Page 10 Rural Life Books to go
r/tfe: Book of British Birds PubZisher: Reader’s Digest
Price: £16.99 WHETHER you’re a twitcher or just like
■ to look out of the window at the birds in the , garden, you can’t help but be impressed with this brick of a book. . It is an e-xhaustive, but certainly not ex
ifeiSyTi
hausting, look at ornithological life in Britain, and I for one think it is one of the best tomes on the topic I have seen. Birding has thankfully lost much of its
‘anorak’ image in recent years thanks to ex cellent nature watch programmes on TV and the marvellous work of the RSPB. Like many people who enjoy country
walking in these parts, particularly around Bowland and the whole coastal country from Preesall and northwards to Amside and beyond, I often spot feathered friends which I can’t identify. That’s were this books comes in - and
jolly helpful it is too. It is an encyclopaedic guide to identifica tion, lifestyle and habitat of all 217 bird
ANTHONY COPPIN reviews some of the latest publications of interest on a countiy theme.
species commonly found in Britain, and a further 117 rarer species whose irregular
visits add excitement to the birdwatcher’s
year. The book contains more than 850 illus
trations to help identify each bird, with maps showing where to see them and de tails or rare bird sightings. Towards the end there are several helpful
chapters, including one on attracting birds to your garden. One section devoted to the North West
of England makes particular emphasis about the Wyre salt marshes off Preesall and Stalmine and Pilling and Cockerham marshes - habitats for many interesting species.
- I
Title: Reader’s Digest Guide to Britain’s Wildlife, Plants and Flowers Publisher. Reader’s Digest Price: £15.99 .
AS much asiliketo think of
myself as a countiy-. man I can not really kid myself.
My childhood home of Poulton-le-Fylde
had lost much of its rural flavour when I was growing up, so it was only the move to Garstang in the early 1980s that brought me into closer contact with the countryside. ! These years later it is still a joy to wander round the patchwork of rural rights o f way and marvel at the wildlife, flora and fauna ' litei
' on our doorstep But how do)you tell the difference
between a rabbit and a hare, which trees are which, howdoyouidentify birds and ■ ■
ever mcreasing the £15.99 tag c paperback m^es it a bargain. It is ideal for any age o f enthusiast of wildlife, plants and flowers, andwouldbea great addi tion to any countiy
uld I
ptersorisli- bra
raiy.
• RURAL LIFE has several copies of both these books to give away as prizes. To win one answer the following question: Name a riverside Wyre vil lage which has salt- marshes. Sendyour answer along with
your name, address and daytime contact telephone number to Rural Life, c/o Garstang Courier, 7 Pringle Court, Garstang, PR3ILN, by March 27.
• Next month we will be reviewing Helen M Stevens’ ‘Embroiderer’s Countryside’ (David and Charles) and ‘Pendle, land scape of history and home’ by Alastair Lee. There will also be an opportunity to win copies of the books.
Winners.
.WINNERS of our last book contests were: ■ ,• Arthur.Ransome’s Lake District by Jon Sparks: David Dickins(TnofGabus,MrsT:i
■ i E i M « 6 ^ s T a ^ g -P r e s to r i . - -P R 3 ^ g i g ^ ^ g E ^
Parkinson of Longridge, Edward Garner- ' - sonofCiithcroe.
• The Making of Liincaster: People,- • Places and War 1789 to 1815 by Geoi-ge ^ ’ Howson: Mrs M Down of GabUs, Mr D >
Atkinson of Garstang, MissS Ormerod o f . GarstangMarinaandMrFBorrickof ' Lancaster.
• Wise Words and Gountry WaysWt.' - Gooks by Ruth Binney: Dorothy Jackson’ - ; of Gatfortli, Ghristine W'areing of Ghipping, Nora Ko>-Smithoflngleton.'
ABOVE: Bowland Volunteer group hedgelaying woikshop in Calder Vale. Geoff WhiUqy, John Watson, Taija Wilson, Brian Jones and Bob Chaplin help with conservation.
t l
LEFT: Bob Chaplin gets to grips with a hedge.
animals you’ve not seen before? This book is clearly one of the best in its
field. Almost every animal, bird, insect and plant species in this countiy is identified and illustrated.
