Normanby Enterprise Zone, Scunthorpe, N Lincs

Over the last few weeks I have been regularly visiting the area of ground behind Nisa off Moat Road on the Normanby Enterprise Zone.  I started going in early spring to watch the passage of Wheatears and had around 10 birds over a period of a couple of weeks and quickly realised what a brilliant area for wildlife this area is.  So in order to try and protect it from impending development I have decided to monitor, record and publicise everything I find there hopefully on a regular basis and encourage as many people as possible to go.  So without delay I would encourage everyone to go over the next few days/weeks to see the hundreds (yes I mean hundreds!) of Bee Orchids...

Park next to the cycle path on Moat Road and follow the path round to the escarpment ridge to see the Bee Orchids - on the way you will see masses of Marsh/Common-spotted hybrid Orchids including the biggest Orchid I have ever seen

Probably the most exciting find of all is this little fellow - I see him regularly on a tiny pond immediately next to the cycle path..

Water Voles are protected  - extract from GOV.UK

"The water vole is fully protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and is a priority conservation species.

You’re breaking the law if you:

• intentionally capture, kill or injure water voles
• damage, destroy or block access to their places of shelter or protection (on purpose or by not taking enough care)
• disturb them in a place of shelter or protection (on purpose or by not taking enough care)
• possess, sell, control or transport live or dead water voles or parts of them (not water voles bred in captivity)

If you’re found guilty of an offence you could get an unlimited fine and up to 6 months in prison."

So maybe this little one might halt/stop any proposed development?

The bulk of the site is grassland/meadow and currently supports several pairs of breeding Skylark and Meadow Pipit.  The hedgerows are full of Whitethroats and Linnets whilst the scrubby areas have breeding Reed and Sedge Warblers.  Also there yesterday morning were Green Woodpecker, Cuckoo, Kestrel and 3 Buzzards - Marsh Harrier was using the area to hunt in early spring.  The site holds a number of ponds, this one is teaming with Smooth Newts and has breeding Broad-bodied and Four Spotted Chaser along with numerous Damselflies.  Plenty of butterflies on site too I recorded the following species last week; Wall, Large Skipper, Brimstone, Small Heath, Peacock, Tortoiseshell and Common Blue

Another interesting plant on site is Yellow Bartsia, a member of the Broomrape family and found on reclaimed heath pasture

Much of the grassland is covered in Birdsfoot Trefoil with 5 species of Bumblebee feeding and Five-Spot Burnet

So in brief a haven for wildlife and a site that would be great to preserve, where else in Scunthorpe can you see all this whist listening to the ever decreasing Cuckoo.  I have asked the council for a plan of the land to see which areas are under threat as I understand some of the area has been designated a local nature reserve.