Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2011 | Page 66

COUNTRY LIFE

What to look out for...

Black Bryony

ee

Wild Service Tr

A member of the tropical yam
family, which are grown for
their tubers. Unfortunately, in
this case both the tubers and
the berries are poisonous.
However the youngest spring
shoots used to be cooked
and eaten like asparagus,
and are still sold as such in
markets throughout southern
Europe.

Also known as the Chequer
Tree, with links to the pub
name ‘Chequers’, from
Roman times, when the
chequer board was the
symbol for a tavern! The fruits
are rich in vitamin C and still
often collected to be eaten
after being bletted, (softened)
by frost. That is unless the
birds don’t get there first.

WWLP
Following the success of last year's
illustrated lectures and the summer
wildflower walks, the West Wight
Landscape Partnership is again
offering FREE illustrated lectures
at the Seely Hall, Brook relating to
the wild flowers of the West Wight.
The first of these will take place
on Wednesday November 9 and
the second on November 30
commencing at 6.30pm. These
will discuss different seasonal
and interesting plants found in
the West Wight many found on
verges and the edges of footpaths
where they are often not noticed.
They will feature different plants
from previous lectures. To book
a place,contact Irene Fletcher on
759779 or email irene.fletcher@
iow.gov.uk
66

www.visitislandlife.com

House Mouse

Siskins

With winter fast approaching,
the house mouse is looking
for somewhere warm and
dry to stay over the coming
months – your home!. They
can have up to ten litters
a year, with each litter
producing four to eight
‘pups’. The young are
weaned after two weeks and
become sexually mature at
five to six weeks old.

A lively finch, which is
smaller than the green
finch. Although some are
permanent residents, we get
many migrants arriving in
October from Europe. Often
found feeding in conifers,
alder, and birch trees, but
will quite happily eat some
insects. They will form large
flocks in winter and can be
regular visitors to garden nut
baskets.

Action Day!
Wednesday November 2, 10am to 1pm
Please come along…
• Help plant a native hedgerow
• Sow wildflowers
• Sign up for the new ‘Friends of…’
group
• Talk to members of Green Gym – the
Island’s biggest practical conservation
group
• See what help the GreenMobile can offer
your community
Granny’s Meade, Bedbury Lane,
Freshwater PO40 9PE
Project supported by:
Freshwater Parish Council
West Wight Landscape Partnership
The Footprint Trust