Little and Large - The Elephant Family: Veronica Vincent 



Three of a Kind - Rosehips: Jan Haseler 



Nature In Action - Cormorant and catfish: Jenny Greenham 



Driven To Abstraction and Overall Winner - Horse-chestnut leaf miner: Rob Stallard 

 Colour Prejudice - The Scarlet Ibis: Veronica Vincent 

 Pattern Perfect - Grey Cracl<er or Common Calico moth: Jenny Greenham. 

 Against All Odds - Swans on the Kennet: Rob Stallard 



BASILDON PARK FRIDAY WALKS 2012 

 Fred Taylor 



Reading and District Natural History Society (RDNHS) co-ordinate and lead natural history walks 

 around Basildon Park, National Trust Property, every Friday from February to November, departing 

 from the Stable Yard at 11.00am. These walks are a significant part of our efforts to bring a greater 

 understanding of wildlife to the general public. 



In 2012, the regular walk leaders were Prof. Chris Bucke, Dr Michael Keith-Lucas, Colin Dibb, Ricki 

 Bull and Fred Taylor all from RDNHS and Granville Nicholls, the Park Warden at Basildon, an 

 employee of the National Trust. Additional special topic help was provided by Martin Sell, John 

 Lerpiniere and Tony Rayner. 



The year of 2012 will be remembered for the weather. The early spring was warm and dry. From late 

 spring through until Christmas, it rained. This did not, however, deter our intrepid walk leaders - and 

 only on one occasion did the British public not turn out. 



In 2012, the start time for the walks was moved to 11.00 am. This proved problematic for the walk 

 leaders. The later time meant that the latter part of the day was lost and that earlier visitors to the 

 Park walks had disturbed animals and birds, scaring them away from the way-marked paths. 



At the start of the year, 20th January, before the Park was officially open, an exploratory walk proved 

 extremely rewarding. Three Woodcock were disturbed in the woods to the North side of the Secret 

 Valley. Siskins were flitting through the Larches above. Primroses were in flower in the South corner 

 below the pylons and a Roe deer scampered off through the nearby woods. 



This frosty morning walk was complete when three cock Bullfinches were spotted along the perimeter 

 hedge of Mapleton Hill Wood. It was the thin whistle call of the birds that first drew one's attention. 

 Why are these birds always on the other side of the hedge? 



Our first public walk of the year was led by Colin Dibb on February 10'^. A cold morning, with clean 

 white snow. Clear tracks of badger, muntjac, rabbit and fox. But not a human boot-print before us! 



The Springtime walks through late February and March were marked by the fine weather and 

 expectation of a long hot Summer. At the start of each walk we were able to point out the flowering 

 Daphne and Butchers Broom, the Yew producing profuse quantities of pollen and in the Gardens, the 

 flowers on Sweet Box and Honeysuckle Species. In the woodland, before the leaves appeared, or 

 the ground-cover had developed, a fine large dog-fox was spotted on several occasions. He was in 

 excellent condition with a magnificent brush and no sign of mange. There are several Earths in the 

 Park and a family of three or four cubs were reared near the House. They could be seen playing 



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