Would you like to identify the birds, butterflies and other wildlife you see out and about or in your garden? Have you ever wondered which wild plants and fungi are edible? Are you interested in cultivating a deeper connection with nature? Maybe I can help. I’m Ben West, a Molesey resident, lover of landscapes, wildlife and the outdoors and a lifelong ‘student of nature’.
Molesey Heath is a local nature reserve and one of my favourite places to make contact with the sights and sounds of the natural world. Due to Covid 19 I have had to cancel my monthly walks until it is safe to socialise in public once more. However, I am still using the daily exercise opportunity to get out to explore Molesey Heath and stay abreast of what is happening with the wildlife.
May is a highlight of the wildlife calendar and, despite the circumstances, this year was no different. Molesey Heath was alive with warbler song; Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Reed Warbler and the increasingly common Cettis Warbler are all defending territories. Wren, Goldfinch, Robin, Dunnock, Blackbird, Linnet, Song Thrush and a host of other breeding birds were in good voice. Starlings were prominent in their tireless flights back and forth over the Heath to their nest sites in the neighbouring houses. To my delight a Cuckoo was calling fairly regularly around the middle of month along with occasional Skylark activity.
White was the dominant colour of the flowering plants with Hawthorn, Rowan, Hoary Pepperwort, Cow Parsley, Hemlock, Hemlock Water Dropwort, Dog Rose, Elder and White Dead nettle all putting on a great show and keeping the insects busy.
So what is in store for June?
Insects and wildflowers take centre stage. Mysterious Mugwort will be enticing us to use its flowers for lucid midsummer night’s dreams. Yellow Flag Iris and Buttercups add a dash of colour to meadows and watercourses and the beautifully fragranced flowers of the Linden tree provide a delicate tea infusion.
Meadow Brown butterflies bounce through the meadows and Gatekeeper stud the bases of hedges. Damselflies and dragonflies start to appear and Stag beetles are on the wing from around the middle of the month.
Will wet weather provide us with an early crop of Horse or Field Mushrooms?
I will be out walking on Molesey Heath most days and have set up social media pages on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook so that you can still keep up with what is happening out there even in the face of lockdown. I post daily on the subjects of plants, wild food, medicinal recipes, birds, butterflies and all things wildlife related. You can find me here:
Twitter: @WildBenWest
Instagram: wearewherethewildthingsare
Facebook: Ben West
If you have any wildlife related questions, would like something identifying or just want to make contact feel free to message me or drop me a line at ben@wherethewildthingsare.co.uk
If you happen to see me on Molesey Heath do say hello, from a safe distance obviously…
In normal circumstances meetings are held the last Saturday of every month but these are far from normal times! When we do get back to normal these are all the details you need to know:
Price is £10 for adults and children under 16 are free. No dogs please. We meet at 9.30am at the main gates to Molesey Heath on Approach Road, KT8 2LL. Binoculars are useful but not essential. The walks will typically last around a couple of hours depending on the level of interest amongst the group and the wildlife we see on the day. Please email ben@wherethewildthingsare.co.uk for further details.