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March 2007 Newsletter In Earley Newsletter March 2007 Environmental Issue 7 Group www.earleyenvironmentalgroup.co.uk Earley - Old English ‘Earnley’ = eagle wood ur newsletter this quarter has something of a watery theme. We are fortunate to have O several important water habitats in Earley. Several are man-made - Maiden Erlegh Lake, Whiteknights Lake and Marefield Pond; others are natural - small streams, the Loddon on our eastern boundary and the mighty Thames on our northern boundary. Some of these water features hardly rate a second glance from many residents, but are home to a diverse range of wildlife. In the past local people would have looked upon them as valuable resources for provision of water, food and income. Much of their value now is in the visual pleasure they give us, as well as supporting wildlife and providing the means for hobbies like water sports and fishing. Find out more about one of these water habitats, the Loddon, and read about the jewel in the crown, the Loddon Lily on page 2. Make a date in your diary for our talk on those helicopters of the waterways, Dragonflies, on Thursday, 19 April. And don’t forget to join in our Rescue litter project on Sunday 11 March. With over 30,000 residents in Earley, there must be some who could help to make Earley a tidier place to live! (See Forthcoming Events, p.8). Get to know your Earley A BUSY 2006 LLoowweerr EEaarrllleeyy WWooooddss aanndd MMeeaaddooww We held our AGM on January 31st at the Not an easy one, but for those who like to be pioneers! Interpretation Centre, Instow Road. Our Starting at dead end part of Mill Lane (very near chair, Alan Broodbank, emphasised the value of Sindlesham roundabout), find entrance to Lower Earley the group in making a positive contribution to Woods and Meadows, sw of Rushey Way. Take time to Earley. This has included carrying out a Phase read interesting information board. Carry on along 1 survey of Earley’s natural environment, footpath, small remains of old woods on your left; you practical assistance in improving Maiden Erlegh will cross a couple of wooden bridges. (To continue, at Nature Reserve, a litter project in Earley, the moment the only way appears to be passing through holding walks and talks throughout the year, the new housing). Just after second bridge turn left at and generally informing Earley residents housing, then immediately right until main drive through the newsletter and the website. At entrance to The Manor on left. Turn left down main present there is an ongoing project to map the drive back to open space. Carry on in westerly direction veteran trees in Earley, as part of a District (right) across field next to housing; follow line of oaks wide initiative. We aim to continue the good (probably the ghost of an old hedgerow), until Paddick work by the group in 2007. We now have over Drive. There is a gap through to the lane next to 270 members. Our full programme of future Paddick Drive, which is pedestrianised and was the old events is on p.8. lane leading down to Marsh Farm and the Loddon. Take this lane (north) till you meet pedestrianised Gipsy Lane, another remnant of an old Earley Lane. Turn right onto lane, cross Kilnsea Drive at traffic lights and continue a few yards along old lane and turn right at Hawkedon Way Play area. Continue on path a short Are you a computer novice, or haven’t distance till first exit footpath on right, then continue along very long pedestrian footpath till you reach back got a clue? Pick up computer skills by of Hawkedon School. Keep going till you reach old Mill contacting your local library, who run Lane, turn right, cross Kilnsea Drive and find end part courses for people like you. of Mill lane where you started. A good circular stroll, off road, but some litter, traffic noise. Good luck! In historic times it supported the mill at Sindlesham, which still produced flour for Huntley and Palmers until the 1960s. The Museum of The Loddon English Rural Life has a tanning hook, which is a Earley is fortunate in having the River Loddon on crook-headed implement for pulling soaked hide its eastern boundary. Something to be enjoyed in from a lime bath in a tannery. This was obtained the spring, as the trees are just coming into leaf, from Harry Grace, tanner at Tan Factory, Loddon may be a pair of swans gliding into sight, Bridge. Willow was also grown and harvested to gradually making their way downriver or, perhaps, make eel traps, or sent early on an autumn morning, drifting along as the to London for basket mist rises off the river. making. This was sometimes grown on The Loddon’s source is what was once