Granta Park is haven for wildlife

Cambridge: Wednesday, 21st July 2010 The Granta Park environment is proving to be a haven for all types of plants along with at least 18 species of birds, rabbits, hares and invertebrates. A group from Abington Naturewatch toured the meadow and lake area to record species and were impressed with the extent to which wildlife was flourishing, particularly given the recent hot weather. The group’s coordinator, Patrick Daunt, said: 'It was a very fruitful visit and good to see the environment created at Granta Park getting better year on year. Plants generally are surviving the long hot dry spell better than we expected with some species, such as Mallow and Dark Mullein, especially flourishing.' Plants discovered included those from the pea, rose, mallow, umbellifer, mint, bedstraw, teasel, composite and grass families. Birds included the Blackbird, Black-headed Gull, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coot, Goldfinch, Great Crested Grebe,Green Woodpecker, House Martin, Jackdaw, Mute Swan, Pied Wagtail, Rook, Song Thrush, Swift, Woodpigeon, Wren. The pair of Swans on the lake, which vanished after producing two cygnets, have also now returned. Plenty of rabbits were seen, along with and one hare near the cricket field. Moths, butterflies and one Blue Damselfly were also recorded. Patrick added: 'The immediate value and good long-term prospects for quality and diversity of species which the meadow and lake afford was much appreciated by the members.'