Well, it's been nearly two and a half years since plans were put in and still no decision - perhaps the council are hoping we're going to forget about it and no cause any more fuss....hmmm.
It's been a cold winter so far, and the field has been providing food for hundreds of viisting birds. There was a flock of redwings here last week - migrants from Greenland, along with the usual types of gulls and crows.
The hedge has been alive with the resident sparrows plus starlings and robins - the hawthorn berries are now all gone, but the birds forage all day in the undergrowth.
A male and female blackbird have taken up residence in the large hawthorn. They may be the same pair that nested last year - but I'm not sure if they are that territorial as a species. We did not see any chicks last year - hopefully they will be more succesful this time around.
My observations demonstrate how important this site is for birds - if displaced there is no other area nearby that would give the same amount of feeding opportunity for the large birds and food and protection for the smaller species. I hope that this year brings good news, and all the residents here can be secure in the preservation of our locality.
