Two new plant species have been discovered by Peter Hill in the Darley and Nutwood Local Nature Reserve - one is the common weed Hairy Bittercress, the other is on the river side of the path just north of the steps down to the river, with the Butterbur. Peter is sure it is Bird-in-a-bush considered by some not to be a native - but first recorded as naturalised in the wild in 1796!

The Hairy Bittercress (Cardamine hirsute) is more often a summer annual but occasionally a winter annual weed found in landscapes, container-grown plants, and greenhouses.  Hairy Bittercress is found throughout the northern half as well as the south eastern United States.

The Bird-in-a-bush (Corydalis solida) is a very rare established perennial. This European native was recorded at Risley (SK4635) in 1982 and in 2006 at Repton (SK3026). It produces mauve-pink, purple, or white flower spikes in spring over deeply divided grey-green leaves that are barely 10 inches tall.

Peter Hill writes: "We had an interesting walk around the Nature Reserve on Tuesday afternoon. Bluebells are growing - I got excited by some seedlings at the bottom of the slope then realised there were lots of them - Himalayan Balsam! Now would be a good time to remove them - while they are still small; we'll pull some up next time we are there".

Peter continues: "We found an almost complete badger skull - just a few teeth missing, lower jaw still attached - do you like to keep such items? If not one of my grandsons would be pleased to look after it".

OK Peter, give your Grandson the badger skull, but Keith would be interested to have a picture of the skull.

Keith said: "There were plenty of fresh badger poo in their latrines today (along the transverse path near the north end).  I suggest the balsam is left for now; we usually tackle it in the stream bed when we have a general tidy up later in the spring - it's easier to pull when it's bigger.

Peter also saw a female Reed Bunting as well as a large number of Redwings (100 estimated) in the pasture to the north of the path leading out to South Avenue - busy feeding on the ground at 4.15pm

Have a look what we published on our website last year. Click on the pages below In sequence!

1. Are you ready for a challenge?
2. The answer
3. At last the answer

 The slime mould has returned - but this time in force!

There were 5 sliming bodies on this dead alder trunk this morning (one is out of sight) - last year there was only one!

Are they taking over? Scarey....

It's the same tree as last year, by the river about 50 yards upstream from the steps, long dead and full of woodpecker holes.

I think it's about the same time too.