Kate Blincoe

A hosepipe ban contrasts with severe flooding experienced in past years around Caistor St Edmund, where the ground is now extremely dry. Norfolk county council has installed four wooden “leaky dams” on Wash Lane to slow water flow during heavy rain, drawing inspiration from beaver‑engineered landscapes. While the dams aim to reduce future flooding, surrounding land is proposed for a large solar development that could alter runoff. The piece urges landscape‑wide, nature‑aligned solutions amid increasingly extreme weather.

Extreme May heat in Norfolk forces swallow chicks to leap from their nests to escape dangerous temperatures, leaving them vulnerable on the ground. Parent birds continue trying to feed them, but the heatwave causes dehydration, disrupts food sources and threatens survival, with some broods already lost. The conditions highlight the growing impact of unusually intense heat on wildlife.

Firebugs have formed a large mating and feeding aggregation on an old lime tree in Caistor St Edmund, marking the first recorded presence of the species on the farm. Once rare in the UK, the insects have expanded across southern England as temperatures warm. Their striking red-and-black appearance is harmless to people and vegetation, and pairs can remain connected for hours during mating. The colony moves up or down the tree with sun and shade, while spring wildlife activity continues around the farm.

A mare’s aggression toward an injured roe deer reveals the lingering wildness in domesticated horses, offering a stark lesson to onlooking children. The writer contrasts the unsettling encounter with signs of seasonal normality on the family farm and relief at her father’s recovery from heart surgery.

A pony undergoes saliva and dung testing to assess tapeworm and other parasite burdens as part of a shift away from routine deworming toward targeted treatment. Increased resistance to wormers and concern over environmental harm, particularly to dung beetles affected by ivermectin residues, drive the approach. Warmer weather brings dung beetles out of hibernation, highlighting the need to balance parasite control with ecological protection, including moderated poo‑picking to preserve beetle habitat.

Wood pigeons in a Norfolk farmyard display early courtship behaviours as males establish territories and pairs engage in mutual preening and bonding. Despite their reputation as vermin compared with more positively perceived doves, pigeons are shown as adaptable and diverse, with species such as collared doves now common in the UK and turtle doves notably absent from the area in recent years.

A little egret’s striking whiteness stands out against a bleak Norfolk winter as the writer reflects on its growing presence due to climate change, contrasts it with emerging snowdrops, and describes encountering a leucistic jackdaw while continuing domestic routines amid persistent rain.

Mistletoe appears prominently on winter trees in Norfolk, providing ecological benefits as a hemiparasitic keystone species. Its presence supports various birds and insects, and the removal of mistletoe has been shown to reduce woodland biodiversity. The author gathers berries from a mistletoe shrub on an apple tree and attempts to propagate the plant by manually spreading its sticky seeds on a branch, noting the patience required for germination.

Lapwings reappear on a Norfolk farm after more than a decade, prompting reflections on their former abundance, the role of habitat loss in their decline, and memories of how previous generations regarded the birds. Their winter arrival is linked to cold weather on the continent, and their return offers a moment of hope despite the continued absence of breeding populations.

Seasonal change in Norfolk prompts a walk that replaces the search for late‑flying clouded yellow butterflies with the discovery of a bright chicken‑of‑the‑woods fungus growing on an oak tree. The writer reflects on a recent family loss, notes poor hay harvest conditions that can lead to dangerous fermentation, and observes the shift from summer wildlife to autumn colours as the landscape transitions.

A Robin’s pincushion gall on a wild rose in Caistor St Edmund is described as a colourful autumn growth created by the gall wasp Diplolepis rosae, sheltering larvae and later other insects such as ladybirds. The piece explains its formation, folklore name, and historical medicinal uses while situating the observation in the abundant late‑summer landscape.

A teasel maze at High Ash Farm in Norfolk provides a striking natural landscape that challenges visitors and attracts abundant insect life. As the season progresses, the flowering teasels shift into seed production, offering food for goldfinches. The maze’s changing appearance and wildlife activity highlight the appeal of becoming immersed in nature.

A long‑eared bat found injured in a Norfolk garden is cared for with guidance from the Bat Conservation Trust and a local volunteer, Jane. Despite receiving hydration, antibiotics and attention, the pregnant bat dies a week later. The experience prompts efforts to make the garden more bat‑friendly by avoiding pesticides, reducing artificial light and planting night‑flowering species to attract insect prey.

Early grass cutting during a spring drought has allowed wildflowers to flourish in Caistor St Edmund, creating conditions for an exceptional year for bee and pyramidal orchids as reduced grass competition encouraged their spread. Meadows now feature abundant daisies and magenta orchid spikes while pollination varies by species and region. Farm animals benefit from sainfoin forage, and the stables see progress and loss among a brood of swallows.

A writer observes the delayed return of swifts to Norfolk with growing anxiety, linking their decline to habitat loss and the lack of mandatory swift bricks in new buildings. Reports of swifts nearby offer some relief, but drought conditions and stressed wildlife deepen concerns about environmental fragility. The narrative highlights conservation advocate Hannah Bourne‑Taylor’s efforts to promote simple nesting solutions amid broader worries about the natural world’s diminishing resilience.

Spring grass rich in sugars heightens the risk of laminitis and colic for the horses at a Norfolk livery yard, prompting vigilant care from owners and vets. The author reflects on the recent loss of her elderly horse, observing his burial site and the emerging leaves of his memorial beech tree. Regular management practices such as restricted grazing, exercise and stabling help protect the yard’s herd of about 70 horses from seasonal health dangers.

Warm early‑spring weather reveals thousands of bee orchids and the first signs of bluebells in a Norfolk meadow and woodland. A cluster of daffodils raises hopes of finding the scarce native wild variety, but examination and expert confirmation from Plantlife reveal them to be cultivated strays. The walk ends with anticipation for the coming blooms of orchids and bluebells.

A winter wildlife observation in Norfolk confirms a child’s report of a muntjac fawn, made plausible because the species breeds year-round. From an oak seat overlooking the fields, the observer watches a doe and her young browse before retreating into cover, noting tracks, behaviour and seasonal changes in the landscape.

Villagers in Saxlingham Nethergate gather for a traditional wassailing ceremony, walking by moonlight to the community orchard to wake the apple trees and ward off bad spirits. The ritual, rooted in pagan custom, includes noise-making, sprinkling cider on the roots, singing age-old songs, and sharing warm spiced cider. Though no longer tied to survival or harvest necessity, the event serves as a celebration of heritage, community, and local apple varieties.

A winter walk in Caistor St Edmund reveals a large patch of sweet violets producing cleistogamous flowers that never open, enabling self‑pollination during cold months. A brief encounter with a young fox highlights seasonal dispersal and reproduction pressures. The writer details the hidden winter buds and seedpods of the plant, which ensure its survival when insects are absent.