Page 6 - Thrapston Life April 2025

PARK LIFE
Spring has sprung!
With the days getting longer and warmer,
Spring is definitely on the way with
Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis), Blackthorn
(Prunus spinosa) and Daffodils (Narcissus
pseudonarcissus) all sprouting buds and
coming into flower. The rangers and volunteers
have been busy over the winter clearing
vegetation, putting in bollards, creating
holiday trails for visitors to take part in plus
other necessary jobs.
Habitat work in the winter months includes
taking care of the trees, and this winter saw
the area between the feeding bridge and the
octagonal shelter, on the parks middle path,
cleared of multiple Crack Willows (Salix
fragilis). This work has made the area look
quite bare and open but it was necessary as the
trees could be prone to snap in strong
winds and could easily drop their limbs
onto the path, posing a potential risk
to visitors walking through that area.
All being well the area will regrow
and provide a fresh habitat for the
mammals, birds and invertebrates that
are found on the park.
Logs, generated from the recent tree
work, have been buried to create a
‘Beetle Bank’. Despite its name we are
hopeful that this simple structure will attract
many different invertebrates, as well as creating
a safe place for amphibians and reptiles to take
cover from predators. Watch this space to see
what resides there in the near future.
On Saturday 25th January and Sunday 26th
January, Barnwell supported the RSPB’s Big
Birdwatch by running our own Big Bird count
from Lowlands Hide. We would like to say a big
thank you to our volunteer Frank, who sat in the
bird hide for both of those days, recording the
bird species and talking to visitors about what
he has seen recently at the park. If you spent
time at the park on that weekend we hope it
inspired you to take part in the RSPB’s birdwatch
from your garden. Look out for more events
Barnwell
will have
an Easter
Trail running
throughout
the Easter
holidays
like this in the future! Over the two days there
were 20 different bird species recorded with
the most exciting specie being the Water Rail
(Rallus aquaticus), a freshwater bird
species that is smaller than a Moorhen
(Gallinula chloropus). We hope that it
will continue to call Barnwell its home
due to the rich abundance of habitat for
species like these.
Looking forward to the Spring,
Barnwell will have an Easter Trail
running throughout the Easter holidays
so look out for more details soon!
Jobs moving forward into the Spring
include: replacing fence posts, fixing gates and
cutting back any vegetation so that the paths
around the park remain fully accessible.
If you are wanting to get out and enjoy the
countryside then our brilliant education rangers
run Weekly Wednesday Wellbeing Walks. If this
is something you would like to join in with then
come along at 1.30pm, outside the Kingfisher
Café.
If you would like to get involved at Barnwell
or know someone who does then please email:
barnwellcountrypark.NCC@northnorthants.
gov.uk
Liam Claris - Barnwell Country Park Ranger
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