A grand Spring Opening

‘Sticky buds’ coming into leaf, with flower buds.

Click on the left-hand image and move through the sequence using the arrow or right-arrow key

The horse chestnut, which might be thought native to the British Isles as it is so widespread,in fact hails from the Balkans and Greece and has been introduced here.

Oliver Rackham, the renowned authority on trees in the British landscape, referred to the horse chestnut as the ‘bus station tree’ as it seemed to be the species of choice for that location.

The horse chestnut (and a false acacia) in front of Chime Square above, along with some walls, are all that remain now of the St Albans bus garage which was on the site.

Herts survey for mammals, amphibians and reptiles 2015-2019

A four-year survey is under way to compile a new atlas of Hertfordshire’s mammals, amphibians and reptiles. Friends of Bernards Heath and other residents with an interest in wildlife can make a welcome contribution to the project by submitting their sightings.

Update: 21 May 2016.
David Uttig, who leads the survey on the Heath, reports that nothing of interest has been found under the mats yet. They are located at 51 45 43N   0 19 59W and 51 45 46N   0 20 9W.  You can find out where these are by entering the co-ordinates into a Google maps search.

Update  4 June 2016
Two more mats have now been added in Beech Bottom Dyke at 51.46.6N  0.19.41W  and  51.46.11N    0.19.35Wz