It mi^t be a bit heavyH totakeonacoun- tiy wal^ but as soon as I I get home from my
March,2009
^n^oing sc^^fcrtiiise^nd limeio generates H 'l^ ic IoO T e l^ eo p ^ ta tio n lin d lto h ^
£HciicopteEdrops h^e madelight^ork^
ISSyl^fanffatpuiKppfBnag^-UiS^itfiin^ worSr®Bowiffitfl4ixi^ofG'utiiandin^
uv-VMii. 1. V I uuj
ibtfre pSS'^^wMcfiis Irading'ti^lUie^'dual'd^ [cime of the nationauy important biodiversira : pnontyjiabitat^o^la Aketl)og?^^^g^^^ ^Blmiketh^ b'k^^fo^BowlandjFells isral^ ’Of tiie^UK'S rarest habitatsTsupportingmany.^ .species mcludmg sphagnum moss, bog rosc^ ima^and cranbeny/.^en healthy^ pcat isji fnch'inStoi^l^Bbn^niaidDg^^^
j^important carbon store,^butonce,theycgcta-M^ stion'covcr IS lost and pcatis expose tathe air,^ ^itbKomK^fficrabl^rclrasin^iar .vegeStion cxacer^
»®?ffd^fi6ffil caHibff isTiffierdi^lved or ^ithia^MV^jfficlM injvate^j® b^ResTdnnVth'Se habitafs byreVming^ f Sion and regeneratingyegctation not onlj^ SbnngaDout long term improvement in th e ^ gipeatlands and water courses which are horned
@to rareplants and wildlifeJbutynll also ^^rease,;thecapaaw. of the uplands to mitigatel? |c I im a te j :h a p g e ^ im p a c te ^ ^ p ^ P ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ' ^XoIfacillffite’fSover^
fthe.degradM ^ land,'141:hecta‘
Sarea of,bare peaDhas been fenced to remove ^grazing pressure and encouragejvegcto^^^
Living life on the heage
• A GROUP of / \ countrylovers refuse to
JL JkJiedge their bets when it comes to restoring, renewing and laying new hedges in Bow land and district. Their paihstakirig work has "
>t^r
seen hundreds of yards of hedges planted and patched. The volunteer group, run by
the county council’s Country side Service, regularly visits land in public and private ownership to help with hedge laying. Geoff Whitley of Scorton,
countryside craftsman and hedgelaying expert is a regular tutor with the volunteers, who are often joined by members of the public interested in lear- ing the ancient outdoor skill. Geoff, who is well known in
the area for his wood carvings, explained that hedges must be laid in the winter months, when the plants in the hedgerow are dormant. He also explained that they
must be laid ‘uphill’, as stems laid parallel to the ground or pointing groundwards will die - as their sap will not travel up wards. Each stem to be laid is cut
through to about 2/3rds of its width, close to the ground. Then an axe is used to cut away and thin the stem above the cut to the point at which the stem can be bent over without breaking. One of the most difficult
and time consuming parts of hedgelaying is untangling one
By ANTHONY COPPIN
plant fi-om the next one in the hedge. This must be done as eachstemhastobecutand laid individually. Stakes are used to contain
and protect the hedge while it is growing. If there is insuffi cient material to make a stock- proof hedge then new plants are planted in the gaps. These must be protected for
several years until the stems are big enough to be laid themselves. Eventually when all the new material is laid, the hedge will only need trimming from time to time before being laid again, maybe in about 40 years time. One of the most recent
hedgelaying sessions was at Higher Landskill, near Oaken- dough. The hedges in the Higher
Landskill area had, over time, become overgrown, “gappy” and not stock proof. But its not just the hedges
alone the group’s talented members are helping. Tliey never think of the
hedges as simply boundaries or markers - the hedges are created with a view to tlieir po tential to help wildlife as well. Tarja Wilson, the county
council countryside officer for North and West Bowland says the open rushy pastures of Higher Landskill Farm are ideal habitat for waders, in cluding snipe, curlews and la p - . wings to breed successfully.
“The chicks have plenty of
food to forage for in the damp/muddy areas plus the farmer is planning to re-pro file some of the ditches. “Predators such as crows
and magpies like to perch in trees that overlook the pasture so the combination of hedge laying and removal of the beech trees give the eggs and chicks a better chance of sur vival.” Hedges and dry stone walls
are ‘traditional field bound aries’ in this part of the coun try and they are being encour aged by the Forest of Bowland 4o-ea of Outstanding Natural Beauty and by the stewardship payments to farmers on select ed farms. The Forest of Bowland
AONB believes in education and training in relevant coun tryside skills and this hedge laying training enables local people to appreciate and ex perience this old skill and to make a difference to their own environment. Spokesman Mr Martin
Charlcsworth said: “More hedges are being planted than at any time in the recent past and there is an increasing de mand for skilled hedgelayers.” • For further information about the work of the hedge- layers and other activities in which you can get involved in Bowland, ring Mr Charlesworth on - 07989258675.
•
^ ) incIu^hgllTe hims^fiecta^^
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