Island Life Magazine Ltd October/ November 2012 | Page 76

Countryside news with Tony Ridd What to look out for... Hop along to fest at Gardens Ventnor Botanic Garden is hosting another hopfest/ traditional skills fayre on the weekend of October 13-14. Entry is FREE and there will be demonstrations of traditional crafts including carpentry skills, spinning and weaving. There will be activities for children; a visit from the Bat Hospital and The Red Squirrel Project. The hop harvest will be celebrated with the launch of Tropic Ale brewed from last year’s hops, grown at the Botanic Garden as well as Morris Dancing and Island music. For more details contact Irene Fletcher on 855397 or email [email protected] Little owl The little owl was introduced to the UK in the 19th century, and unlike our other owls, it can be seen hunting in daylight. They can usually be seen perching on a branch, fence post or telegraph pole, where it will bob its head up and down when alarmed. Althou gh carnivorous, they occasionally eat plant leaves and berries. Wild and wonderful Ever tasted Sea Buckthorn, harvested hazelnuts or known how to eat an acorn? Discover what wild and wonderful food our Island countryside has to offer this autumn with foraging expert Rowan Adams on Sundays October 7 and 14. Or turn autumn leaves into works of art. Join Ian Whitmore, for a walk through Medina Arboretum to collect leaves followed by a morning workshop at Jubilee 76 www.visitislandlife.com Hedge bindweed A common wild flower, found pretty much everywhere and good at invading waste grounds and gardens alike. A very vigorous climber, often seen covering hedges, roadsides and wire netting. The numerous twinning stems grow anti-clockwise and exude a milky sap when cut. Stores, Newport Quay. To book or for more information on Natural Wight’s events, call Claire Hectar, Natural Wight Team, Telephone: [phone] – Email: claire.hector@ medinahousing.co.uk - www. spectrumhousing.co.uk/medina Twitter: @spectrumHousing Facebook: facebook.com/ SpectrumHousingSHG Garden spider The Garden Spider varies from dark brown to a bright yellow, and can be identified by the white cross shaped group of dots on their abdomen. Fresh webs are spun every morning and their diet is mostly flying insects caught in their web. Adults of one to two years are more commonly found late summer/autumn. Wild plum There are many ‘wild’ plums found in our hedgerows, some cultivated escapees, others through cross pollination. The Myrobalan, otherwise known as the wild plum comes from Central Asia and its forms include damsons and gage.