Did any of our loyal readers think they saw some suspicious looking Highland Cattle eating rush (Juncus) in the flashes this week, and then have to look again to see that it was actually our outdoor team of volunteers armed with three brush cutters and a lawn mower?
Well, if you did, you were witness to them doing an absolutely fantastic job. The reserve team have been braving the elements yet again this week and have been out in the flashes reducing the amount of rush growing on the wet grasslands.
We’re controlling the rush to stop it from taking over – a little bit of rush spread throughout the wet grasslands is great for providing the cover and variation that breeding waders such as lapwing, snipe and other wildlife like. Unfortunately, the rush has a tendency to spread vigorously if not kept in check. Cutting it in winter really knocks it back and prevents the wet grasslands from turning into fields of rush!
Moving onto other subjects, the reserve team have moved Christmas outdoors this year and have decorated a Christmas tree for the birds. Before the weekend a 7ft Christmas tree was planted outside the visitor centre and since then it has been decorated with all things natural. The sprigs of sloe and hawthorn berries, monkey nuts, apples, coconut treats laced with mealworms and our homemade log feeders are great food for the birds.
Why not pay a visit to the reserve this weekend and take inspiration from our outdoor Christmas tree? You can do something similar for the birds in your garden! It’s the RSPB Fairburn Ings’ Family Fun Day on Sunday 18th December and for £2 you can make your own log feeder. There will be a Santa’s Grotto and face painting, as well as crafts and games for all the family.
Also, don’t forget that it’s the Big Garden Birdwatch in January, and some of our natural bird food ideas might just be what you need to bring the birds into your garden. We’ll be talking more about this in the coming weeks so keep an eye out, and come and have a chat to us in the visitor centre about what you can do to help feed birds over winter.