Kent Wildlife Trust Volunteer
Margery Thomas explores the beautiful and unique flora and fauna you can look forward to spotting on the Hothfield Heathlands in September.
Margery Thomas explores the seasonal changes set to appear at Hothfield Heathlands in April, hopefully including the return of volunteering.
Kent Wildlife Trust volunteer, Margery Thomas, describes the snowy sights of the past month at Hothfield Heathlands and what we can look forward to in March.
We have had the driest spring since 1956, with river and stream flow already well below average for the time of year, a worry for everyone. Area Manager Ian Rickards reports that “this crazy weather has been beneficial for some insects, but the vegetation is already struggling, which will have a knock-on effect other insects later in the year. Water levels are dropping dramatically, with ponds and water bodies drying out very quickly.” The livestock have water troughs but the thin layer of peat in the bogs can dry out easily and be eroded by wind when exposed as plants adapted to damp conditions wither. The successive broods of nestling birds mostly eat insects and larvae, which provide moisture as well as protein, so they are also at risk.
