Ring-Necked Parakeets -
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The flora and fauna of
Norwood Grove
 
Again the major strength of Norwood grove is the variety of habitats, especially around the edges. The Nettlefold Field (across Gibson's Hill) is largely left as a managed natural habitat. There are a couple of small ponds and a little soak-away channel, but no major water-course.

A typical oak
Flora (this is not an advert for a margarine). There is a wonderful range of trees, a number of oaks, true cedars, mulberry, evergreen oak, plane, chestnuts, yew, willow, birch, rowan etc. etc. And then all the plants, both formal and natural.
And here's a little puzzle for you: 
What tree is this from? 
(It can be seen just south west of the fountain).
Birds. An amazing range of birds - I've seen over 40. All the usual common suburban birds and a number of larger one, including plenty of jays, magpies, carrion crow etc. and smaller birds such as nuthatch, greenfinch, chaffinch, goldcrest. Green woodpeckers and great-spotted woodpeckers are often seen (green more often heard). More rarely seen are sparrowhawk, tawny owl, heron, treecreeper, cuckoo, lesser-spotted woodpecker, bullfinch, goldfinch etc. 
The Ring-necked Parakeets.

Left: Green Woodpecker in the top field
Mammals: The main example is of course the hairy-tailed grey American tree-rat (shown left), who in the shrubberies area begs peanuts. 

However when there are no domestic dogs around the local foxes come out (early morning remains of a woodpigeon on the right). Hedgehogs leave their evidence and wood mice and bats are occasionally seen and presumably rats are around.
Other: Insects include the usual range of suburban butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies. An amount of fallen wood is left lying around some of the edges and stag beetles can be found around the area (left: on an adjacent garden wall). Frog, toad and newt can been seen around the area (Beulah Hill Pond) but I've never seen any reptile in the area.

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URL: http://www.vino.demon.co.uk/fong/wildlife.html. Latest update: 19 Nov 2005