AT very short notice because of the illness of the advertised speaker, Garth Lowe gave the Malvern group an interesting talk on our much loved local nature reserve, the Knapp and Papermill at Alfrick.

Garth has lived near the Knapp all his life, and was once the warden, so he knows every inch of it as if it were his own back garden.

We were treated to photos taken over many years, so we could see what has remained the same and what has changed.

The Leigh Brook runs through the reserve and floods from time to time, in 2007 so severely that a bridge and the bird hides were swept away and banks needed major repair work.

Volunteers regularly help to manage the reserve with whatever maintenance work is needed. Very recently a new study centre has been built near the warden’s house at the entrance, complete with a purpose-built bat loft.

Garth regaled us with pictures of the wealth of wildlife he has seen at the Knapp. If you visit it, you are likely to see many of the common birds, and if you are lucky, longtailed tits, nuthatches, treecreepers, greater spotted and green woodpeckers, buzzards and perhaps a sparrowhawk.

Garth has unfortunately noticed a decline in some species, including marsh tits, bullfinches, pied flycatchers, and spotted flycatchers.

The kingfishers still nest in the river bank, although the location has changed. The moorhens have gone, probably because of predation by mink.

The flowers are spectacular, especially in the spring in Big Meadow, which is full of hawkbits, oxeye daisies, yellow rattle, and several species of orchid.

Surprisingly, a Southern Marsh orchid appeared a few years ago, and it has now hybridised with the common spotted orchids. Butterflies appear on sunny days – holly blue, comma, red and white admiral, speckled wood, to name but a few – but the numbers of small tortoiseshell are declining.

There are about 70 birdboxes in the reserve, sometimes used by birds, but also by bees, hornets and even dormice! There are two badger setts, and the ponds are full of frogs, newts and sticklebacks.

Otters are present, but rarely seen.

The next meeting will be on September 6, when Patrick Clement will talk on The Magic of Moths.

ALISON UREN