Something Fishy...!

Catch the fishy!  More fun than any computer game, watch out for sticklebacks in this video filmed in Houghton Brook just east of the M1.  You see the shadow first.

 

 

Why not go out on a sunny day and see them live?

 

Other News

 

Work on the road seems to be focussed on the M1 bridges at the moment and the top end of the road is being surfaced but doesn't appear to be progressing very fast elsewhere.   

 

I have made enquiries about the distance of the foot/cycle path from the top of the bank of the stream, supposed to be minimum 2m and if possible 3m, as it has measured less than that in places.  From a distance I can see lampposts have been installed along the cycle/footpath as well as the road.  That feels like truly the end of 'countryside' and the beginning of 'urbanisation'. 

 

The site of another housing development east of Houghton Park Estate borders on the stream so I am monitoring those plans as well. 

 

Do come if you can to the meeting about the Community Orchard on Saturday 24th September at Sandringham Hub 2.00-4.00pm. 

 

 

August Update

Wilderness on the banks of Houghton Brook

 

With the heavy rain in July the stream has flowed consistently throughout the summer providing rich vegetation on the banks.

 

In August a special visitor came to the borrow pit.

Little Ringed Plover

 As I approached, it performed its 'broken wing' act to draw me, a potential predator, away from its nest, which I discovered on an island close to the shore.  The background is perfect camouflage.  I was privileged to watch this for a long time but it eventually relaxed and believing me to be no longer a threat, it continued feeding and calling on the offshore islands. 

 

The plover only stayed a few days but a family of mallards has taken up residence on the borrow pit.  The female keeps a close eye on her five ducklings.  There are gulls around which could easily take a duckling.

 

 I wonder what will turn up here next?  In autumn and winter Golden Plover used to feed in the fields on this very spot. 

 

Exhibition and June Catch-up

Just a quick note to say the Woodside Link Exhibition is on for a second day at the Hub Sandringham Hub, 48 Sandringham Drive, Houghton Regis LU5 5UP 2.00-8.00pm in case you missed it yesterday.  I'll be there this afternoon.

Here are some pictures of the stream in June:

A beautiful damselfly (its wings are folded alongside its body) with ornate markings seen in very long grass beside the stream.  Can anyone identify it?

Common Water Crowfoot, a relative of the buttercup, and possibly the specific chalk-stream variety (Ranunculus penicillatus) as there appear to be no palmate floating leaves, only the submerged feathery leaves.

Spot the insect or water beetle climbing up the stem!

 



River Lea Catchment Partnership

Welcome to readers visiting from the link on the River Lea Catchment Partnership website and on the Houghton Hall Park Newsletter! 

Visitor numbers have increased substantially since those links were posted.  Thank you for your interest.  Do comment via the 'contact' link on the right.


 To regular readers, have you visited the River Lea Catchment Partnership website yet?  http://www.riverleacatchment.org.uk/

Houghton Brook runs into the Luton Lea and is mentioned in the Management Plan of the Luton Lea website page.

To find Houghton Brook and the project, go to the link above, and on the 'Rivers' menu go to 'Luton Lea' which is first in the list, or click on the map.  Houghton Brook is the western most tributary of the River Lea.

Next click on 'Luton Lea Catchment Management Plan' and then 'Catchment Projects' and a map will open up showing coloured spots for the different projects run by Groundwork, the group responsible with partners for this section of the River Lea.  The purple ones are those that affect the whole catchment.  Click on purple 11 at the source of Houghton Brook by the Green and Houghton Hall Park, and read the exciting plans to improve the banks in that section alongside the park down to Park Road North, remove the silt and replace it with river-washed gravel and more.  There is also a mention on the plan of works to be done on the Houghton Hall Park newsletter to plant more trees on the north bank and sow wildflowers alongside the stream where it's mostly nettles at present. 

