h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Those two names together make me chuckle
I also have to admit defeat, i've no idea what a 'little Robin' is. I'm guessing its also a cranesbill (geranium) but its not in any of my books.
You lucky devil going on a plant identification survey, i'd love to do that Especially as its being done in my neck of the woods.
Alot of our 'garden' flowers were derived from wildflowers. In some cases the wild version are so much more subtle and elegant.
Alot of people don't realise just how many wildflowers actually grow in their gardens.
Mention conservation to them and they think if animals not plants. So many of our native plants are endangered through loss of habitat and enviroment changes.
The interesting thing about wildflowers are their common names, so often it signifies what the plants were used for in olden times. Things like 'self heal' which the leaves were used as a type of bandage to cover wounds. 'Soapwart' which, when the leaves are rubbed together; produces a soapy lather. Its a fascinating subject and full of surprises.
I havent any plans to write an entry on bee orchids. I don't think there is enough information about them to make an entry on its own. Maybe if it incorporated several species of native orchid; it could be done.

How does a bat dectector work? Is it like a radar type thing?
Can you tell one bat from another just by the sound it makes? How on earth does a bat manages to squeeze itself through that thin slot in a bat box? It does'nt look big enough for anything to get in.

There! That'll save more appologies over the mails

Yes, it's a geranium and extremely similar to Herb Robert - in fact:

'Little-Robin, geranium purpureum, has smaller lvs, petals only 5-9mm, yellow anthers and more wrinkled frs. SE and SW England, CI, S Ire on stony soils, shingle and rocks near sea; inland on railway ballast.' - from my wild flower key. So you can only tell what it is by peering through a hand lens at the anthers and seeing if they're orange or purple (HR) or yellow (LR). Notice how the key is vague enough to say things like 'more wrinkled' - if you haven't got one of each, how can you tell???

I'm learning how to do phase one habitat surveys, not actually taking part in one. It's at Flatford Mill; anywhere near you?

Did you see this? http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4931722.stm I'm still learning about wild flowers; its quite difficult to just pick up after 29 years! Still, I'm having fun playing with the key, and I've got a cracking book called Flora Brittanica which talks about a lot of the folky things you mention, you'd probably really like it.

A bat detecter works by picking up the high-pitch echolocation sounds and converts them into sounds that a human can hear, so it's more like a radio than a radar. Most bats echolocate at different frequencies; pips, which are Britains most common bat, echolocate at around 45kHz, whereas greater horseshoes are around 105. Most British bats are around 40-60, but fortunately the sounds are also different enough to hear if you know what to listen for! Size is also helpful, though they always look bigger than they are.

Remember that a pipistrelle is only about the size of your thumb when fully grown; they get into any nooks and crannies. They've even been found roosting in runners in window frames! Even Britain's biggest bat, the noctule, is only 8cm nose to toe, so they certainly have no problem getting in and out of boxes.

'There! That'll save more appologies over the mails'

Hhmmmm The 'key' is rather vague to say the least. I'm not sure even i would understand some of it.
Then of course you come to the plants called 'greater' and 'lesser' sometimes if you don't have two for comparison, it can be almost impossible to know which one you've found.
All my plant knowledge is self taught and some taught to me by my nan So its a lonnnnng running thing. I have done a couple of 'pest and deseases' course, mainly for work purposes.

I have been to Flatford Mill, its no longer like the Constable painting; but a pretty area all the same. Its about an hour from me, traffic depending.

I found a dead bat once and thought it was a baby, as it was so small. I guess it was probably an adult now you've said how tiny they are. From what i've seen, they are rather cute

I don't understand most of the key; even 'fruits' is abbreviated to 'frs' - it's like learning a new language at times. Once you establish the family, it gets easier, but it's surprisingly difficult to get to even that level. I'm frequently finding myself looking at a saxifrage with pink flowers when it's clearly something totally different. They usually manage to avoid using relative terms, but unfortunately not always

What do you do for work, then, that helps you increase your knowledge? I wish I knew more about native species, but my family originate from the Midlands (mostly) so I never really had much of a 'nature' background. If I had picked anything up, it would have been in gardens, which aren't the greatest place to learn about native species. I've only got interested because I wanted to be some kind of heroic outdoor leader, but wanted to learn more about the places I was walking through - this fitted in with a vague kind of hippyesque conservation mind, hence nature reserves, hence 'wildlife' gardens. If you'd told me 12 months ago that I'd be into gardening, I'd have probably dropped you off a cliff for laughing Now here I am, with my own spade and propogating boxes! I'm terrified about the course, because it's not recommended for beginners and it's quite intimidating to be surrounded for a whole weekend by fellow students who actually know their stuff - I just hope there's a pub nearby

I'm glad you think s are cute - it's easy to be worried by them, but they're cracking to watch, and having the bat detecter makes the whole experience sooo much more exciting. We have at least 14 of the 16 UK species here in Devon, which makes an evenming ramble quite exciting!

