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Listen out for… woodpeckers Notoriously difficult to spot but the unmistakeable
sound of drumming is at its most intense from January to April. It’s likely to be a great spotted Woodpecker marking out his territory or looking for a mate.
Look out for….frogs and toads You may have already spotted frogs and toads venturing out after hibernation back to their favoured breeding ponds. Frogspawn appears in February or March in ponds and slow-moving streams and then their spectacular lifecycle begins. But how do you tell the difference between frogs and toads? Toads generally have rougher, wartier skin than frogs and they also crawl rather than hop! Toads lay eggs in a recognisable string whereas frogspawn is always laid in clumps.
Foraging Tips With new shoots the foraging season begins in earnest. Look out for…
Alexanders – these tall, vibrant green early bloomers are popping up in hedgerows already. Commonly known as horse parsley every part of this plant is edible. It has a distinct smell of celery.
Wild garlic is the unmissable and popular plant with its pungent smell and proliferous leaves. It’s known by many names including devil’s posy, stinking Jenny, snakes’ food and onion stinkers. Both the leaves and their pretty white flowers are usable in the kitchen but keep away from the roots. Take a look at Manna from Devon’s website for some tasty recipes.
Gorse bushes are a familiar sight here in Devon and their unmissable bright yellow blossom with a delicate coconut scent can be picked to make infusions, syrups and spirits.
For foraging courses check
sharphamtrust.org
Tap for sap! Apparently March is the time for tapping trees and collecting sap. If you’re feeling adventurous find a silver birch tree, drill and hope to find some wild sugar.
Online events 15 March 7 – 8pm
TALES OF THE DART ESTUARY Join local historian John Risdon sharing his knowledge and fascinating tales of living and working on the Dart estuary. Free but booking essential.
Southdevonaonb.org.uk
25 March 7 – 8pm SOUTH DEVON ESTUARIES Explore some of our local estuaries’ geography and ecology with Nigel Mortimer, South Devon AONB Estuaries Officer. Find out what makes them so special, what are the threats and how and why we really ought to care. Free but booking essential.
Southdevonaonb.org.uk
19 April – 8pm A SEASONAL GUIDE TO BIRD WATCHING IN SOUTH DEVON AONB Join Adam from the South Devon AONB team for a seasonal bird talk. Find out about migration, the journeys they have taken to get here from far off places and how they are getting ready for the busiest time of the bird year. Listen in for Adam’s top tips plus advice on equipment you might use. Free but booking essential
Southdevonaonb.org.uk
2 May
INTERNATIONAL DAWN CHORUS DAY If you’re an early riser embrace the dawn chorus and enjoy this global celebration of nature’s symphony. Join in from your own garden, balcony or back door!
Check
Wildlifetrusts.org for more info
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