Nature On the Hill 2025 update. 

I thought it was about time I gave an update about the ongoing Nature Recovery project within the village and some general local wildlife observations.  

The EOTH Nature recovery group identified six main areas within the village that would benefit from additional resources to improve biodiversity, community access and public interest. Examples include an dense Hawthorn thicket nest to the Deeps that requires thinning to create rides and clearings whilst maintaining a public shade area, a churchyard that has potential to convert amenity grassland into native flora meadows, Spring Close, that requires pond improvements and several other smaller areas that will benefit from introduction of Bird, Bat and Insect nest boxes, additional flora and native trees and hedges. The other areas include Top green in West street and the Memorial garden. A long standing concern about the demise of Swifts, House Martins and Swallows within the village has enabled us to purchase suitable nest stations that will involve using local residents properties. This will hopefully encourage ongoing monitoring.

The resource to achieve this would involve work parties which would would vary depending on safety issues and skill levels, but importantly open community days will be arranged involving all villagers. 

 The project started winter 2024/2025 and probably needs three years to make an impact, dependent on volunteers, weather and further funding.

The results of the works undertaken last winter and this spring have been really encouraging. We’ve put up various bird, insect and bat boxes around the village and a surprising amount were used in the first year. Blue and Great Tits nested in the Hawthorn clearing as did a pair of Blackbirds. Blue tits were also observed going into boxes in Spring close and Top green, West street. Green hairstreaks butterflies were seen in our new clearing to, great results!  

We would like to fix more Swift boxes to the older village properties in Church, West  and the High streets. Also we have House Martin cups for the newer houses and Swallow nests for stables and barns. Please let me know if you would like us to put these in place or if you would like to do this yourselves…advice will be given!  

Plans for this winter and 2026 is to continue nest box fixing, sow more wildflowers seeds in the Churchyard and the Hawthorn areas and replace the Owl box with a Kestrel box in Spring close. We are also going to extend  the clearings in the Hawthorns adjacent to the Deeps by creating a ride eventually leading to another open area tone done next year. Some pond maintenance In Spring close will also be due next year.

We’ll be announcing a few volunteer days in January and February soon so please come along if you can. If wish to join our group, please let me know.

Thank you so much to all the volunteers who have helped so far.

Wildlife on the Hill Update.

Numbers of Swifts breeding seemed steady this year as did House Martins but an extra couple of Swallow nests were found which is good news. Please let me know next year if you have any of these species nesting in your properties, I can advise on identification if you need it.

The Orchard in the churchyard has had an information board placed and all the trees suitably labelled. Please help yourselves…..to the Apples not the labels and sign!!

A pair of Kestrels raised three young in CIPs, let’s hope any new owners are happy for them to be there. 

11 pairs of Ospreys raised 31 chicks in Rutland and surrounding areas, a new record since the project began in 1996. There are now a few of those pairs nesting in north Northants so keep you eyes to the skies next summer.

Please contact me if you want to know more about any of the above.

Jeff Davies

davieslj51@gmail.com