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Tackling the Bramble…

Yesterday was our conservation’s group workday which found us in Toad Holes Beck.

The south facing bank near the pond was thick of Bramble so last year we reduced the valuable Bramble by half to create a wildflower meadow. However, some of the Bramble has started to come back or we missed some..which is more likely!

So with aching backs we dug up the remaining Bramble, finding 4, 7 Spot ladybirds. However, we under constant surveillance by a pair of Robins who made quick darting flights for worms.

Although it was hard work the reward should be more food for our pollinators in spring and summer.

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First signs of spring!

Now I’m not telling lies but yesterday was a sunny day!. The early nesting bird species were singing and some early spring flowers were on show.

I found the first Primrose of the year at Raw Nook LNR by the side of the main path.

Interestingly the Primrose’s in the woodland area at the site have not appeared as yet.

There are excellent numbers of Scarlet Elfcups (Below) at both side of the main path so keep a lookout.

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Important meeting!

On Saturday 7th February at Raw Nook LNR, our conservation group held a highly important and productive meeting with Richard Perham, Countryside Officer for Countryside and Rights of Way(second left), and David Campbell, Biodiversity Officer(far left)—both representing Bradford Council.

We discussed a number of conservation/management issues, the main ones included:

  • The trees at Raw Nook have become so dense that very little light now reaches the woodland floor, which is beginning to impact the site’s biodiversity.
  • One of the pathway is currently flooded.
  • The meadow requires ongoing maintenance.
  • Toad Holes Beck, the main path and the boardwalk are in need of attention.

A lot of positive help and support was offered by both David and Richard which is excellent news for the site.

We would like to thank both David and Richard for there knowledge, support and site visit

One important point that may concern people who enjoy Raw Nook LNR is the proposed felling of a small number of trees. I want to reassure visitors that this action is based on nearly 50 years of wildlife recording at the site, which now shows a genuine decline in several species. The cause is simple: in some areas the woodland has become so dense that very little light reaches the ground, leading to a loss of ground flora and the wildlife that depends on it.

Selective thinning will allow more sunlight to reach the woodland floor, encouraging a richer diversity of plants, which in turn supports a wider range of insects, birds, and other wildlife. In short, carefully managed tree work is essential to restoring the ecological balance of the reserve.

I will post as and when any future work is to be carried out.

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A VERY Special Visitor at Toad Holes Beck…

Record shots from my mobile…Didn’t take my camera!!!!

On Friday the 21/11/25 at the large pond (Tiffin’s pond) at Toad Holes Beck I watched an Otter for about 10 minutes both in the water and exploring the bank.

The animal was in excellent condition. This is my second record of an Otter at this site the other was also in November (30th) 2019.

Given an Otter territory is vast, covering up to 40km of watercourses, dense vegetation or wooded areas, which they use for breeding and resting it is possible this pond is part of a territory.

Thankfully the pond is now owned by nature friendly Tiffin’s Sandwiches so I have informed them of their Special Guest!

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A Parachute Arrives…

Above is a very tiny Twig Parachute Marasmiellus ramealis. I found this stunning fungi on a small Silver Birch twig at Raw Nook LNR yesterday.

Please see the video on my YouTube Urban Wildlife Tips channel

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY5JuOlb4Yg_K3f8Cz_mHDg

The fungus is common and widespread on twigs found in broadleaf habitats. With this in mind I then visited Toad Holes Beck and Caldene fields and found it at both sites. So keep a look out!

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Following on from Saturday…

Relating to John Gavaghan (fungi expert) visit to Raw Nook LNR on Saturday he found an unfamiliar fungi which he took away for further research.

He emailed me to say the species was a Garland Roundhead – Stropharia coronilla (opposite)

Which is not only an interesting find but another site first.

Talking of site firsts I was rather pleased to find another one under the first shrub after walking through the metal gate at the top end of the large Oak patch.

It was a Shaggy Parasol and was just starting to come out.

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Three new fungi found at Raw Nook LNR

On Saturday 25/10 I met up with John Gavaghan a knowledgeable Fungi expert at Raw Nook LNR.

He had kindly agreed to come along and do some fungi survey work as he is a lot more knowledgeable of the subject than I am.

Thankfully the weather was fine and dry but rather cold.

It wasn’t long before we had found a rather large group of Clouded Funnels and some Wood Blewits which aren’t that common at Raw Nook in the wooded area within the meadow.

We left that area and turn right after the kissing gate when I spotted an Earthstar fungi which I had not seen before.

John quickly ID it as a Collard Earthstar Geastrum triplex.

Whilst I was over the moon as it was a new species for the reserve he was also very happy as this was the first time he had seen the species this year!!

Within a foot or so we found a further 3 Collard Earthstar growing on the left side of the path.

As we moved through the site John ID more and more fungi including a group of Sulphur Knights by the pond and another site first a lovely Wood Pinkgill.

I then took John to the Oaks at the top of the site which is also good for fungi.

Here we found lots of ‘Blusher fungi’ above with many just starting to form.

John ID the Butter Cap fungi opposite only the second record for Raw Nook. In this area we also found at least 40-50 Oakbug Milkcaps and 3 Purple Brittlegill fungi which is not the common at the site.

A total of 26 were identified and John confirmed that a fungi he had taken away for further investigation turned out to be a Tawny Funnel which was the third new species for the site.

A big thankyou to John for all his ID skills and help increasing our fungi species list to 136.

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Winter is on it’s way!

Yesterday at Caldene fields two winter visitor had arrived into the UK from the Scandinavia area. A single Fieldfare and 3 Redwings were resting in a tree with a further 13 Redwings flew overhead. On the 14th of October a pair of Blackcaps and 2 Chiffchaffs were also at the site.

The other day an interesting fungi was found by Steve at the top end of Raw Nook LNR.

Sadly after much research the species (which I feel would have been a new species for the reserve) could not be correctly ID by only photographs.

A new species of moth was added to my moth list a Pearly Underwing which is a migrant to the UK and is not a common migrant in the Yorkshire area.

It is a rather drab species however, it’s hindwing is translucent.

Pearly Underwing

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Great Time for Fungi

If your interested or just like fungi Raw Nook LNR is the place to be right now.

There are a lot of fungi out at the moment and within the next two weeks more will appear.

Sadly I am not a fungi expert..in fact far from it so many go unidentified, although I’m OK with the more common ones like the lovely Amethyst Deceiver (opposite) which can be found in the large Oak patch at top of the site.

Another lovely fungi that is easy to find is the Pleated inkcap below.

Changing the subject to birds Redwings should start to arrive from mainly the N/E starting around mid October so keep a look out as well as moving flocks of high flying Pink-footed geese.

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