Golden gravel will replace silt

I am very grateful to Maddy Kershaw, Marketing and Communications Manager of Groundwork, that Houghton Brook has been adopted as a project of the Luton Lea, along with support from Julia Scott of CBC, the Environment Agency who made suggestions for improvement, and Alexe Rose of the Greensand Trust which runs the Friends of Houghton Hall Park now incorporating Friends of Houghton Brook!  (see https://www.houghtonhallpark.org/get-involved for how to join) Maddy has written a letter in Luton on Sunday about what Groundwork is doing for the River Lea see below:

As Maddy says, 'the involvement of local people is key to the protection and preservation of the river' so if you live anywhere along Houghton Brook or the Luton Lea and want to be involved, do get in touch with Groundwork via the website.  One thing volunteers can do is learn to test the quality of the water, and the bio-diversity of the stream.  This is citizen science that anyone can do.  There's something for everyone in this project.

The may blossom this year has been wonderful, the scent filling the air and the songs of birds lifting the spirits despite the relentless noise and intrusion of the road works. 

Sadly I have not seen water voles this year although, like last year, evidence has been found that they are still in residence. 

Enjoy the summer and do something for wildlife!

Foxes on the Woodside Link

 

 

 

The black poplar looks down on the road as the level rises steadily. 

 

Following reports of a fox with cubs I went out to look.

 

 

Well-camouflaged against the road a vixen looks around but she's safe today because it's Sunday.  I hope she's found enough food in the diminished scrub and woodland behind to feed her cubs.

 



When she notices me it's a staring match, but she's safe from me too because I'm behind a fence.  Her cubs are trapped in a very small thicket.  They'll have to find their way out soon and decide which side of the Woodside Link they want to live because wooden fences will be put up along the road.  I would be pleased to hear reports of readers' sightings.

Spring Comes to Houghton Brook

 

 

 

A May morning beside the brook accompanied by larks, chaffinches, robins and more.  Other days yellowhammers and whitethroats have joined the chorus.  Turn up the sound and enjoy!

 

 Common Whitethroat staying still for a rare moment!

 

 

 

 

Don't be fooled - the soundtrack is not this little chap who could only manage a few cheeps!

 

The willows are coming into leaf and soon it will be harder to see these little songsters.

 

 

Under water things are also moving, if a little more slowly.

Watch out for the water snails!

 

 

 

 

Below: Two grey wagtails close to the source of Houghton Brook next to Park Road North.  They are well camouflaged.  The grey blends in well with the silt, only the yellow under the tail betrays their presence.

 



 



 

Grey wagtail behind dandelion head

 

Next time you walk along the stream between the Green and Park Road North, keep alert for a bird flying swiftly past, up or downstream as it is likely to be this wagtail searching for food to feed his family.

 

Get out there and enjoy the brook this month!

Parkside Link Bridge

From out of the mud a new scene has arisen awaiting landscaping.  Woodside Link Facebook Page says on 1st April: "We'd like to hold another exhibition soon focusing on the scheme's landscaping features - so your questions would also help us prepare information for that."  I have asked when it will be but haven't heard yet.  This is our opportunity, as residents, to ask questions and comment on the plans.  So keep your eyes on the Woodside Link Facebook page for the announcement of the date and venue.

 

I would like the willows that were removed alongside the old stream to be replaced along the new stretch, so as to continue the wilderness theme and encourage willow warblers to visit each year as they used to.  Also, water voles like apples, so apple trees close to the stream would provide food for them.  There are signs they are still there but there are more rats around than voles.  The copse that has been decimated needs replanting to provide cover and habitat for nesting birds such as whitethroat, willow warbler, black cap and chiffchaff, and undergrowth for foxes, small mammals and slow worms. 

 

These pictures show what the area around the Parkside Link looks like now.

 

Old bridge on the old bus link just showing remains of old stream bed

Newly dug route of Houghton Brook showing new bridge over it

 



 

Closer view of new bridge over new stream

A few remaining willows lean over the brook in the short undisturbed stretch

  

 

Frogspawn - I usually get one common frog in my garden each year!  I hope I will this year too.

 

 

The beautiful weeping willows, always the first to burst into leaf in spring

 

Keep watch for new developments and make sure you have your say!