January skies

This month is named after Janus, the two-headed Roman god of vigil, looking at the past and into the future. The New Year has come in with a cold and grey start with some rain for us here in the South. In contrast, Scotland, Wales and northern England they have seen a lot of snow over the festive season. Numerous birds can be heard singing whilst foraging for food like the Robin, Wren, Blackbird and Pheasant. A few mammals have hibernated or moved indoors to keep out of the cold. Mammals and birds that venture out during this cold period have been helped by the farmers and other hedge owners that have left their hedgerows with berries still on them. If they are cut back towards the end of this month when most berries have already disappeared then it will not do that much harm. It will then help thicken up the hedge in time for the new growth and bird-nesting season.This is a good month to sort out those gaps in the hedge and fix the fencing. However, it is always good to hold in mind to leave the odd old tree with ivy on along the fence line. They make wonderful niches for many species of insect and animal and by leaving the ivy flower heads this provides a source of nectar. Also, to improve the health of the hedge it is good policy to only cut the hedge every second year where possible.

Although the days will slowly become lighter from now on until mid-summer the sun at this time is mostly low in the sky and so will only allow some areas to thaw out and this can cause problems not only for wildlife but for the farmers too. They have to ensure that the livestock in the fields have enough water and nutrients. So farmers have to go out in all weathers to break ice from the water troughs and provide food and saltlicks. I have noticed this winter that numerous plants are in flower that are not usually in flower at this time of year like the summer to autumn-flowering Hogweed or the spring-flowering Primrose. It seems the warmer climate has confused a number of plants. However, with this very cold spell many of these plants in flower will die off but hopefully will re-flower in their correct season. I have seen my first Snowdrops just breaking through the ground about to flower, which we associate with January.

Silver Birch (Betula pendula)

The white stemmed birch has long been associated with the start of a New Year. Although before the Romans came here, the New Year started at the end of November. The birch was once used as a religious tool and used in the form of “birching”. This meant that birch stems were used to beat the bad in someone out and to ensure the soul was pure for the New Year. The white of the bark symbolised the pureness of the soul at the beginning of the year and the black weal’s in the bark symbolised the beatings given to drive the bad out from the soul. The Silver Birch (Betula pendula) is the commonest of this country’s Birch species and is the one with the whiter bark. The twigs of the birch were also cut and gathered and used for making brooms which again symbolised the sweeping away of the old and cleaning for a new beginning.

Badgers sleeping in the dark (Meles meles)

Underground at this time of year Badger cubs are being born. Although the badger (Meles meles) appears less active at this time of year because of the cold and sows giving birth, boars will wander about in search of food. Because of the lack of foliage at this time of year, tracks and traces of badger are easier to find. For instance, areas of disturbed ground can be found where they have been, uprooting roots and looking for grubs and insects that have taken cover. In addition, you may be lucky to see a well-worn track that goes under a barbed wire fence, it is here you may find badger hairs that have been caught as the badger was passing under the wire. Another thing you may see are traces of where badgers have collected dried bedding when they need a change and dead bracken is often used.

Bracken (Pteridum aquilinum)

Bracken (Pteridum aquilinum) has been used for bedding for hundreds of years, but now with the fear of it being carthogenic it has fallen out of favour with us but wild mammals continue to use it.

One of the mammals that has gone to sleep at this time of year is the Dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius). It derives its name from its habit of hibernating or being dormant at this time of year. Apart from having more rounded facial features than normal mice, this hibernating habit separates it from the other species of mice we have in this country. Most mice build up large larders filled with berries, nuts and seeds and stay awake throughout the winter.

Dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius)

The Dormouse on the other-hand only has small reserves close to its cosy nest that it builds either at ground level or just below. Here it enters a coma-like sleep during the winter months perhaps to wake temporarily to snack on the odd seed or two then it will return to its slumber. There are problems with this method of survival in that the Dormouse can remain asleep even when the nest is disturbed and this makes this species very vulnerable. It has another serious downfall in that it can be heard snoring loudly enough for a hungry fox to seek it out and eat it whilst it is still asleep.

Old Man’s Beard (Clematis vitalba)

One plant that is adorning the hedgerows and lanes this month is the Old Man’s Beard (Clematis vitalba). It acquired its name from the long feathery plumed seed heads that on mass give the appearance of long white beards. It also has the other name of “Traveller’s Joy” this is because it can be found along many track edges where travellers use and at this time of year and it looks pretty. In the past the leaves were collected by children and rolled into cigarettes and acquired the name of “boy’s bacca”. It is not to be recommended because beggars during the Middle Ages used it to induce instant ulcers to give the appearance that they had horrible diseases, gain more sympathy, and receive money or food from others.

Next month, February, I will tell you about some other plants, birds and mammals to look out for.