Fens at Risk

This weekend the RPS Contemporary Group are running 2 days on the Fens at Risk and yesterday afternoon we were asked to take images to illustrate this. Here my attempt to convey the gradual takeover of the land by the water as sea levels rise from global warming. It starts with some areas having higher water table than the norm for the time of year (as at the moment). Some vegetation is underwater but generally the water adds to the visual impact of the scenery. As the water gets deeper more of the vegetation is engulfed and the vegetation dies and rots.

A couple of extra Fenland scenes not part of story board!

Macro Insects from Paxton Pits (May 7th)

A bit out of sequence, but here are some of the insects from the Lower Meadow Survey last Sunday, starting with a very well camouflaged Tortoise beetle, followed by a new species for me, a Sawfly whose larvae feed on buttercups, certainly the predominant flower at the moment.

Barnack Hills and Holes

The storm clouds gathered during our afternoon at Barnack Hills and Holes Reserve but the rain stayed away. Lots of Early Spotted Orchids, Pasque Flowers and Man Orchids to photograph. 

RPS Nature Group Outing to Cribb's Meadow

We spent yesterday morning photographing Green-winged Orchids, Cowslips, Water Avens and Adder's Tongue at a new reserve for me. The weather varied from bright sunshine to heavy cloud but did give a great variety of lighting opportunities in addition to the differences in the Orchids coloration and morphology.

Garden Project 15 Maintaining Balance

Keeping a good balance between cultivated and wild flowers continues to occupy a lot of my gardening hours but is certainly rewarding in terms of biodiversity of plants and their dependent insects etc. The front 'lawn' is a meadow of Buttercups with Vetches and Yellow Rattle coming up ready to flower next. Red Campion, always a favourite, has taken up residence in most of the flower beds along with Cow Parsley, Comfrey and Anchusa, which all need culling fairly frequently. A new venture this year is leaving an area of the back lawn long planted up with Bulbs - Grape hyacinths, Tulip and various Alliums plus I am planting various annuals into the long grass such a Cosmos, Nigella, Annual Chrysanthemums, Marigolds etc. I still maintain a small vegetable and soft fruit area so plenty of weeding there!!