News? Wot news?

It is when writing a blog at this time of the year that I am reminded of the enterprising newspaper seller (outside King's Cross station it is said) who, in order to boost sales, put up a notice reading:


                         THE KING:
                          NO NEWS


It seems that his papers sold like hot cakes to gullible people who wanted to know what was going on. Of course, as the notice said, there was no news of the king whatsoever. The story may be apocryphal but in this blog I too confess that there is nothing whatsoever.


Yesterday (Wednesday, 8 January) with wild and unjustified optimism, I paid one of my regular visits to Byfield Pocket Park. It is sited where Byfield railway station once stood but there is little now remaining of the original structure. I was pleased however to find that someone had unearthed an old iron rail fastening component, known I believe, as a 'chair'. This was used, with a combination of bolts and wooden blocks, to make the rails secure.

An iron 'chair' has been unearthed to help edge a footpath.

Byfield Pocket Park, 8 January, 2020

It had been used in a wooded area to delineate a footpath in lieu of the usual flat stone.


Speaking of stones, I carefully turned over a few bricks in the hope of finding some Carabid beetles, shiny black creatures which, as kids, we called 'rain beetles' (in the north of England these were often known as 'rain clocks'). I was out of luck and my investigations revealed only woodlice.

Oniscus asellus with a few specimens of Porcellio scaber, found when

turning over a brick.  Byfield Pocket Park, 8 January, 2020

Around the edge of the photograph the woodlice are mainly specimens of Oniscus asellus; they are rather shiny with a pale edge to the 'shell' (See note). In the very centre of the picture are some darker specimens with a matt finish and no pale edge. These are Porcellio scaber. The name is very descriptive: porcellio, little pig and scaber, scabby (they are covered with tiny tubercules). Everyone is very familiar with both species for they are exceedingly common. I carefully replaced the stones and continued on my way. (Incidentally those woodlice which roll into a ball when disturbed are Armadillidium vulgare, a species which seems to prefer drier conditions and has dozens of vernacular names.)

A few paces further on and I almost stepped on a carpet of snowdrops. This was a surprise as ten years ago there were no snowdrops at all in the park. They had probably been planted by Dave and Emma Marsh, former wardens of the park.

Snowdrops, 99% certain to be Galanthus nivalis.

Byfield Pocket Park,  8 January, 2020

Currently the flowers are only on bud but in a few days some of the blooms should be fully open. Conditions are mild for January and some early bees may soon be on the wing. The nectar will be much appreciated. It is probable that all snowdrops found in Britain (about twenty in all) are introductions but it is difficult to be confident about this. The commonest species by far is Galanthus nivalis, and this is probably what we have in the pocket park.

Note The plates which run across the back of a woodlouse are known as pereionites. They are made of chitin reinforced with calcium carbonate (lime). In areas where the soil is acid, and therefore lacking in lime, woodlice (and snails too) may be rather scarce.