Today I did a bit of volunteering for warwickshire wildlife trust whose HQ is nearby. Well it makes good use of time.

The tasks are varied and today’s was a trip out in the minibus to some local nature reserves to do a pond survey. So after a quick demonstration, it’s off to skim a pond and see what’s in the water….aggh monsters! I suspect (as a non-biologist mind-you) that the smaller a creature gets the more legs/fangs/eyes/tails it gets. The ponds surveyed at Newbold Comyn, Whitnash and Ufton Fields (all SE of Leamington Spa) had a surprising amount of life teaming in them. Well most did, one was infested with tadpoles leaving nothing else alive in the pond. But the others had various water beetles, Boatmen greater and lesser, Nymphs of Mayflies, Dragonflies and Damselflies, various water worms, leeches and fleas.

The plan for myself is to try and make this a regular(ish) outing, just to get out, socialise and be active. I’ve heard it’s healthy. All in all a gentle enjoyable day out in good weather and interesting bits of new knowledge. Just don’t use a magnifying glass.