When February draws to a close each year, there is a sense of gratitude, perhaps gentle optimism. Nature around the Hills and Commons has been finding her voice again. The snatches of sunshine breaking through the chill, gradually lengthening our days... today the sun rose at 06.45am and will set at 17.56! I too have been feeling like I'm emerging from a hibernation!
Hibernation
Did you know that changes in day length (as well as temperature increases) trigger the circadian rhythm of animals to break their hibernation? Bats, hedgehogs and dormice are the only species in the UK to truly hibernate. but there are other kinds of winter dormancy called torpor and diapause too.
Torpor: similar to hibernation, triggered by low temperatures. Animals such as badgers and squirrels can do this - their metabolic rate drops and they retreat to their setts/nests until conditions improve
Diapause: common in insects, this incredible event is even more extreme than hibernation where they will enter a strange suspended animation!
Marie's February updates
Our new Community and Conservation Officer, Marie, has been working with the team on some great projects this month. Marie has been helping with the maintenance of newly planted trees which are part of the Urban Tree Challenge Fund, exploring locations for new cycle racks in a few of our car parks, assisting with volunteer task days clearing bridleways, and capturing some great nature highlights as evidence of spring emerging in the photos below:
- Turkey tail bracket fungus
- Pink female flower of the common hazel
- A rainbow near Black Hill
