Nature

One of nature’s greatest mimics – a bee orchid – was found growing in the pollinator patch at the side of the recreation ground at the beginning of June.

Bee orchids are one of the most beautiful and well known of British native orchids – and its unexpected appearance on the edge of the Recreation Ground added to the plants own ‘wow factor’.

Hampshire County Council wants the county to be a place for pollinators to thrive and so it is supporting efforts being made in Buriton to create, improve and connect habitats.

Signage has recently been installed at four places in the village – including the Parish Council’s Recreation Ground where the grassy margins are already flourishing with a range of wildflowers and a noticeable increase in bees, butterflies, moths and beetles.

Stroll round the village to see how the community is helping nature.

An opportunity to visit a range of gardens and public open spaces around the village to see how they are catering for wildlife.

Each garden will show some simple renaturing initiatives to help creatures and the planet. Ask each of the hosts for details.

There are lots of wonderful plants and creations to see - as well as Cream Teas and Cakes at St Mary's church (2-5pm).  

Details of the trail (with a map showing all the locations) is available as a pdf on this web-page (below).

This should be an opportunity to see a good range of orchids – and more … 

Experts will be on hand to identify the orchids and other rare plants which can be found in this small Nature Reserve on the South Downs above the village. 

Visit any time from 10am to 12.30pm. 

There is now some limited parking near the Nature Reserve (grid reference SU 749 195 and ///lurching.imported.essential) but it’s a lovely walk from the village.

Mark Rowden and Colin Hedley will provide an insight into the range of farming activities at Weston Farm.

As well as learning about what crops are grown and what they are used for there will be a focus on conservation and environmental practices as a follow-up to the talk that Colin gave in the village last year.

The tour will start at 2pm to be finished by 4pm with some light refreshments and informal discussion.

A seated trailer will be used on the visit which will limit bookings to a maximum of 30 people (no dogs on this occasion).

A fascinating exhibition in this impressive building overlooking the River Thames combines art and nature in an exploration of the remarkable power and potential of soil.

The event explains that soil abounds with life, only the tiniest fraction of which is visible to the human eye: healthy soil hums with microbial activity, is home to a mind-blowing range of insect and animal life and sustains all life above ground.

Keir Smith of the Western Sussex Rivers Trust charity visited Buriton in November to give a talk in the village hall about the state of the water in our local streams and pond at the invitation of the Buriton Environmental Association. He was supported by Sian MacLeod and Elaine Bray, who as WSRT ‘water guardians’ monitor the water in our streams. Sian is also a WSRT trustee.

If you’ve never seen an owl close up before – this is your chance.

Kim Boog, from the Barn Owl Project Hampshire and Bird of Prey Hospital, will bring two of her rescued owls to the coffee morning in the village hall on Saturday February 1st (10.30-12.30).

Visitors can meet and take pictures of the owls which have been rescued but are unsuitable for release.

Kim will also chat to visitors about the perils owls face in the modern world, and her project’s work rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing these beautiful birds.

Life on Earth would not exist without fungi.

Without the recycling activities of fungi, the world’s ecosystems would soon run out of nutrients. Plants would not be able to grow and our food would become depleted.

Led by HCC’s Shona Jenkins, this latest guided event in the Chalk Pits Nature Reserve helped the fascinated group of villagers identify a wide range of species of fungi.

As in previous years, an intriguing variety of fungi were identified - from large bracket types to miniature growths on decaying wood.

All the National Parks in England joined together in October to publish a ‘case study poster’ about Nature Recovery, describing a wide range of projects across the country. 

The Parish Council’s work in Buriton was included as the highlight in the South Downs area, alongside projects on Lake Windermere, Hadrian’s Wall and elsewhere.