Story and photos by Penny Philcox
With background noise from traffic, construction and industry falling in lockdown, birds have been able to sing more softly, research suggests. This really benefits them, as every bit of energy they save helps successful breeding years.
We have watched six buzzards fly over the area and spotted the beautiful Elephant Hawkmoth on honeysuckle. Are we just noticing more than usual because we have been stuck at home? We can’t really be sure. But we have been reminded how much local nature matters, how vital our local wildlife is, and what a range of nature we can see in our very local cityscapes. The Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust works hard to enhance Sheffield’s green policies, and are always looking for new members. They run conservation drop-in sessions at Crabtree Pond, the first Monday of every month, local walks, and activities for children, families and their ‘Wild at Heart’ sessions for the over-50s.
They have lots of on-line ideas for making your gardens, yards or tubs more nature-friendly, and how to go peat-free. What we all do, from planting a pot on our doorstep to volunteering, contributes to how green we can make our lovely local community
