A Green Space at the Edge of the City

Birdlife at Chapman’s Pond

The Bird Refuge

This used to be called the Bird Garden but Bird Refuge seems more appropriate. The idea is to provide an area full of food plants and cover for woodland and water birds to feed, roost and nest rather than somewhere for people to walk through to see birds. At the moment, it is a work in progress as we clear the nettles, thistles and brambles that predominate and replace them with a much wider variety of plants which will provide food and places to breed for insects, butterflies and moths. Those, in turn, will attract more birds of different species. In autumn 2021 we planted a hedgerow mix of native plants in one area (see plant list below) and will continue with clearing and replanting in spring 2022.

The trees and shrubs inside the Refuge and the hedging round the perimeter provide ideal nesting places for many birds. There is one nest box which has hosted a family of blue tits and we intend to put more boxes up round the pond.

There are a number of feeders inside the Refuge which provide dry food for seed eaters all year round. Different types of feeders will be put up to allow a greater variety of food to be offered although we have to be careful not to encourage the rats which inevitably live round the pond. 

At the far end of the Refuge we are establishing a reed bed which will provide cover for the various water birds to roost and nest. Mallard, coot and moorhen have all raised young on the pond and we are lucky to have a pair of great crested grebes which nest on the far side and raised two chicks in 2021. We may install nesting platforms in the future if we think the birds need more help.

There is a wide range of birds in the woodland surrounding the pond.

Hedgerow mix of native plants:

Garlic mustard                  Common agrimony

Goatsbeard                        Wild carrot

Common catsear             Devils bit scabious

Salad burnet                     Common knapweed

Dark mullein                     St John’s wort

Yarrow                                  Autumn hawksbit

Upright hedge parsley  Self heal

Wood sage                          Plantainraph

The Great Garden Birdwatch

Saturday 25 January 2020

8.15am to 9.15am

All single birds unless otherwise stated:

Robin 2

Mallard 2

Blackbird 2

Woodpigeon 2

Coot 2

Great Crested Grebe 2

Long tailed tits 4

Moorhen

Magpie 2

Blue Tit

Goosander

Wren

Dunnock

Canada Goose 3

Crow

Song Thrush

Great Tit

Chaffinch

and 1 grey squirrel

The Great Garden Birdwatch

Sunday 30 January 2022

3.30pm to 4.30pm

All single birds unless otherwise stated:

Robin

Mallard 2

Blackbird

Woodpigeon 3

Coot 2

Moorhen 5

Magpie 2

Blue Tit 2

Canada Goose 13

Song Thrush

Great Tit

Chaffinch