Wildlife and nature amongst the trees
Over nearly 20 hectares near the borders of Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire, the allgrowth tree nursery nestles deep in the countryside. Home to over 1000 containerised trees, 500 field-grown and container trees up to 12m in height, over 800 field-grown topiary specimens, a production facility and despatch yard, allgrowth’s tree nursery is also a natural haven for birds and wildlife.
The local RSPB branch is based at Sandy, Bedfordshire. Local enthusiast and RSPB surveyor Peter Bradley regularly visits sites to assess bird sightings across the region.
In just one morning on a cool sunny day this Spring, Peter spotted many of the common species, in number, some in full song and with some nesting. The full list of species is shown below:
| Wren | Green woodpecker |
| Blue tit | Great spotted woodpecker |
| Great tit | Nuthatch |
| Coal tit | Treecreeper |
| Robin | Blackcap |
| Blackbird | Chiffchaff |
| Mistle thrush | Red kite |
| Skylark | Rook |
| Chaffinch | Carrion crow |
| Goldfinch | Jay |
| Wood pigeon |
The wryneck
Eurasian Wryneck
Just beyond the outskirts of the nursery, he did spot a much rarer bird, the wryneck. Just to the south of the tree fields, the rare find was spotted, probably seeking a mate. A member of the Woodpecker family and normally found around the Mediterranean, it was quite remarkable to be seen in UK woodland. Though it was spotted in its search for about two weeks, it must have been unsuccessful and had moved on thereafter.
Our own Peter had also spotted treecreepers, a regular visitor to the trees on the nursery, and also noted that there seemed to be more
RSPB’s Peter also noted evidence of badgers and although the south western corner of the nursery was less densely planted and therefore lacking in birds, there was one skylark holding their own, in full song, spotted towards the east where the ground had recently been rotavated and resown.
Peter will return in the Spring to survey again and report on any changes in activity and species.
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