March 2026

On the 8th, I found out why one of last-year's brood of Mute Swans had been lost from the lake. I had assumed that the, now full-sized, youngsters were seen off by the resident Cob as he came into breeding condition.

 

A regular dog-walker had reported, however, that one of the youngsters had been carried off by the Swan Sanctuary because it had been seen in a distressed state out on the lakeside promenade, prevented from returning to the lake by the Cob. That day I watched this happen to a second bird. I was told that the Cob prevented it from returning to the lake and it was threatened by dogs, so she was going to carry it off to be released to the non-breeding flock on the Thames at Barnes. I was concerned at this, as a fit youngster is quite capable of returning to the water and of fending for itself against most dogs, and would make its way off elsewhere when ready. I suggested that if it could not fend for itself, it should be taken into care to return it to strength. It would be at risk released in a weak state into strange surrounds already occupied by large numbers of fit competitors. My suggestions were ignored; the volunteer told me that people were worried for the swan's welfare. Well, so was I! The bird was last seen being carried off to the volunteer's car for this supposed rescue. All last year's youngsters had gone by the 23rd, let's hope most under their own steam, naturally.

In mid month a 45-year-old double-flowered Wild Cherry beside the Watersports building was felled.  

The stump showed clear signs of rot, so its useful life would have been short, even though it presented no real hazard. On the dam downslope just south of the park depot behind the Bowls Pavilion two Silver Birches and an Umineko Cherry were cut back to stumps. The old planting here is beginning to fall apart, but the works sacrificed valuable dead wood habitat in a place little frequented by people.

Another management action, however, seemed rather pointless. In mid month the vegetation growing on the fence in the middle of Ashen Grove Wood was strimmed. This fence is in the middle of this tiny ancient wood and the vegetation removed was wildlife habitat: mainly Ivy, which provides valuable food and nest sites in Spring, and one Elder which would have flowered and fruited, if left. Whilst the harm was little and the place will recover, it's not obvious to me why this needed doing.

There were a few plants of Spring Squill and one of Spring Starflower flowering in the Revelstoke Road Car Park border. Although the Squill is native on western and northern coastal cliffs, both were certainly planted here, but I don't recall anyone declaring they had done this.

Spring Squill

 

Spring Starflower

 

 

 

 

Horse Close Wood path

Later in the month Dave Welch and I added some bark chippings to the main path in Horse Close Wood beside two of the larger English Oaks. The idea was to add cushioning to lessen ground compaction that might harm the roots of those old trees. We used the occasion to narrow the path, leading people away from a close approach to the trees. For this we used heavy branches.

The Blackcap is increasingly overwintering in England, but the first song was heard on the 19th. I did the monthly bird count on the 23rd and was delighted to see the display of a pair of Great Crested Grebes: not only ending their absence since October last year, but a promise of breeding this year. The Black-headed and Common Gulls had all departed this month.

Unimpeded by last-year's young, the Mute Swan Pen was attending a nest on the Wimbledon Club lakeshore on the 23rd, and the Cob patrolling up and down in the nearby lake, seeing off other waterfowl. 

An electricity cable in the Great Field near the SE corner of the athletics was repaired in the middle of the winter rainy period and the trench promptly filled up with water. It was finally dry enough for it to be filled in and grass seed added, so there was a little flock of Feral Pigeons enjoying the seed!

Construction work on the Padel Tennis was under way and so the usual Green Woodpecker in the stadium was out in the Great Field. Sadly, the increased use by people is problematic for species that are sensitive to disturbance. 

Two Greenfinches in Admiral's hedge were the first I've had since March 2024. They have been affected badly by Trichomonas gallinae disease. It's the same story for the Chaffinch, which I haven't seen since April that year. 

The Wood Spruge

I was sorry to see that Ricardo's Shrubbery was given a lollipop-tree prune. This was unnecessary, as I had already taken back all growth that might protrude over the adjacent path. The prune took away much of the wood that would carry flowers and fruit later in the year, so compromising both amenity and wildlife habitat. And this was done on a planted area that was planted in compensation for losses in the ancient Ashen Grove Wood to the south. 

The good news here, however, is that a Wood Spurge I planted last year has survived the winter and was in flower at the end of the month. I planted some more Wood Sedge and a clump of Wood Millet, hoping to aid the compensation. 

The memorial cherry

 

 

 

 

And another bit of good news is that the Cherry planted as a Kendall family memorial earlier in the year has broken bud and seems to be thriving.