Early on Thursday morning I took a walk a short distance from my home visiting the nature reserve of Engine Fields. This is a small nature reserve sandwiched between an industrial estate and housing development. The Aireborough Greenway which follows a disused railway track forms one boundary. It was some thirty years since I had last visited. The site had previously been an area of wasteland and its ponds dumping ground for supermarket trolleys. What a very pleasant surprise! I found a truly delightful area of woodland, ponds and grassland. I was certainly impressed with the large variety of ground flora in the woodland. Some of the plants seen included yellow archangel, wild garlic, ground elder, forget-me-not, jack by the hedge, cow parsley, bluebells ( my first sighting this year), lords-and-ladies, herb robert, red campion, tutson, primroses and cowslips. The ponds contained yellow flag iris and brilliant yellow stands of marsh marigold. There were a considerable variety of trees including apple and cherry in full blossom.
Bird life was in evidence including blackbirds, bullfinch (male and female) and moorhen (kingfisher can be seen around the ponds). A peacock butterfly was enjoying the warm sunshine.
A considerable amount of work has been done by the volunteers who look after the reserve to good effect. It is a wonderful oasis in a suburban area and well worth a return visit , perhaps to see the bluebells.
Photos included
Margaret
Addendum
5.06.2020
i made a return visit today, dodging the showers to Engine Fields. I took an alternative path and also walked along a section of the Aireborough Greenway. I was suitably impressed . The vegetation was lush and new species had emerged. Stands of bright yellow flag iris circled the ponds where mallard , moorhen and their young swam. Dog rose and dog wood were seen in the hedges. There is a meadow are where meadow cranesbill, yellow rattle and grasses were found.