Flora and fauna

Flora and fauna – eagles or doves ?

Eagles or Doves? Aquilegia is a really common and splendid sight at the moment on roadside verges. Originally a wild flower, there are also many cultivated varieties in gardens and many of these have escaped back into the wild leading to a confusing picture! Original wild varieties are deep blue but can also be pink or […]

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The diving Goosander – flora and fauna

An exciting yet reasonably regukar visitor to New Mills the Goosander is a medium-sized duck and a member of a group called the ‘sawbills’ because of their long, narrow bills with saw-like ‘teeth’ which are excellent for gripping fish, especially the brown trout found in the River Goyt. This long sleek, streamlined bird, is perfectly

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Flora and fauna – Bird Cherry

The midpoint of the Sett Valley trail is a perfect place to stop and savour the delights of the beautiful Bird  Cherry tree. A tree that loves to grow near water, there are several dotted around here in the wet woodland  and by the stream bank.  A particularly lovely one lies in the field by the public footpath leading up to Hayfield Road. At the moment these trees are covered in clusters of creamy blossom which have a powerful scent of almonds.  Eventually the tree will develop black berries. Like most plants it had a range of uses in the past: its bark was once used to ward off the plague and its berries to dye wool. PC

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Flora and fauna – the Scarlet Elf cup

It’s starting to feel more like Spring, but there are still not many flowers out yet. One brightly coloured fungus that does offer a cheery dash of colour at the moment though is the scarlet elf cup.  If you’re taking a walk along the Sett Valley trail or Mousley Bottom, look into the wooded edges,

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Flora and fauna – something in the air

Something in the air  You’ll have seen them hanging in the breeze above motorway verges, precisely adjusting wings, body and tail so as to keep the head dead still, like it was pinned to the background. The lovely old name for the kestrel is the ‘windhover’.  Our most abundant bird of prey, the bread and

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