a talk on Rewilding on Wednesday evening, 22nd February at Barnsley Town Hall. Your chance to find out ‘what’s it all about’!
Chris’s illustrated presentation looks at the larger rewilding projects including Glen Feshie, Carrifran, Haweswater and Knepp but also looks at smaller scale projects in Yorkshire.
We are really looking forward to Chris’s talk and the discussion it will no doubt generate. It’s an opportunity to learn more about a hot topic.
Everyone is welcome at this Barnsley Nats event, so if you know someone who would be interested, do let them know.
Wednesday 22nd February, Barnsley Town Hall, 7pm.
[use the Experience Barnsley Entrance and ring the bell on the left of the door to get in]
Now with SSSI status, its mix of reedbed, fen, scrapes, marsh, meadows and wet woodland makes Carlton Marsh a great place to visit, in any season.
It was quite quiet when we visited; we were pleased to see the two Whooper swans, as well as mallard, moorhen, gadwall and almost 20 teal; and in the bushes some dancing long-tailed tit. And of course we looked at the fungi, lichens and plants.
A highlight was searching for over-wintering herald moths!
https://www.ywt.org.uk/nature-reserves/carlton-marsh-nature-reserve
A good number of Barnsley Nats folk joined naturalists from across South Yorkshire for a programme of talks and chat on Saturday 18 February. Highlights included a tour of Brockadale nature reserve and the story of Scruffy the Crow! We’re looking forward to next year’s day of natural history.
Click on the blue link for the programme.
Here is our programme to September 2023.
From April it consists of fields visits on Saturday mornings and Wednesday evenings.
There are two indoor meetings: a talk on ‘Rewilding’ by Chris Tomson on February 22nd and a talk on ‘True Bugs’ by Stuart Foster on March 22nd.
You can see the programme on the ‘Programme’ page. To see it here without downloading it, just click on the blue link.
‘Aspects of Biodiversity in Barnsley’ was a presentation given by Peter Roberts at the Barnsley Nats meeting at Barnsley Town Hall on Wednesday 25 January, following the AGM. His presentation included lots on the landscapes, habitats and wildlife found in Barnsley. He touched on the problems they face as well as on what we should do to conserve them. Peter also covered the importance of wildlife records and the role of the Barnsley Biological Record Centre.
His talk was based on the information in the Barnsley Biodiversity Action Plan. Have a look, it’s online at http://barnsleybiodiversity.org.uk/ Comments welcome!
The records that Barnsley naturalists and others provide are really helpful. Let’s carry on recording the wildlife of Barnsley.
Has any one seen the Green Comet ? Doug asks.
The Green Comet will be closest to the earth and the brightest on the 1st February. It will be difficult to see being faint but observable.
It was last seen from earth 50,000 years ago in the Stone Age.
I can just about remember it. Doug.
Doug handed out a New Year Quiz at our Christmas Social. For those who have not seen it, here it is …
[Click the link to see it on your screen without download.]
And here are the answers!
