As everyone knows, it has been an extraordinary summer; five heatwaves, temperatures that repeatedly topped 35oC, and almost no rain. The flora and fauna of The Bumpy have had a lot to contend with.
Across the long, hot summer, the Bumpy Volunteer Group (BVG) toiled to keep as much as possible alive. The hosepipe ban was extra challenging. Amongst the trees and plants, most have survived, with just a few casualties. The wildflower plug plants bloomed well across the summer with no supplementary watering; it seems we chose the species well! Surprisingly, the pond in the far corner of the reserve contained a little water right up until the middle of August. Our trail camera revealed just how many animals and birds were visiting to drink, from badgers to butterflies. We are now discussing how to further improve it for wildlife and expect to begin working on this in the coming weeks.
In late September, a work party of twelve villagers came together to mow the little meadow, remove the risings and pull out some of the thistles. With such a wonderfully large group of willing volunteers, other jobs were quickly added to the list – tree-guarding more of the vulnerable young trees (muntjac are impossible to keep out of The Bumpy and can inflict serious damage to saplings, sometimes even leading to their death), tidying the roadside verge and digging stinging nettles out of the pond.
Despite, or perhaps because of, the extreme weather conditions, The Bumpy’s larder is very full this autumn. Blackberries, elderberries, sloes, hawthorn and bryony berries are plentiful, and the winged seeds of the maples are so numerous that they are bending branches almost to the ground. Plenty for hungry winter residents and visitors alike to feast on. Autumn colours are now beginning to show – why not come and take a look?
