Wombourne is shortly to stage its first Spring Watch Festival on Saturday 17th April, between 10 am and 3 pm.
Wombourne Library have very kindly extended an invitation to the Friends of Wom Brook to organise this first ever event. The overarching theme will focus upon the flora and fauna associated with the Wom Brook habitat, and the village of Wombourne.
The following wildlife and associated conservation groups have been invited to exhibit at this forthcoming event:
Staffordshire Wildlife Trust
Butterfly Conservation
RSPB
South Staffordshire Naturalists’ Society
Staffordshire Bat Group
Hedgehog Rescue
OPAL West Midlands (Bees)
Amphibians
Further information will be provided nearer the event relating to confirmed exhibitors.
The mostly elusive water vole colony have recently become more visible. The above representative from the Wom Brook colony was observed from the footpath yesterday. Unlike on previous occasions, this specimen paused on the bank for several minutes, before plunging into the cold water of the Brook, submerging and disappearing from view.
For three days in succession, solitary water voles have been seen feeding on plants or swimming in the Brook.
For safety reasons, trees along the Wom Brook require pruning at certain times. In the above example, mentioned in a previous Wom Brook Blog entry (please click on the link below, entitled ‘January 2010 Tree Management) , drivers approaching the junction along the eastern end of Common Road, adjoining Gravel Hill were unable to clearly see vehicles descending from Gravel Hill towards the junction during the spring and summer months, due to the dense leaf foliage on the lower branches of this oak tree obscuring their view.
Tree surgeons contracted by South Staffordshire Council have removed some of those lower branches, which should increase visibility for drivers, and thus reduce the risk of accidents.
January 2010 Tree Management
These spring flowers were photographed near the picnic benches, along the Wom Brook Walk.
In previous years, far more crocuses would have been observed at this time of year, but like the daffodils, their appearance this year is later due to the colder temperatures endured here in Wombourne over the last couple of months.
Below is a section of the Wom Brook Walk which passes close to the Giggetty.
This photograph shows the importance of regular management of the trees and bushes that border the Wom Brook Walk. The Brook (not shown in this photograph) lies to the left of picture, and the view is looking west, downstream towards the Giggetty footbridge.
Due to the encroaching bush on the right of the footpath, walkers have gradually worn a path to the left of the original track, in order to avoid the rampant growth.
South Staffordshire Council, in consultation with the Friends of Wom Brook have identified several sections of footpath requiring remedial work such as the example photographed above. Within the next few months, such sections of the Walk will be restored.
