Exploring the Public Parks of Grantham

 Glorious spring weather saw a visit to Wyndham Park in Grantham, a park that I thought was a fine natural habitat full of ponds, boating lakes, an excellent cafe and wildlife everywhere. 

It wasn't quite like that. It was actually pretty small, with a boating lake for remote controlled sailing boats about the size of a swimming pool, and not a whole lot of natural habitat. 

Fortunately, Queen Elizabeth Park, a long linear park running alongside the River Witham, was just across the road. We took a path alongside the fast flowing turquoise waters, and although information boards teased the presence of kingfishers and otters, of them there were no sign. 

I did see my first brimstone butterfly of the year, lemon yellow flutterings above the grass. Many buff tailed bumblebee queens were looking for nest holes in the soft earth, and the park was full of the loudest great tits I've ever heard, their "Deeee-Dooo" calls sounding out from almost every tree. 

Plenty of robins, blue tits and wrens were about too, and a red kite soared overhead, its forked tail expertly manoevering it across the blue sky. 

Where were there were crocuses, there were also honey bees, saddle bags filled to the brim with pollen. 

I love spring so much. 

Si 

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 04.03.26 

And here is the First Bumblebee!

 I knew when I left hy home this morning, that the addition of sunshine to mild temperatures would bring out the bumblebees, and when I went to the park cafe again, it as time to go looking again. 

My tea finished, I wandered over to the little grassy area where the crocuses grow, and today the crocuses that were empty on my post yesterday, had customers today. 

Two beautifully fresh queen buff tailed bumblebees were moving around the flowers, perhaps feeding for the first time since they woke up. I think this is always the species I see first in spring. 

Sadly, my shots ended up quite soft, so I'm giving you the best one today. 

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 22.02.26 

Honey Bees are up...

 But not close enough to get a photo of!

They were high up in a viburnum tree, in appreciable numbers, but none of them anywhere near close enough to photograph, cheeky blighters. 

That had me hope that with the milder and dryer weather, I might get a close up shot from the crocuses in Sconce Park, but cup in tea in hand as I wandered amongst the blooms, not a bee in sight. 

Sun is due tomorrow, so I'm hopeful I'll break my apid duck tomorrow. 

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 21.02.26 

Random Flowers from a Mainly Wet Weekend

 Hey all,

Got some nice walks and cafe stops in over the weekend, with rare sightings of a round yellow UFO in the sky. 

However, it has mostly rained, and as such, both the rivers Devon and Trent have burst their banks, and my beloved cricket ground is underwater again. 

It is springtime though, if not officially, so the damp ground has sprung forth with wildflowers for me to show you, as I do what I call my Tourette's walks around my town. 

Hope you are finding joy out there too. While staying dry! 

Si 

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 10.02.26 

Hopefully you all Love Aconite!

 I've been monitoring  - to use a massively overly scientific term - the aconite in Friary Gardens ever since the first little yellow bobbins appeared at the end of December, and they are now at their peak. 

Same as I do every year! 

They inhabit the old earthwork that formed the town's old boundary once upon a time, nestled under the trees. 

I believe they have some kind of church related nickname that escapes me at the moment; to me they are like little blond choristers in a green robe, especially before the flowers open up. 

Probably heretical to say it, but I like them more than snowdrops...there, you can stop following me now!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 03.02.26 

A New Old Hobby

 I recently came into possession of a new little gadget. 

It's an Astromaster 114 EQ by Celestron, a dinky 114mm Newtonian reflector. 

Anyone who knows about telescopes, as I do as I still own a 6 inch reflector that hasn't been used in a long time, knows that these aren't the greatest things in existence. But, it was gifted with kindness so I'm determined to enjoy it. 

I certainly enjoy being able to move it around easily, as my old telescope weighs about 16 tons. 

The mount is tricky to use in practice, but not impossible, and thanks to my old decent quality eyepieces, I have been able to see some interesting objects already. I'd forgotten how difficult astronomy is though, finding these interesting objects has been a struggle. 

But, I have seen the great Orion nebula, a subtle complex glow of star making gas and dust, filaments teasing the eye, and the Trapezium quadruple star theta Orionis that causes it to glow. 

I found the open cluster Messier 37 in Auriga, the salt and pepper cluster, tiny stars glittering in a messy clump against the darkness. After two nights of unsuccessful peering, I found the Perseus double cluster, slightly disappointing - I need a wider field eyepiece! 

I als observed the double star gamma Andromedae, a beautiful gold primary star, with a fainter duck egg blue companion. 

There's plenty more to see and enjoy, even from an urban garden with a narrow view and a security light I have to throw a coat over. The moon and Jupiter for example, hopefully on the next clear night. 

Si 

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 19.01.26 

Welcome to 2026, Everyone!

 I'm back in work, the year 2026 now appearing as my blog date, and I still haven't quite shaken off this wretched bloody cold that I feel like I've had for 6 weeks. Then to cap it all off, snow and ice arrive as I go back to work on my bicycle. 

Always a joyful experience that. 

What is rather more joyful, is the early appearance of some of our winter flowers. Just away from the Great Plain Tree of Friary Gardens, beautiful aconite has come into flower, little blonde choristers wearing their green choral robes up on what was once a medieval earthwork. 

In the cemetery, I even saw crocuses blooming in December, and even more shocking was the sight of a buff tailed bumblebee queen grazing noisily off mahonia next to the main road. 

I worry that spring will be over by the end of February at this rate! 

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 07.01.26