Your seasonal guide to the year
Harmony Woods is part of the Jubilee Woods complex found on Augusta Park. The project to create a new community woodland was started in 2012 by Andover Trees United. The ‘woodland’ has been planted using mainly deciduous native trees by school children and other community volunteers. The plan for the woodland is to have woodland…
The year, as we all know, is divided into four seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. With Spring starting on 21st March, Summer on 21st June, Autumn on 21st September, and Winter on December 21st. (These dates are not to be confused with the meteorological dates for the seasons which are moved to the beginning…
Last spring, like most of us during the lockdown, I did a lot of exploring in my local area. While wandering through the woodlands and coppices I had discovered on the Dorset/Wiltshire border, I came across loads of wild garlic (Allium ursinum) growing on the forest floors. That was when I first decided to pick…
There is a lot of outrage over hedge cutting. This gives me so much hope, as it shows a level of emotional investment in these wonderful habitats. Often, this frustration is justified, but sometimes it’s a little misplaced. Let’s have a closer look…….. Is it natural to cut a hedge? I often hear that it…
Want to try to write something? Passionate, or got something to say? This might be the place for you. Read on. We are looking for people that would like an opportunity to write for this site. Anything from regular features to irregular features, one-off articles, or a sub-section of this site. Any subject you like…
Fly Agaric (Amanita Muscaria) is regarded as the archetypal toadstool: with a red (often white spotted) cap and white gill is often used as a cartoon representation of fungi. It looks as though it should be deadly poisonous and will it will give you a severe and violent upset stomach if eaten raw, fatalities are…
Formerly used for Gravel extraction, now important for many rare and declining species of wilslife. Andover is fortunate to have Rooksbury Mill Nature Reserve, nestled between the A303 and Watermills Park. The site started life as part of the Rooksbury Estate. In 1969 it was used for gravel extraction, before being filled, converted to a…
About connecting with the ebb and flow of nature through gardening. This is an article that has previously been published by Psychologies – so I’m going to be lazy and just provide a link. https://www.psychologies.co.uk/mindfulness-gardening
Recording first, and what platforms to use. When creating a new nature reserve either on a large scale, or just creating a wild area in your garden, or improving a wild area, it is best NOT just to get stuck straight in! To truly know if your conservation project is working, or not, you need…
Many Andover residents know of Ladies Walk it’s a stunning area with views right across town. The walk was planted with an avenue of trees in 1863 to commemorate the wedding of The Prince of Wales to Princess Alexander. The trees are very mature and some are rotting providing habitats for invertebrates, fungi and bats,…