We all have to learn how to look after and care for the world we live in. Previous generations passed on their knowledge but we also have to learn for ourselves. YouTube is an important source of resources for learning and we want to share what we are learning through our own YouTube channel. This page hosts a series of movies aimed at revealing our natural environment and the wonderful diversity of plants and animals in and around the ancient village of Betchworth in the Mole Valley south of the Surrey Hills. |
USEFUL LINKS & RESOURCES Saturday Walkers Club - the nature & weather pages have an excellent month by month account of what we can see while out walking |
1 SIGNS OF SPRING IN THE NORTHERN WOODLANDS OF BETCHWORTH (April 2022)
2 BETCHWORTH ROAD VERGES (May 2022)
Betchworth Habitat-Type Report #1: Road Verge Corridors (May 2022)
road_verges_habitat_report.pdf |
3 REWILDING BETCHWORTH #1 (May 2022)
Our rewilding page provides an explanation and examples of rewilding
4 REWILDING BETCHWORTH #2 (June 2022)
Our rewilding page provides an explanation and examples of rewilding
5 REWILDING BETCHWORTH #3 : (June 2022) FROM GARDEN TO WILDFLOWER MEADOW
Our rewilding page provides an explanation and examples of rewilding
6 REWILDING BETCHWORTH #4 (July 2022) Orchids in the wildflower meadow
Orchids have several life stages. The first stage is the non-germinated orchid seed, the next stage is the protocorm, and the following stage is the adult orchid. Orchid seeds are very small (0.35mm to 1.50mm long), spindle-shaped, and have an opening at the pointed end. Each seed has an embryo that is undifferentiated and lacks root and shoot. An orchid seed does not have enough nutritional support to grow on its own. Instead, it gets nutrients needed for germination from fungal symbionts in natural habitats. When the orchid seeds germinate they form intermediate structures called protocorms, young plants which have germinated but lack leaves and which consist mainly of parenchyma cells. Infected protocorms tend to develop an active meristem within a few days.
7 BETCHWORTH BUTTERFLIES (July 2022) Its the annual Big Butterfly Count (July 15 - August 7th) and Re-Betchworth is contributing to this nation wide survey. To join in all you have to do is 1) download the identification chart (see below) 2) spend 15mins in a sunny spot and count and if possible 3) identify the butterflies you see.
The collection of butterflies in our movie were spotted over a few days in a field in north Betchworth. How many of them can you name using the chart below. If you find others and you are able to photograph them, we will add them to the movie. Please send them to [email protected].
You can download this chart from the Big Butterfly Count website
https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org/assets/charts/butterfly-id-sheet-england.pdf
https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org/assets/charts/butterfly-id-sheet-england.pdf
8 DRY SUMMER (August 2022)
9 GEESE ON THE MOVE (August 2022)
10 AUTUMN SPLENDOUR (October 2022)
The sequence of leaf loss
losing_leaves.pdf |
11 POND MOVIE (November 2022) As part of our caring for our wild water project we are documenting the many ponds in and around Betchworth.
pond_report_ver1.pdf |
12 WINTER SCENES (January 2023) in late December we had a week of very cold weather which transformed the landscape.
13 Our first B-Line movie showing how insect pollinators use our wildflower habitats - June 2023