Below are aggregated posts from various wildlife blogs created by people within the Forest of Bowland (bowlandwildlife.org.uk accept no responsibility for any content not created directly by bowlandwildlife.org.uk) |
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height top farm 2010-07-29 14:12:00 Post Origin "Height Top Farm Blog" added here on July 29th, 2010
Baby Hedgehog Post Origin "elizabeth mills Blog" added here on July 20th, 2010
fishing lake flower Post Origin "ginny Blog" added here on July 18th, 2010
swallows update Post Origin "ginny Blog" added here on July 18th, 2010
Spotted Flycatchers. Post Origin "Bleasdale Cottages Blog" added here on July 17th, 2010
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Our Forest of Bowland Holiday Cottages These pictures were taken by Gavin Thomas ( RSPB )
just down the lane. The parents were feeding three fledglings." WELL SPOTTED" Gavin.
Stocks Reservoir Post Origin "elizabeth mills Blog" added here on July 17th, 2010
Hogweed, Pink Valerian, Meadowsweet, Blackberries, Knapweed, Thistles, Nettles and Meadow Vetchling all flowering which meant there were loads of insects flying on a warm, breezy overcast day with some sunny spells. Some of the hogweed flowers were just covered in soldier beetles and various flies. Meadow Brown butterflies are really hard to photograph as they drop to the ground to avoid predators (photographers) attention.

Sericomyia silentis
Hedgehogs Post Origin "elizabeth mills Blog" added here on July 15th, 2010
height top farm 2010-07-13 12:55:00 Post Origin "Height Top Farm Blog" added here on July 13th, 2010
Height Top Farm
Taken lots of photographs of the two little owls and just managed to get one of them both.
The smaller of the two is lighter in colour and sitting on the post on the left.
swallows update Post Origin "colin Blog" added here on July 11th, 2010
The swallows nesting in the resource centre are progressing and looking slightly less alien. It is amazing how much they develop in a week. Meanwhile others in one of the older buildings have already fledged. One particular family can usually be seen as a gang of four sitting together on a wire fence or in a tree, occasionally still being fed by a parent.
This year there seems to have been more swallows, swifts and house martins than usual. They are a pleasure to watch in the evenings as they fly low over the ground and in amongst the buildings.
Spotted this damselfly on the edge of the fishing lake. It is probably a relatively common Blue-tailed damselfly Ischnura elegans though other suggestions welcome.
butterflies Post Origin "colin Blog" added here on July 11th, 2010
A selection of recently seen butterflies including this Comma - Polygonia c-album feeding on a bramble near the fishing lake; Small skipper - Thymelicus sylvaestris
feeding on a Shepherd’s purse in the grass verge of one of the meadows; and finally a Speckled wood Pararge aegeria seen in the wood near these dramatic foxgloves.
height top farm 2010-07-09 16:36:00 Post Origin "Height Top Farm Blog" added here on July 9th, 2010
Visit our website
On Sunday we called at Forrest Hills to look at the amazing resource centre. It is a while since we were last there and so it was good to see how thing have progressed. Colin was working away but took time out to show us around. The roof is on, some of the window frames are in and it's generally coming on. There is so much timber work and the shapes are outstanding. We're really looking forward to when it will be finished but know that however long it takes it's definately going to worth the wait.
Being there, reminded me that our vegetable garden is doing very well, although on a small scale. It is our first attempt at growing but we haven't bought any vegetables for weeks and it's lovely to go and decide what to dig up and cook immediately.
height top farm 2010-07-09 16:30:00 Post Origin "Height Top Farm Blog" added here on July 9th, 2010
height top farm 2010-07-09 16:19:00 Post Origin "Height Top Farm Blog" added here on July 9th, 2010
Height Top Farm
A few of the wild and meadow flower seeds have survived the birds and certainly brighten up the stone wall. Next year hopefully we will have a better display.
Sightings from the cottage. Post Origin "Alison Kelsall Blog" added here on July 8th, 2010
29/6/10 Woodpecker on fat ball on bird table in the garden. Curlew, oystercatchers and magpie seen on the farm.
30/6/10 Swifts around cottage and also swallows and red admiral buterflies. Dunnick, chaffinch and sparrows at the bird table. Blackbirds on the lawn.
2/7/10 Magpie at the bird table.
4/7/10 Young pied wagtail on the garden wall. 3 brown hares in the field next to the cottage.
swallows nesting Post Origin "ginny Blog" added here on July 4th, 2010
We realised we were taking too long building the resource centre when a pair of swallows moved in and nested inside the top floor of the building! The nest is beautifully lined, probably with swan feathers from around the lake, though the youngsters themselves are unlikely to win any beautiful baby competitions at the moment. They seem completely oblivious to building work going on around them.
We have also started to play a CD of swift calls (bought from the Swift Conservation Trust) every evening from the resource centre towers. This is intended to attract young swifts, who might then think of moving into the swift boxes in the tower next year when they return.
green manure Post Origin "ginny Blog" added here on July 4th, 2010
England V Australia – Lapwings Post Origin "Bleasdale Cottages Blog" added here on June 30th, 2010
As we arrived home last week from our trip to Australia the beauty of The Bowland Countryside was just stunning. The hedgerows, trees and wildflowers had all burst forth.
Visiting some last years cottage guests, they showed us the Australian Lapwing. We would not have recognised them, no crest on top and no purple/green shimmer in the feathers. What they do have is " bright yellow, dangling ear flaps " !!!
After another successful breeding season our visiting lapwing are now gathering into groups enjoying the wider area before leaving till next year.
Our family of Greylag Geese are still with us, looking in exceptionally fine form. I must say they have been the most attentive and protective parents I've seen in a long time.
TWO LOCALS ENOYING AN AFTERNOON PONY TREKKING Post Origin "Anne Clark Blog" added here on June 29th, 2010
2 DUCKS ENJOYING A WALK Post Origin "Anne Clark Blog" added here on June 29th, 2010
Making Honey at Clough Bottom Post Origin "Vanessa Blog" added here on June 28th, 2010

We now have two bee hives on site (owned by local honey producer, Dave Rayner who runs Ribblesdale Honey, based at Bashall Barn, Clitheroe). Not only do we hope that they produce lots of honey for Dave and the local community (last year’s wet weather seriously affected production), we hope too that they will bee buzzy pollinating fruit and crops and encourage bio-diversity which other local growers will benefit from.
Harry said “we were delighted when Dave asked if we could have some of his hives on our farm – it compliments our organic philosophy and our green credentials perfectly.”



















