
Welcome
to the Cam Valley Wildlife Group
Cam
Valley Wildlife Group is an independent, volunteer-run, wildlife
group based around Midsomer Norton and Radstock. The area
covers the towns and villages of Cameley, Camerton, Carlingcott,
Chelwood, Chewton Mendip, Chilcompton, Clapton, Clutton, Coleford,
Combe Hay, Dunkerton, Emborough, Farmborough, Farrington Gurney,
Faulkland, Foxcote, Hallatrow, Haydon, High Littleton, Hinton
Blewett, Hinton Charterhouse, Holcombe, Kilmersdon, Litton,
Midford, Midsomer Norton, Norton St Philip, Paulton, Peasedown
St John, Priston, Radford, Radstock, Shoscombe, Southstoke,
Ston Easton, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, Temple Cloud, Timsbury,
Tunley, Welton, Westfield, Wellow and Writhlington.
Our
aims are the conservation of local biodiversity, the promoting
awareness and understanding of local wildlife, and the encouraging
the enjoyment of wildlife. Our activities include a varied
events programme, talks, walks, field trips, workshops, social
events, survey projects and practical conservation projects.
We
produce a newsletter four times a year and have an online
discussion group for members. Membership is open to anyone
who supports our aims and an annual fee of £5.00 covers
all members in one household.
Feel
free to browse around our website.
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Friday
3rd July - A Bat Walk at Great Elm
Wednesday
8th July - Botany excursion to Priddy Mineries and Stockhill
Saturday
11th July - Conservation morning at Paulton reserve
Thursday
16th July - Evening Visit to Elm Farm, Burnett
Saturday
25th July - Work Morning at Goosard reserve |
CVWG
News
Camerton
Heritage Committee - Green Fair [Tue, Jun 23]
The Green Fair will be the next event at Camerton
Batch on Saturday 4th July.
This is celebrating all the work that has been carried
out thanks to the Breathing Places grant - and it will
be our biggest yet! We have a Green Fair in the afternoon
followed by music and an outdoor cinema in the evening.
Hope
to see you there!
Miriam Woolnough
Red
Kites near Stoney Littleton [Thu Jun 18]
We
spotted three Red Kites circling above the fields, and
around the trees near Stoney Littleton, at about 6-7pm
in the evening. The location wasin the fields near the
bridge over the Wellow Brook on Dairy Hill between Stoney
Littleton and Faukland. The
red kites were circling above that field, landing in
the trees, then taking off again - and evidently hunting
in the field above and behind the trees. We
watched them for about 20 mnutes - during which time
one kites caught some prey (no binoculars, so we couldn't
see what it was). They appeared to be a family group
- possibly parents and an offspring, or perhaps mother
and two offspring.
avebury.geo
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What
To Look For in... July
A
good month for flowers and everywhere is alive with busy insects,
but a quiet time for birds.
Flora
-
Hop in flower – quite common in the hedgerows
around Paulton where Bristol brewery had hop fields.
-
Lots of plants come into flower including: Tansy,
Burdock, Willowherbs, Perennial Sow-thistle, several
Thistle species, Scentless Mayweed, Teasel, Hemp Agrimony,
Bindweeds, Wild Angelica, Pyramidal Orchid and Fat-hen.
-
Traveller’s Joy and Sweet Chestnut are in flower.
-
Field Maple keys appear.
-
Bird Cherry fruiting.
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Birds
-
Most birds are going quite now as they begin their
moult and become secretive at this vulnerable stage.
They mainly stop singing now but their calls can still
give away their presence as they move almost invisibly
in the fully leaved trees and bushes.
-
Swifts scream overhead.
-
Cuckoos start to depart for Africa already.
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Mammals
- Roe
Deer are rutting.
-
Bats are very actively feeding now and suckling young.
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Insects
- Single
generation Marbled White and Gatekeeper on the wing.
-
Single generation Peacock and Brimstone (which will
overwinter as butterflies) also flying.
-
Second generation: Speckled Wood, Brown Argus, Small
Copper, Large White, Green-veined White.
-
Butterfly caterpillars around include: Meadow Brown,
Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, and Large Skipper.
-
Late pupaters: Peacock, Red Admiral, Painted Lady,
Brown Argus, Holly Blue, Orange-tip and Brimstone.
-
Elephant Hawk Moth caterpillars feed on Willowherb
and Puss Moth caterpillars on Willow or Poplar trees.
-
Look for groups of yellow and black Cinnabar Moth
caterpillars feeding on Ragwort.
-
Migrant Hawker dragonfly might be seen.
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Reptiles,
Amphibians and Fish
-
Grass snakes lay their eggs.
-
Common Lizard young are born.
-
Newts start to leave the ponds.
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From
'The Wildlife Year' - a month
by month guide to the things that may be happening in the
Cam Valley Wildlife Group area.
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