Nature Notes

The main physical feature of Scruton is the river Swale which essentially forms the eastern boundary of the parish. It is a fast-flowing river which has created spectacular meanders and is, on a geological time scale, rapidly changing its course.

Following a forty-year long upward trend, 2020 may have been the warmest year on record in the UK. The impact on nature is incremental and slow changes are not very obvious.

This Autumn is one of the warmest on record with no frost of any note as yet. Consequently, Summer flowers are still in bloom.

When I left school, farming was simple. Produce food for people to eat, as much as possible to feed the nation. The more we farmers produced the better off we were financially. By the time of the Ethiopian famine, I thought that we could help feed the world.

We remembered a village event held on the playing fields, when people dancing in the rain caused worms to emerge.  You may also have seen gulls ‘paddling’ their feet to lure worms to the surface.

With dusk falling earlier, now is a good time to see tawny owls sitting at high points in the village as they contest for winter territories by hooting. There are regular sightings of a barn owl sitting on posts between Fence Dyke Lane and The Grange.

Summer came to a sudden stop on Bank Holiday weekend with strong northerly winds significantly reducing the air temperature. Despite this we still have a handful of nesting house martins and a pair of swallows.

At this time of year, with many flowers in full bloom, butterflies are evident, especially brimstone, peacock, red admiral and small tortoiseshell. Occasionally we have a huge influx of painted ladies from Africa.

So far June has been anything but ‘flaming’ with strong north and easterly winds bringing cool, damp weather from the North Sea. Despite this the rooks have fledged and peace has returned to those who live near the Green! We have a good number of house martins nesting in the village, but only a few…

Storm Arthur has brought spring to an abrupt end, wrecking blossom trees and gardens and scorching Mary & Rory Clarke’s apple tree!  On a brighter note, Audrey & Gordon McQuillen have had a song thrush nest in their garden and have watched the fledglings being fed snails and slugs.