Just remembered - you work in a garden centre! Long day, late a night, not full awake and have had a little Please ignore anything else there that was ignorant

Is the book you're learning from, the one thats used on the course? I knew there had to be a use for text speak somewhere; i did'nt expect it to be a reference book
I can reccommend a good wild flower book, it has good photographs and information; with a section at the back listing family groups
Its by Roger Phillips - Wild flowers of Britain.
This is where i work <./>http://abercorn.uk.com</.> I've never looked at the site myself; but i've heard the music that goes with it is very cheesy
You would be surprised at how many species of native plants can be found in garden lawns, well providing they don't use feed'n'weed on it
If you need any help with plant identification things; before you go on your course, i'd be happy to help if i can
So hows the propogating going? Will we be seeing you on 'Gardeners World' in the future?
I have no idea how many species of bats live in this region. I do hear and see them on occasions, though the sightings are nowhere near as frequent; as when i lived in Dorset
Are there any other less common mammals that you see often?
I have twice seen a weasel, while walking home from work. They are also alot smaller than i had thought. We get alot of different birds here, which can be fun to watch.

I did'nt get that right <./>http://www.abercorn.uk.com</.>

I think it's one that's used on the course, at least I hope so! I've ordered the book you recommended, sounds like what I need My book covers everything that is native, naturalised and bears flower - more 'wild flower' than 'wildflower' if you like, so it's very comprehensive if technical. It's just a big jump from a little knowldge to suddenly being faced with all kinds of things I never knew existed!

That's on my way home from FM, isn't it? What time do you close on Sundays? Fortunately, I'm missing the plugin that makes the site play cheesy music

I haven't done any propogating yet, but need to soon for flowering tobacco - I'm making a BigAl Flower clock Garden as in A5170024. Nothing sprouting from it as yet, except the goatsbeard which I bought as a potted plant.

Dorset has a hell of a lot of bats too in terms of number of species; the warm and wet conditions down here produce a lot of insects, so all the UK species love it. We're pretty blessed. I don't see many other mammals, but am planning some humane trapping on the heath as part of our summer surveying. Must get on to that, in fact I mainly do bird surveys, we're quite lucky on the heath in that we get a few red and amber listed species in a relatively small area.

I personally think that if a book is too technical, it takes any pleasure out of the subject you're learning about.....or that may be just me. I like to start easy and get more advanced; once i know what the basics are.

Are you planning to pass through Essex on your way to FM? I'm not good with navigating as i don't drive, though if you are going on the A12, it will indeed pass close to where the garden centre is It close at 6pm everyday, might that give you time to visit it?

You really should get the tobacco seeds started, else they won't have time to grow and flower.

Do i understand that 'red' and amber' listed birds, are those that are more rare or endangered?
What species of birds do you see?
I get alot of different birds visit my garden. The most comical has to be the green woodpecker. It likes to hop along the grass, but looks very funny being horizontal on the ground

We currently have a crows nest in a tree over the back. Last time they nested there it was a nightmare. Once the chick had hatched, the parent birds got very aggressive. One even dive-bombed my neighbour

I need to understand how things work, first and foremost. I asked a few questions about taxonomy on the Mammal ID course that the instructors weren't sure about, so I went into the centre library and found out for myself. It helps me learn a lot of information all at once; if I can learn a system of ID that broadly applies to most things, I can practice and use the method more effectively than by picking things up plant-by-plant on a ramble. It's also great fun playing detective!

I think I like to throw myself into the midst of an unknown muddle and pick things up along the way

*shuffles paperwork*
I will be travelling on the A12 and am scheduled to finish on Sunday at 4pm, so I should be ok to pop in - I'm probably looking at a six hour journey home, though being on Sunday evening should save me an hour, and the later I leave, the less time it will take! I'll let you know a bit nearer to the date if that's ok, but I'm sure I can find time. You'd have to promise not to give me any hard sells or anthing, though

Tobacco seeds will be going in over the weekend; I've spent all my spare time on the pond lately unfortunately

Yes, you're right about the classifications - there's more detail here http://www.bto.org/psob/index.htm, there are lots of criteria involved, but it sums up quite well:

'Red list species are those that are Globally Threatened according to IUCN criteria; those whose population or range has declined rapidly in recent years; and those that have declined historically and not shown a substantial recent recovery.

