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Monday, February 23, 2015

Wildlife

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There has been lots of wildlife to be seen this week all getting ready for breading season with the mild weather. In the friends mins they are going to make some floating island on the lake. Last time they did this they sank in a few day as even a bird landing on them sank them. They are needed now as wildlife visits now and if it cant find any where to build a nest moves on. How they will nest if boats are on the lake is another matter as last year idiots in boats destroyed eggs on nests. Above lots of robins still about and below 2 Mandarins which is rare we normally only have one at a time

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3 grey lags on the lake and a lot of Goosanders keep popping in as these nest in hollow trees not on the lake they may just breed. Black birds are working overtime creating nests

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In smelted places spring can be seen like this at the Gulf War memorial were the flowers are in full bloom

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Monday, February 16, 2015

Early Signs of Spring

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Its only February but there are early signs of spring is on the way daffodils have leaves above ground and the Periwinkle is in flower all ready in sheltered areas of the park.  

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The Mahonia is showing nice colours

  • Other common names Japanese mahonia

  • Genus Mahonia are evergreen shrubs with leathery, pinnate leaves which are often spine-toothed, and clustered racemes of sometimes fragrant yellow flowers, sometimes followed by black or purple berries

  • Family Berberidaceae / Berberidaceae

  • Species M. japonica is an erect medium-sized evergreen shrub with large, spined, leathery pinnate leaves and small, fragrant light yellow flowers in spreading or drooping sprays from late autumn to early spring, followed by blue-black berries

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The only Broom in the park has a fine show of yellow down by the lake

Monday, February 9, 2015

Buzzard in The Park

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We have a Buzzard in the park he spends his time between Tipkinder the Park and the Golf Coarse. He has been seen everyday in the last few weeks he will help keep Starlings away should they return again.

Latin name

Buteo buteo

Family

Hawks and eagles (Accipitridae)

Where to see them

Greatest numbers in Scotland, Wales, the Lake District and SW England, but now breeding in every county of the UK. Found in most habitats particularly woodland, moorland, scrub, pasture, arable, marsh bog and villages. May even be seen in towns and cities including Glasgow. Look for birds soaring over wooded hillsides in fine weather, or perched on fence posts and pylons. In some areas they are known as the tourists’ eagle, often being mistaken for this larger bird of prey.

When to see them

All year round. Birds soar, display and call most in spring.

What they eat

Small mammals, birds and carrion. And even earthworms and large insects when other prey is in short supply.

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Its been a cold week but no rain and nice when there is no wind but the lake has been frozen most of the week

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Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Bettys Bench

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Betty Cooke, 85, was distraught when she saw what the vandals had done in Queens Park, Crewe. Like many other benches it was vandalized and thrown in the lake.  The bench was installed in memory of Betty’s daughter Susan, who moved to Australia and died of a brain tumour in 2002.

It was Susan’s dying wish to have a bench installed to enable others to enjoy the park she loved so much and to have her ashes scattered there. A new bench is now in the park thanks to sponsors lets hope it last a bit longer this time

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Like the rest of Crewe The park has been covered in snow which came down very quickly but fortunately didn't last very long

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