Author Archives: Admin

Hastings Country Park ladybird conundrum

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I’m very grateful to taughtus for identifying the ladybird that Stephen spotted yesterday when we were at Stock Pond which we called a “no spot ladybird”. It is in fact a Harlequin which has over 100 colour/pattern variants and my identification chart shows only 4. Hmmm, didn’t stand much of a chance did I?

The Harlequin Ladybird is a non-native species that originates from Asia. It was introduced into the USA and mainland Europe as a biological agent and made it’s way across the channel in 2004. It is a large and voracious species and is predicted to spread to most parts of the UK (source, FSC).

No_spot_2

Yesterday at Stock Pond “It’s an ex Parrot!”

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The Parrot’s Feather now removed, the bulk of it anyway, it is bound to come back and some of the overhanging willow removed, the pond now looks much bigger.

Hopefully we will return, probably next year, to remove more overhanging branches further back.

Half way

Half way

 

After

After

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Visitor Centre update

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This statement from Murray Davidson at Hastings Borough Council regarding the new VC has been forwarded to me by the VC staff for posting:-

‘The tenders for the new visitor centre at Hastings Country Park were higher than expected, and higher than we had budgeted for. We are now looking at different options, and these will be presented to the project board overseeing the work in October. Hastings Borough Council and its partner Groundwork Trust are committed to building a quality new visitor centre that the fantastic landscape at Hastings Country Park deserves.’

Bon Jovi, Sycamore and Ragwort

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Sunday 2nd August rewarded us with very nice weather and I decided to walk to the farm. Arriving almost on the dot of 10 o’clock I found the group all loaded up and ready to go. Julie took the Landrover round to Warren Cottage whilst we walked up to Barley Lane and onto the footpath known to us as “Bon Jovi” (a long story) where we started to cut back vegetation that was obstructing the path. We worked our way along and finished in time for a tea/coffee break. Julie did us proud with a great selection of biscuits.
Now refreshed we went down Brakey Bank to deal with some broken off sycamore branches and cut back the vegetation around a memorial bench. This took us through to lunchtime.
We finished the day by pulling Ragwort on the southern edge of the Quarry to stop it seeding into where the Exmoor ponies are.
It was good to welcome a new volunteer today and look forward to seeing him again.

Butterflies today at Hastings Country Park

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A walk round The Firehills and Warren Glen today turned out to be a good day for seeing butterflies. Peacock, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, Large and Small White, Gatekeeper, Comma, Green-veined White, Small Copper, Small/Essex Skipper and a Country Park first for me White Admiral. Gatekeepers are everywhere, a really good year for them and a good day for me.Small_cop                                                            Small copper

Green Flag Award

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Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve has yet again won the Green Flag award. The new flag was raised on Tuesday 28th July.

From HBC Marketing and Communications:-

For info : The Green Flag Award story was published on the Hastings Observer website soon after issuing the release on Friday.

http://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/news/local/three-hastings-and-st-leonards-parks-receive-prestigious-prize-1-6868436

http://arrowfm.co.uk/news/hastings-parks-among-countrys-best/

New website launch

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Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve Conservation Group

First post for the site, soon to be joined by many more!

This Sunday 2nd August, please phone Julie first to make sure that we are still going ahead as many regular volunteers are unable to make it this time. Thanks.