Amber list species are those with an unfavourable conservation status in Europe, those whose population or range has declined moderately in recent years; those whose population has declined historically but made a substantial recent recovery; rare breeders; and those with internationally important or localised populations.'

We get stonechats, Dartford warblers, nightjars, woodcock, skylarks, tree pipits and yellowhammers - these are the ones we mention in the volunteer cabin, anyway. We get plenty of others; linnets, swallows, buzzards, hobbys and of course all the usual wild birds! I've only seen green woodies in trees; I can imagine they must look pretty funny that way up

Hard sells! Moi? Oh no, not me, especially not that weekend - its my weekend off!
However, i would be happy give you a guided tour ...all of 10 minutes, its only a small place ya know and i could offer some and hellebore seedlings to start your garden off.
You obviously enjoy a challenge. I prefer to take things slowly, a bit at a time. The old grey cells don't hold information like they used too
Yellow hammers! I'd love to see one of those. I'd also like to see - or rather hear a Corncrake. I've seen them on tv and the noise they make, just makes me I'm easily amused
How is the pond coming along? Has the new liner arrived yet?

I've just updated pond news F1900573?thread=2781700&post=32886892#p32886892

We only get occasional yellowhammers on the heath, unfortunately - we manage the habitat to encourage them, but the heath was wrecked for years and it's taking a long time for things to come back. I think we only had two sightings come up on surveys last year, and none so far this year - though it's early yet. Never seen or heard a corncrake out in the wild

, seedlings *and* a guided tour? I'll certainly stop in on my way back then! I'd feel guilty about you going into work on your day off on my account, though - are you sure you wouldn't mind?

Just a short reply today, I'm afraid - it's been a really long and tiring day

Oh, that book you recommended came today - I really like having the plants photographed with the date they were picked, that's an incredibly helpful idea!

It does take a long time for habitats to recover, it obviously working though. Are there any other species of animals and birds that have returned?
When i was a child, everything was so common. Lots of butterflies, reptiles and amphibians. Now all those are either protected or in decline
Would you believe, one of the young casuals that works weekends at our place, did'nt know what an orchard was. It just goes to show that youngsters are not being taught about nature and habitats, thats such a shame

I don't mind going into work, its not as if i have to actually 'work' so theres no need to feel guilty at all

I hope the new book proves useful to you. I have lots of books on plants and wild flowers, that one is the most used.

Well, we might possibly have dormice, but surveys are still going on. The surveying only really started in earnest last year, so we haven't really got any baseline information to work from. There are certainly more reptiles than last year, and it looks like it could be a good birding year too. We do get some rarish butterflies, but I don't know anything about them

The great thing about the camps I lead is that they really encourage the kids to go out and explore nature for themselves. They don't learn much in terms of names of things, but they certainly have their senses opened up to what's around them.

If you don't mind going in to work on my account, that sounds fine to me The book looks really good; it references the one I've started using too!

Should i be a real and say i know about butterflies aswell? I have trouble with my fritillary's though, they all look the same! The 'blues' can be tricky too unless you have a book to hand
Are'nt dormice just the cutest little things
Its great that some kids are finding out about nature and enjoying it, good for you! I'm impressed.
I try to teach my 'grands' about flowers and wildlife. The youngest loves to go bug hunting in the garden....then screams when he finds something large The eldest likes to look at flowers, so maybe she will be more like me when she's grown
I'm pleased you like the book. Its a worry when you recommend something and it turns out to be disappointing.
I'll mail you some directions to find the place, nearer the time - thats if you don't already know of course.

Sorry, after not being able to log on yesterday, I'm feeling bloody awaful taoday. Feels like summer flu, but I have to go to the heath tomorrow, it's really important. Off back to bed

Sorry to hear you're unwell and this day being your birthday aswell
I hope you manage to recover enough to celebrate
Happy birthday

I really should engage my brain before i post messages... Of course i was really just checking, to see if 'you' can remember when you birthday is

Yep, another week to go. Virus has affected several guests, though I don't think it's the same as what I've got. Hopefully will feel ok tomorrow