There was a wind blowing round Radley Lakes this afternoon. The forecast is that it will get worse over night and tomorrow morning (Storm Eunice). There were lots of birds.
Here is a Coot
and a Cormorant.
There were a lot of snowdrops clustered by the shore at the start of the clockwise walk round Thrupp Lake.
The fir trees that used to stand behind the house Sandals have been cut down.
The restored ash pit, on the other side of the Sustrans Cycle path, is now a mixture of wood, and marshy areas and some water. The walk round was muddy a lot of the way.
This is just one of the remaining watery areas near the railway track. A large flock of birds came over and behind them were a couple of Kites. There was also a hawk, possibly a Kestrel, hanging in the sky and plummeting down, beyond the railway. Various trains went by: two GWR expresses, a goods train and two slower passenger trains.
Radley Lakes – February 2020?
Thank you.
They weren’t fir trees. They were Cupressus leylandii, a cypress. Very fast growing and good for windbreaks but they can get out of hand. I don’t know why they were cut down though, they made a pleasing avenue along the lane.
The trees have been removed to make way for a small car park.
I’m no fan of the trees, but I question the priorities of putting money into car parking, thereby encouraging people to drive to the lakes, before the foot and cycle access issues along Thrup Lane have been addressed.
Phil, there’s a car park there already, behind where the trees were. All they have to do is remove the gate, which is no longer necessary now the house has been demolished.
You mean the area that is now used as a public space? Space for wildlife, space that could be a picnic area.
You think that would be better off being tarmacked over and reserved for cars?
I appreciate the efforts to improve Radley Lakes but questions the priorities.
For the past decade I’ve been witnessing the destruction of this once wildlife haven, mature healthy trees chopped down, shrubs and hedges, all valuable nesting sites, removed, it’s no longer a wildlife reserve, more a dog lover’s paradise (oh and car drivers too)