Nature Notes: Discovering ‘new’ territory from Tesco to Southern Country Park

Following a relaxed and peaceful weekend, I found time on Tuesday (August 20) for a short walk for my Nature Notes piece.

After my bowel cancer operation, I am still not permitted to drive, so my wife Wendy dropped me off at Tesco with a view to walking to Southern Country Park and then return to pick up the 35 bus service home to Little Hadham. Some of this actually reached fruition!

I set off through Bishop’s Park, noting with dismay just how many trees that were planted here when the estate was built are non-native species. Whilst they may bear fruit for birds and insects in autumn and possibly nectar-offering flowers in spring, there will be very few, if any, insects that will lay eggs upon the tree for their larvae to feed upon the leaves.

I think a mixture of native broad-leaved trees such as oak, ash, lime, hazel and field maple are good along with apple and plum trees as well as dogwood, spindle and blackthorn. These are all suited to the geology of East Herts and will do well.

A mountain ash (aka rowan) was good to see, already dripping with bright red berries.

Nearby, another tree was just beginning to offer fruit. These were still unripe but the berries of whitebeam always prove popular with thrush species.

As I checked these trees, I disturbed a few daytime roosting moths, including a single dotted wave macro and two micros: Agriphila tristella and Agriphila geniculea.

I arrived at Hillmead Primary School, having stopped to chat with several folk that I know who kindly asked after my recovery from surgery. I must admit, it all seems to be going well.

The area between the school, Oriole Way and Northern Parklands was all new for me, so I just followed my nose, keeping the bypass on my right. I wandered by a play area with swings etc where several young squirrels were chasing each other up and down tree trunks.

I noted a footpath between houses. This deposited me on Oriole Way, so I wandered along here, meeting more locals. Wood pigeons and magpies watched as I passed by and the first of the day’s butterflies made an appearance, a large white.

I crossed the Great Hadham Road and into Northern Parklands. Here, I was impressed by some of the ground management. Large areas have been left unmown for a while and therefore were populated by a variety of wildflowers, including a few late-flowering oxeye daisies.

Greater knapweed, bristly oxtongue and wild carrot were all present in good numbers as I checked the vegetation left on the slopes of the mounds. Here, I got lucky as I discovered some pleasing insects.

Out came the macro lens for some close-up photos of Apis melifera (the western honey bee), Bombus terrestris (buff-tailed bumblebee) along with various fly species that were mainly roosting upon the wild carrot.

These included a Lucilia species (greenbottle) and a very well marked fly displaying black spots upon a pale abdomen; one of the Graphomya genus.

I headed towards the far corner and came across a track that ran parallel to St James’ Way. This wide lane was one I was not familiar with.

I was so pleased I found this as it had much to offer before it led me into Southern Country Park. Even though there was a busy road to my right, hidden by the dense trees and houses to my left, also behind trees, it felt like a rural green lane and offered much that was of interest to me.

Several migrant hawker dragonflies sped around at head height. These often alight on vegetation after about 15 minutes of flight, so I just waited until one landed for a quick snap of a colourful male.

Plenty of greater knapweed in flower along here. This plant attracts a large variety of insects, so I put down my camera bag and just paraded up and down, searching for insects to get some photos of. I didn’t have to wait long.

A splendid hoverfly species, Rhingia rostrata, landed right next to me and was so busy nectaring that it afforded me the privilege of being able to alter the settings on the camera to try to get a sharp and colourful shot. There are two species of Rhingia, with rostrata being less common. Both show extended mouth parts to help them delve deeply into flowers for their food.

Another hoverfly appeared, a more common species: Eristalis pertinax. I encountered quite a few of these, with my best photo of one being taken later in the day whilst it fed upon water mint near the lake at Southern Country Park.

I wandered on, crossing the entrance to St Michael’s Mead before finding another track. Here, a complete surprise as I came across a really impressive stand of goat’s-rue (Galega officinalis).

This plant has been used extensively for several purposes. It is a green manure, a forage crop, a plant attractive to bees and as an ornamental flower. Over the centuries it has been used by herbalists, particularly as an antidiabetic as certain chemicals within the plant can reduce blood sugar levels. Upon further studies, however, certain other, less useful side effects were discovered.

Having spent time here, I was just about to round up my belongings when I noted a damselfly land nearby: a willow emerald.

This insect is a recent addition to the list of British residents. It used to be recorded in small numbers in southern counties from 2004, but by 2009 it had established itself throughout the South East and East Anglia. Another pleasing find along a track I did not know existed.

The final good find along here was a small stand of chicory displaying its superb mauve flowers. There is plenty of this plant to be found in Southern Country Park and I suspect this small stand has come from the population within the park.

I wandered along Moor Hall Lane and took the path towards the lake in Southern Country Park. Always plenty to find here. However, I was becoming aware that I was running low on energy and stamina, so sat down on a bench for my picnic and a rest.

I watched the anglers reel in occasional roaches, whilst also noting insects visiting the numerous plants growing with the reeds and sedges near the banks of the lake.

After lunch, I took time to fire off shots of plants such as water mint. As well as the aforementioned hoverfly species here, I also came across a colourful fly species, Eriothrix rufomaculata, showing its red and black abdomen.

Another plant doing well here is purple loosestrife as well as a profusion of more wild carrot.

More dragonflies overhead, including several red species which, upon closer inspection, transpired to be common darters. These can be separated from the similar ruddy darter as the former show yellow stripes upon the legs whilst the ruddy boasts all-black legs.

Several dragonfly species have a habit of returning to the same roosting spot, which helps with grabbing photos. The common darter is such a species and, after slowly manoeuvring myself into position, I was lucky enough to get a few decent photos.

By now it was 1.15pm. I felt too tired to walk all the way back to Tesco, so I stopped off at the bus stop by The Shearers and, upon checking the timetable, was lucky enough to discover a bus was due within five minutes. Out with the trusty old person’s bus pass and I was soon enjoying a restorative coffee at Costa before Wendy picked me up and took me home, whereupon I fell asleep for over an hour!

A really enjoyable 3.5-mile wander with plenty recorded and photographed. I shall bear this route in mind again for a future article. Maybe my next wander will be from a little further afield, only if I get the clearance to be driving again. I remain optimistic.