East Carleton & Ketteringham Parish Council

Despite the cold weather the ‘pussy willow’ has forged its way ahead, leaves are breaking on the newly planted trees and bird song has increased. Rabbits have been a nuisance, stripping bark from tree trunks.

On the private lake next to the Park, 2 herons have nested. The cormorants have continued to perch in the trees there and a small flock of Greylag geese was grazing on the lakeside.

Great spotted woodpeckers were seen drumming recently – by the icehouse. Green woodpeckers have been around regularly on the North side of the Park.

In the woodland by the newly cleared ponds, a Marsh Tit is often seen feeding but BEWARE – the water is deep. Frogs have spawned.

Coal tits, Blue tits, Great tits and Long tailed tits feed near the Car Park.

Deer have made a VERY clear path across the Park in the newly planted woods just East of the icehouse. Badgers left trails in the snow and their fur has been collected off the pathways.

Primroses, Dandelions and Daisies are already flowering in the Park and we will soon see an influx of summer visitors. Listen for the Chiffchaff. Last year Swallows and House Martins arrived for the summer from the start of April.

Skylarks have been seen and heard so we now ask you all :-

PLEASE NOW KEEP DOGS ON LEADS in the signed areas to help secure the nesting sites

April 2^nd – some cowslips are flowering

THANK YOU to all dog owners that clear up after their pets!

That is keeping the site SAFE FOR CHILDREN and ensures the site continues to be suitable for use by the whole community.

Visit our revamped Ladybelt Country Park Facebook page showing event diary and nature news. Let us know what you think or what you see.

After all the rain around the paths have become very water-logged and wellie boots are recommended

The badgers have been scrabbling around in the leaf litter looking for worms and fresh lining for their sett, beside the path in Ladybelt Woods. They have ventured quite far from their sett but if you watched Winterwatch on BBC, they explained this badger activity at this time of year.

A sparrowhawk has been seen regularly in the trees on the wet meadow beyond the mown grassland at the entrance to the park. Almost everyday a kestrel can be seen either sitting in the tree belt by the icehouse, or hovering over the grassland area nearby. When hovering it uses its keen eyesight to look for small mammals like voles and mice. Sparrowhawks do not hover.

The Icehouse has been carefully restored. It used to serve Ketteringham Hall and ice from the lake was taken to the chamber of the icehouse which served as a ‘refrigerator’. The ice was then taken to the Hall when required for use. Today, the Ice House is home to protected bats.

A variety of bat species has been recorded in the park area: Barbastelle, Brown long-eared, Daubeton’s, Noctule, Common Pipistrelle, Serotine, Natterer’s and Soprano Pipistrelle have been recorded around the park as part of our bat survey.

Keep an eye open for the next Bat Walk and for future events planned for 2018. These are displayed in the Noticeboard and on the East Carleton and Ketteringham Parish Council web pages: www.https://eastcarletonandketteringham-pc.gov.uk/

Volunteers carry out conservation work on the first Sunday of the month – at this time of the year.

If you would like to help, please contact Jane on 01508 570892 or email janeharris2251@gmail.com.

Safety wear and refreshments are provided and trained leaders head up the session which is usually 10:00 till 13:00 on the 1^st Sunday of the month.

THANKS FOR CLEARING UP AFTER YOUR VISIT –

If you are lucky, you may catch sight of a Little Owl or a Barn Owl while you rest on the ‘sofa’ bench at dusk. This is a lovely place to sit, take in the surroundings and enjoy sunset with winter skies. In Ladybelt wood you may hear the Tawny Owls.

The deciduous trees are now mostly leafless and this is a good time to just take in the variety of shapes contained in the parkland landscape. This is a good time for sketching and/or photographing winter landscapes. Various seats are provided if you wish to enjoy the winter views.

The evergreen trees with their leaves intact; the skeleton form of deciduous trees that have lost their leaves; the leaf litter that crackles as you walk. The squelch of muddy ground under foot, prints left in the ground and leaves of all shapes, sizes and colours lying around. A variety of red berries serve as ‘restaurant’ to the birds.

A walk around the park now gives glimpses of the lakes around Ketteringham Hall. You may see Mute Swans with their orange beaks, Grey Herons standing ‘frozen still’ in the lake, waiting to catch a small fish – and Mallard ‘quacking’. Little Egrets have also put in an appearance. (White herons is a way to identify them.) There are always Moorhen which spend their time skipping across the water.

Picnic tables have been placed around the park affording good, open views. There are also benches placed in a variety of places enabling a rest. A sofa bench is at the far end of the park. There is also the story telling area with its carvings; this is near to the icehouse.

Below is a sheet showing 10 Crows and Black Birds – 7 of them have been seen here recently.

The woodland ponds are being restored so please stay out of that area for your own safety – VERY DEEP WATER.

To help keep the park clean and tidy – for all to enjoy safely – please put litter in the bin at the Car Park, or take it home.

Black bags of dog poop go in the bin where the path crosses the road to the aggregate works.

Please do not just tie them and leave them by the paths! Unpleasant for someone strimming!

A huge thanks to the team that organised the Countryfile Ramble for BBC children in Need 2017 on Sunday 15th October at Ladybelt Country Park, they raised £50 for this worthwhile cause.