According to the Met. Office, October was another exceptionally mild month; the fourth warmest in England since records began in 1884. The persistence of above average temperatures was particularly unusual. With measurable rain here on 16 days, rainfall was about average for the month but our sand-dune water-table rose by only 1 cm, presumably due to the soil water-deficit caused by the drought. “We still need a lot of rainfall to replenish our water resources” says the Met. Office.
It is rare for people to take the time to look at the small and plain things that live around us but for those that do there are exciting discoveries that can be made as has been the case for local naturalist and recorder Susan Marley. A photo added to iNaturalist of a rather non-descript...
The story of the Harlequin is one of good intentions but poor delivery. Brought to the UK as a voracious hunter of ‘pest species’ in greenhouses the Harlequin was introduced as a means of effective #biological control to minimise the use of pesticides. Great! However, apparently poor forethought or containment meant it didn’t take long...