Animals
Grey squirrel on board walk
There are many different types of animals living on or visiting the
Millennium Green. There is evidence that foxes and badgers are
frequent visitors and roe and muntjak deer have also been seen. Grey
squirrels are often seen running along the rails round the moat and
rabbits can often be seen particularly in the second field. Smaller
mammals include field voles which live in the longer grass and moles
which produce their 'hills' - not to be confused with the ant hills.
We have also had reports of stoats and weasles - this latter
mesmerising a rabbit.
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As well as the usual garden birds we get a variety of less well known birds visiting the site such as whitethroats, chiff-chaffs, willow warblers, tree creepers and black caps. Nut hatches are seen and heard all year round and green woodpeckers have nested in holes in a tree on the island. Mallard ducks and moorhens nest on the island every year. Overhead we regularly see ravens, buzzards and herons as well as pigeons and rooks. More unusual sitings have been red kites, a perigrin falcon and four cranes! |
Tree Creeper
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Common newt and dragonfly nymph
Grass snakes have at times found a home in the decaying
piles of cut grass and have been seen swimming in the moat.
Frogs, common newts and toads are found around and in the
ponds; frog spawn is often seen in spring and the school
children catch tadpoles and baby newts when pond dipping.
One group were lucky enough to find a great crested newt.
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A large variety of invertebrates are found in the varied habitats from the ponds, through trees, bushes and dead wood to the wildflower grassland. Each habitat supports its own collection of insects and other invertebrates . Highlights include dragonflies which breed in the ponds, sheild bugs often found on bushes, burnet moths and red and black froghoppers in the grassland. And of course we must mention a few of the twenty or so different species of butterflies. There is a colony of marbled whites which were until recently uncommon in this part of the country and are still quite localised. Other butterflies particularly associated with the wildflower grassland include meadow browns, gatekeepers, ringlets and common blues.
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