Odiham Biodiversity Group Newsletter - January 2010

Mark took this view of Odiham from Horsedown Hill, the highest point in the parish, just before Christmas.

Hedge-laying Along The Canal

Have you ever wondered how you lay a hedge? If you walk along the tow path between Colt Hill Bridge and Lodge Farm Bridge on Saturday 23rd January you can find out.

Paul Hope and his colleague Roy will be on site, weather permitting, between 11.00 and 15.00 and would be happy to show you how it’s done.

Winter Bird Feeding

During this wintry period, the feeding of birds will reward you as well as possibly save the lives of many birds. Natural food is in short supply as trees and bushes are covered in snow and frost and the ground is hard.

Bird food is ideal (P&K in Fountains Mall usually has some supplies) but the RSPB suggests many leftover scraps would be beneficial to garden birds including cake, biscuit and pastry crumbs. Other suitable leftovers include mild grated cheese, cooked rice, breakfast cereals, cooked potatoes and fruit.

Please let us know if you have any unusual visitors to your garden. We have had reports of Pied Wagtails and Blackcaps as well as Fieldfare and Redwing.

In the wider countryside there have also been some unusual sightings. Will has told us about Lapwing at Broad Oak and what turns out to be Snipe, all feeding together on a newly emerged ‘lagoon’ in one of the fields.

Broad Oak Pond

On behalf of Odiham Parish Council, owners of Broad Oak Common, the OBG has secured a grant from the Loddon & Eversley Heritage Area (LEHA) to restore the Common's pond. This will be the first practical conservation project we have organised and we hope to recruit local residents and OBG members to undertake most of the work.

The pond has become badly silted up and encroached upon by scrub and small trees creating heavy shade. It is now all but lost in the Common's landscape. The aim is to restore its original form as a natural country pond supporting aquatic wildlife.

Website

Our new website is under construction – thanks to Peter Simmons. Cathy Griffiths who has a lot of experience with the Odiham Community website has volunteered to administer it and monitor input as it will be interactive.

OBG Events

We have firmed up dates for the following events:
Thursday 25th March Update on the LEHA. It hardly seems possible but it was over three years ago that Alison Cross from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust came to talk to us about the Loddon and Eversley Heritage Area Project. Now Amanda Bassett is going to update us on the project and show the DVD that has recently been produced.

Sunday 18th April Guided Walk led by Paul Hope to the new Up Nateley Nature Reserve.

Thursday 22nd July Orchids at Greywell Evening Walk led by Tony Mundell.

More details nearer the time but make a note in your diary!

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust Local Events

Sun 17th January Alresford Winter Bird Walk 10-12. Please contact John Bush on 01962 735062 for more information.

Sat 23rd January Winter Bird Watch at Hosehill Lake 2pm-dusk. Please contact Mike Sharman on 01189 816104 for more information.

Sun 24th January Winter walk around Pamber Forest 10 am. For more information please contact David Jewsbury on 01256 420818 (evening) or 07836 493677.

For more information about the Odiham Biodiversity Group please contact Sheila Bates on 01256 701187