Andy Daw is a lifelong naturalist and an RSPB site manager with responsibility for several reserves in the south of England, including the 181 ha (448 acre) Broadwater Warren reserve on the edge of Groombridge. Wild Groombridge’s Phil Sumner talked to him about the history and development of the reserve. PS: How did the BroadwaterContinue reading “RSPB Broadwater Warren”
Author Archives: wildgroombridge
Big Butterfly Count
“Butterflies are a beautiful and important part of the UK’s wildlife” Butterfly Conservation Butterflies are indicator species, highlighting the health of the environment and playing a crucial role in the food chain and plant pollination. The UK has 57 species plus two regular migrants ( Painted Lady and Clouded Yellow). Sadly many species have sufferedContinue reading “Big Butterfly Count”
Free nature spotting sheet for Groombridge
Hi everyone, and we hope you’re looking forward to the summer holidays! It’s the perfect chance to get out in nature and enjoy our beautiful village. Don’t worry if you don’t feel you know much about nature – you probably know a lot more than you realise. And we’re here to help. To get youContinue reading “Free nature spotting sheet for Groombridge”
Spotted Flycatchers
We were delighted this week to come across a pair of spotted flycatchers nesting in Groombridge . Initially picked up on the Merlin birdsong recognition app, these migrants from tropical Africa are one of the last summer visitors to arrive in late May or June. They may only stay a couple of months, just longContinue reading “Spotted Flycatchers”
Bird song – free course
If you’re loving all the birdsong around us at the moment but wonder what you’re hearing, here’s a free beginner’s course from Sussex Wildlife Trust. We’ve heard great things about it so let us know what you think. (It’s by email so you can learn at home in your own time.) This is peak birdsongContinue reading “Bird song – free course”
More summer visitors
We’ve been watching the newly arrived summer migrants, chiffchaffs, willow warblers, blackcaps and whitethroats who have joined the swallows, house martins and swifts in Groombridge. They should be with us until the autumn although as a result of climate change increasing numbers are spending the winter in the UK. This is the time of yearContinue reading “More summer visitors”
Swifts are endangered worldwide
Swifts arrive in Groombridge in April or May after a 3000+ mile flight from Africa – we’ve seen and heard a few but not in the numbers we used to take for granted. They are larger than swallows or house martins with long scythe shaped wings and a short forked tail. They appear black againstContinue reading “Swifts are endangered worldwide”
No Mow May
What can you hear outside as you read this? I’ve just stopped to listen. A blackbird’s singing, and a song thrush, a robin and a mass of tits. As I step out of the back door, bees and flies are buzzing everywhere. A hoverfly hangs in the air right in front of me, and aContinue reading “No Mow May”
Sewage in the Grom
We’ve been deeply shocked to discover that the Grom is full of raw sewage. It’s not a little bit of sewage, either – even when there hasn’t been heavy rain, Southern Water is pumping sewage for hours and hours. How do we know? The Upper Medway Sewage Action Group have been testing the Medway andContinue reading “Sewage in the Grom”
Red Kites and Buzzards over Groombridge
Buzzards have become a more common sight in Groombridge in recent years soaring and circling high on the thermals. In many parts of the country you can frequently see another graceful bird of prey – the Red Kite. It was saved from national extinction by a long running dedicated protection effort. These agile raptors areContinue reading “Red Kites and Buzzards over Groombridge”
Wild Groombridge 