Wildlife at Pakenham Water Mill
The Water Mill is a wonderful haven for wildlife and the rear of the mill is an idyllic and tranquil setting where you can walk, sit and enjoy a cup of tea and cake and watch the swans on the millpool, see a variety of garden birds, the sudden flash of bright blue and orange of a kingfisher as it darts by, moorhens, coots and ducks, dragonflies and damselflies dancing on the water and if you are very lucky, you may catch a glimpse of a water vole along the banks of the millstream.
Update for 2011
The wildlife area has been living up to its name this year and is buzzing with wildlife and a lovely array of wildflowers. They were struggling to survive during the early summer when we had very little rainfall but most are tough and have been revived by recent rainfall and we are seeing more and more different species as the weeks go by. We are keeping a record of the flowers that come into flower every week and so far we have recorded over forty species!
Small pieces of corrugated iron sheeting have been placed on the ground in different areas to encourage grass snakes, toads etc. and we have found all sorts of evidence that the wildlife have been using these. A wood mouse has left a stash of wild plum pips and you can see where he has nibbled through to eat the seed inside. Several toads, froglets and field voles were found taking shelter from the hot sun and also lots of ants with their nests of eggs. Cinnabar Moth caterpillars with their striking yellow and black stripes have been feeding on the ragwort and a variety of butterflies have been spotted including the orange tip butterfly in April/May and the Meadow Brown plus lots of grasshoppers and crickets. A circular pathway has been mown around the area for visitors to walk round and enjoy.
Three nest boxes were put up in the trees in early spring – two tit boxes and one robin box. One of them has been occupied and had a nest inside when we checked recently. There was also a small solitary wasp nest inside the roof. We have also put up two peanut feeders and one seed feeder and they are topped up every week. We have also put up an insect/bee home made from a hollowed out birch with holes drilled through on the outside made by one of the volunteers.
We have placed a beautiful hand painted sign on the bridge showing visitors exactly where the wildlife area at the mill is situated. The sign was handmade and painted by a very talented local artist.
The resident pair of swans have again produced a beautiful clutch of cygnets this year. Two, sadly disappeared whilst quite young but the five remaining have grown up fast and, along with their parents, look forward to their breakfast of corn by the mill pool whenever the volunteers are at the mill. Swallows, swifts and house martins have again been busy breeding in the eaves of the mill and there is still evidence of fresh bat droppings on the upper floors. Sadly no barn owl or birds of prey have used the nest box we put up last year, only two young stock doves.