West small islands (eyots) in Ham Farm in Basingstoke. It is fed by springs and the river. Eel traps flows, takes a north easterly direction, were still in use up to descending 47m and, after a journey of 45.2 the 1950s. kilometres, meets the Thames just west of Wargrave, having passed through Berkshire, The change of use of the Loddon has been Hampshire and Surrey. dramatic from the time of Domesday, over the years providing food and employment for The abundant wildlife in early times must have hundreds. Nowadays, it may be given only a been a wonderful source of food for the very early passing glance by motorists as they speed along settlers who arrived in the area, providing them Lower Earley Way. It provides a good stretch of with plentiful fish and wildfowl. A few hundred water for anglers, and walkers can enjoy the years ago the white tailed eagle* would still have views from its footpath; it also supports a sizeable hunted over the marshy margins, and otters were variety of wildlife. The Environment Agency keeps seen up to the 1950s, and may now be returning. a check on its health. Its value to people is no Until recent developments, Cutbush Lane, with longer what they can take from it, but how they footpaths leading off it to the river, marked the can enjoy its tranquil presence. * See Birds Britannica edge of the floodplain. The Famous Loddon Lily Of our native members of the Mill. A particularly good spot is the narrow keeled leaves appear at Amaryllis tribe (Amaryllidaceae) wooded area immediately the very start of spring. Very old three occur either in or near to upstream of Loddon Bridge on the texts say that the plant flowers in “our” area – the Daffodil, the Eastern side, opposite the garage May but more recent ones say Snowdrop and the Summer – a pair of binoculars will prove March and April, which certainly Snowflake. The last of these handy unless you can find a way seems to be more accurate, at cannot be described as by any in or fancy a very cold and muddy least in this area. Having said that, means common in England, swim! Another fine clump used to the accompanying photo was although it is found occasionally in exist, and hopefully still does, by taken in late January 2007, when moist meadows, especially in the the very small weir just a few the buds were just bursting! No Eastern and Southern counties. Its yards upstream of the hump doubt the exceptionally mild winter chief stronghold, however, is bridge at Sindlesham Mill. Alas (even Red Admirals are still flying!) probably the River Loddon, where this area is now officially out-of- has had a dramatic effect. the plant, often in large clumps, bounds, but it may still be possible In appearance, the Loddon Lily may be found springing from moist to catch a glimpse by peering flower-spike, or inflorescence, banks, often of slimy mud just a through the undergrowth. resembles a bunch of large few inches above the water, and snowdrops with green-tipped sometimes actually in it. The Loddon Lily is a perennial and sepals and petals, supported by a Not surprisingly, therefore, the springs from a bulb which, if left stem two feet or more high. The Summer Snowflake is known undisturbed over many years, will usual number of flowers on a spike locally as the Loddon Lily, and form into a dense clump. During is about half a dozen, which open specimens may be found along the winter these may well be in succession. Once open, the the banks of the river between completely submerged in flowers do not fade rapidly, so it is Loddon Bridge and Sindlesham floodwater but the masses of often possible to find a spike 2 bearing six flowers or more in full violet except, perhaps, its scent. works etc, should be left bloom, a handsome sight indeed. Similarly, the specific name undisturbed. If so, then hopefully aestivum means “of the summer” this priceless member of our local The vernacular name of Summer yet the usual flowering months of flora will continue to give pleasure Snowflake seems curiously March and April would not for many years to come, hopefully inappropriate for the Loddon Lily, normally be described as summer for ever. as does the scientific name months. At least there can be no (Leucojum aestivum), even though doubting the accuracy of “Loddon Incidentally, the Loddon Lily is not it was given to it by the great Lily”! the only plant to be given a name Linnaeus, the “father” of biological Although not uncommon in our with local associations. There is nomenclature. Apparently, the area, the Loddon Lily is in fact a also the Loddon Pondweed generic name Leucojum is derived rare plant found in few localities.
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