Fordingbridge Conservation Group http://www.fordingbridgeconservation.uk/ 2026-04-17T04:39:08+00:00 http://www.fordingbridgeconservation.uk/ http://www.fordingbridgeconservation.uk/_media/wiki/logo.png text/html 2026-02-23T00:09:53+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.fordingbridgeconservation.uk/news/2025/0215_shrimps?rev=1771805393&do=diff 15 Feb 2025: Shrimps at Bishop's Pond Not actually in the pond, but under logs, these are not the familiar seawater shrimps, or even the freshwater “shrimp” (Gammarus). Like the Gammarus and the sandhoppers (Talitrus) found in heaps of rotting seaweed on beaches, these are amphipod crustaceans. The ones we found today might be text/html 2026-02-23T00:09:27+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.fordingbridgeconservation.uk/news/2025/0407_spring-has-sprung?rev=1771805367&do=diff 07 Apr 2025: Spring has sprung (a leak) The Pond is empty! With the recent long period of dry sunny weather, nearly all the open water in the Pond has disappeared, even earlier than in previous years. This frog seems to be hiding in the water-cress, waiting for rain. We are hoping that, as in previous years, lots of pond creatures have found refuge in our deep tubs dotted around the pond area. These tubs are marked with sticks, some of which are visible in the photo above. text/html 2026-02-23T00:08:43+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.fordingbridgeconservation.uk/news/2025/0427_more-bugs?rev=1771805323&do=diff [Tawny Owl] 27 Apr 2025: More bugs and an owl While pulling sycamore seedlings at the working session this afternoon, we heard blackbirds creating a commotion, then we spotted the Tawny Owl. It was trying to have a good day's sleep, but the blackbirds were trying to keep it awake and scare it away! text/html 2026-02-23T00:08:17+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.fordingbridgeconservation.uk/news/2025/0719_tiger-moths?rev=1771805297&do=diff 19 Jul 2025: Tiger Moths! Euplagia quadripunctariaPhragmatobia fuliginosa A brightly coloured moth flew past one of our members, showing dark wings with cream markings on the forewings and red on the hindwings, so we suspected it to be a Scarlet Tiger moth ( text/html 2026-02-23T00:07:56+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.fordingbridgeconservation.uk/news/2025/0824_new-tree-discovered?rev=1771805276&do=diff 24 Aug 2025: New tree discovered Aesculus hippocastanum During today's working session we decided to carry out a partial inventory of the larger and smaller trees, with a view to planning which ones to look after and which ones need to be removed to make more room for the others. We need to allow light to penetrate to the woodland floor to allow the smaller plants such as the bluebells and other flowers to flourish, not to mention encouraging biodiversity generally. text/html 2026-04-03T19:48:40+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.fordingbridgeconservation.uk/news/2025/0901_we-have-elms?rev=1775245720&do=diff 1 Sep 2025: We have elms! We finished our tree inventory at today's meeting, and were able to add another tree to our list. We are now fairly sure that the the scrubby stuff which we had previously dismissed as a form of birch is actually elm (Ulmus text/html 2026-02-23T00:04:29+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) http://www.fordingbridgeconservation.uk/news/2025/1103_fungi-and-not-fungi?rev=1771805069&do=diff 3 Nov 2025: Fungi and not fungi Fuligo septicaArmillaria mellea It's been an interesting autumn for fungi around the Pond, with several new species recorded. One of these is Honey Fungus (Armillaria mellea agg.) which we've spotted on dead tree stumps along the Normandy Way side of the area. This identification has not been confirmed, but we will discuss it with the Town Council in case any action is required to protect healthy trees.