Flooding at stopham

This last November has been recorded as the wettest month since records began in 1766. The severe flooding and storm damage has caused destruction on a large scale. In the countryside many trees have lost their branches or worse been smashed to the ground. With the continued rains the ground remains waterlogged. If we see a lot more of this weather in the future the ecology of the Downs will gradually change to accommodate the warmer wetter climate.

Winter sunset between Rogate and Petersfield

The shortest day, or Winter Solstice, is on the 21st December and from then on the hours of daylight will gradually increase. Colder weather in December brings many frosts and even snow. Animals that have not hibernated, such as the fox, have grown thicker coats to ward

The Pheasant...not always a part of the landscape

off the winter chills. These coats have many white hairs in them to help the fox blend into the Winter landscape and hunt more efficiently.
One of the commonest birds on the downs at the moment is the Pheasant (Phasianus colchius). They were not always part of our landscape, having been introduced during the late16th century from Asia to be reared, hunted and served on a plate as game, this tradition is popular to this day and continues in the countryside.
Also, look out for some of our winter migrant birds like the Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) and the Redwing (Turdus iliacus). They have flown south from Scandinavia to find feeding grounds away from the more severe onditions further north. Large flocks of these birds can be seen together during the winter months. They are searching for worms, spiders, snails, small insects, and berries from trees like hawthorn and holly.

Holly Berries in abundance

This year we have a larger number of Holly berries than normal, traditional folklore would have us believe that this indicates a harsh, cold winter ahead….We'll see!! Holly berries have been hung around houses at this time of year for many centuries because they are believed to ward off evil spirits. Today they are hung as a colourful decoration to adorn our doorways.
The bark of the holly (Ilex aquifolium) is full of minerals and natural metals, which are an attractive food to animals. The plant protects itself with its prickly leaves, but if branches are cut back exposing the tree's trunk animals will graze on the nutrient rich bark. Humans too have had a use for those metals, in the past holly trees were planted close to houses because they were more likely to be hit by lightning, making them a natural lightning conductor.

Mistletoe berries.

Mistletoe (Viscum album) is another plant associated with this time of the year. This plant spreads where there is a concentration of trees with soft bark and where its sticky berries can be deposited by feeding birds. It derives its name "Mistletoe" because the Mistle Thrush, and many other birds, have problems removing the sticky juice of the berries from their 'toes'.
Mistletoe is parasitic on host trees like apple, lime, hawthorn and very occasionally oak and lives off the nutrients found in them. According to folklore Mistletoe is our most sacred plant, for many thousands of years Druids associated it with fertility. At this time of the year sprigs of mistletoe can be hung above doors so lovers may kiss each other below it in the hope of finding eternal love.

I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and see you in January.