The Lower Treave Caravan and Camping Park Blog

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Scroll down for all the latest information, news and views from Lower Treave.

Saturday 27 June 2009

THE BIRDMAN OF AVANDESRES

. Mr Hough shares his early morning cornflakes with some fellow guests. . . This pair of chaffinches are regular visitors to the decks. .

Monday 15 June 2009

AN INSPECTOR CALLS!

The site had its annual visit from the David Bellamy Award assessors today. Our assessment was carried out by Mary Combe of the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG). . . . Mary joined Cornwall FWAG as a Farm Conservation Adviser in June 1990. Brought up on a small dairy farm on The Lizard Peninsula which then progressed through beef rearing to early potato and flower production Mary brings a wealth of practical experience to FWAG and the Bellamy Award Scheme. Alongside the farm she was also involved in running a small hotel business during the 1970’s and early 1980’s. . Mary is a member of IAgrE, Institute of Agricultural Engineers, and keeps up to date by attending many of the courses on a wide range of subjects that are available to FWAG staff. In her spare time she enjoys gardening, walking, making cards and jewellery, and spending time with her family. . . One thing Mary did point out was that the bird nest photographed in an earlier post was not of a wren. She thought it belonged to possibly a chaffinch, robin or dunnock. As we have all three of those birds in abundance at Lower Treave, we need an expert out there who can give us a definitive view! . Lower Treave holds the David Bellamy Conservation Award Gold for 2008. Awards for 2009 will be announced in October. . http://www.fwagcornwall.org.uk/ . http://www.ukparks.com/bellamy.asp . .

THE RETURN OF THE HASLET FAIRY

Some kids can't wait for Christmas and Santa Claus, Dads dream of winning the lottery and Mums look forward to the day when Brad Pitt spots them in the crowd and realises he's been wasting his time with Angelina. . Me? I look forward to the return of the Haslet Fairy, because then I know summer has really begun. Every year she makes her long journey from the windswept wastelands of East Anglia to bring her delicious treats to all the boys and girls who have been good. She loads up her goodies in a large caravan and travels silently through the night. . Cornwall has its pasties, Scotland has its haggis, but for me the taste of Lincolnshire is George Adams haslet (also spelt 'acelet')! The bonus for sportsmen is that a slice of haslet placed strategically down the inside of each leg of your cycling shorts can prevent nasty lycra chaffing! . . Thank you Haslet Fairy, I must have been really good this year...you bought me three and I will have many happy chaffe free miles! Have a great holiday HF! . Get your own tasty Haslet from http://www.geo-adams-direct.co.uk/ .

Sunday 14 June 2009

BACK BY POPLAR DEMAND

Poplar Hawk-moth Laothoe populi . . Wingspan 65-90 mm. . Probably the commonest of our hawk-moths, it has a strange attitude when at rest, with the hindwings held forward of the forewings, and the abdomen curved upwards at the rear. If disturbed it can flash the hindwings, which have a contrasting rufous patch, normally hidden.Distributed commonly throughout most of Britain, the adults are on the wing from May to July, when it is a frequent visitor to light.The larvae feed on poplar (Poplar) hence the name, aspen (P. tremula) and sallow (Salix). . This particular little chap was found by the Millenium bed...bet you can't guess when that was first planted! . Info courtesy UK Moths http://ukmoths.org.uk/index.php .

THE BARWICK TREE

. This beautiful drawing of one of the trees on the site was done by Tom Barwick on a recent camping trip to Lower Treave. I think it's one of the Monterey Pines on the bottom field and it really captures the history and strength of the tree. The cuts where it has been trimmed, the broken knot holes and the random criss-crossing of the branches. . You can see more of Tom's work on his blog at . http://www.thomasbarwick.com/ . Tom lectures in illustration at University of Plymouth. .

Tuesday 9 June 2009

LOOKING FOR A FOXY LADY?

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This old dog fox was snapped as he marked the bounds of Lower Treave on Saturday.
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Showing the scars of many a battle, he ambled around enjoying the afternoon sunshine.
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Eventually he disappeared into the undergrowth...will you spot him at Lower Treave this year? .
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Photographs by Paul Michelmore, Director (Estates and Wildlife).
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INVASION OF THE PAINTED LADIES

. In what could be the biggest influx of butterflies into this country in decades, millions of Painted Lady butterflies have flown into Britain from the deserts of north Africa.
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Painted ladies reach our shores every summer, but the last major migration was in 1996. This year, rumours of an impending invasion began circulating in late winter. A Spanish scientist, Constanti Stefanescu, reported seeing hundreds of thousands of them emerging in Morocco in mid-February after heavy winter rains in north Africa triggered the germination of food plants devoured by its caterpillars. Aided by favourable winds and unimaginable reserves of stamina, large numbers were seen in Spain during April. A few weeks later, they had reached France.
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On the coast, all you may see is a flash of orange whizz past at head height. When they settle on garden flowers they are as striking as their less adventurous relatives, the red admiral and the small tortoiseshell. Certain weeds should be very afraid: painted lady caterpillars feast on thistles before emerging as an immaculate new generation of adult butterflies in August. .
These photographs taken by Lower Treave Senior Estate Manager Paul Michelmore in St Buryan last Thursday.
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Saturday 6 June 2009

LOWER TREAVERS VERSUS PENZANCE 'B'

. Not much of a match report...I was playing so consequently saw very little of the match...it sort of passed me by in a blur of sticks, feet and flying spherical objects. . Suffice to say...they played well (particularly their junior keeper who is on our wish list for next year's signings...she is certainly better looking than our own 'Stick'...but then who isn't)...we played well, particular mention to Tim in goal playing his first match back for some time...and the result was an honorable and enjoyable draw. . No match next week...we're having a 'rest'! .