It's a nut, Holmes, but what can it mean?

To the untrained eye these are indeed just nibbled nuts in neat rows. But to the nature detective there's more: the top line is the work of Red Squirrels - nuts shattered or split in two. The second line belongs to Dormice - a very neat hole and nearly smooth inner rim. 3rd line down probably comes from Wood Mice - parallel grooves and a scratchy surface. And 4th is the raggedy work of Bank Voles. These Hazel nuts were all collected from hedges on the edge of Newport as part of a set of ecological surveys we're undertaking, but it's just fascinating to think of all this busy rodent activity going on out there. The woods must be a chorus of crunching. Of course none of these species actually lays out their discarded shells in this neat and convenient way, this is characteristic evidence of the work of Sean, a rather larger mammal.

Still life with legs

Is it art? This question is now faced by Island 2000 tea drinkers on a daily basis. Opinion is divided. If only we had that Nicholas Serota automaton to resolve the matter.

http://www.timhunkin.com/76_isitartcollecting_box.htm

Enlarger Logs

Keep an eye out for these next time you go down the Troll Trail between Shide and Blackwater. The Enlarger Logs will enable you to see the intricate beauty of bark,beetles, seeds, crisp packets, or anything else you place in the viewing space under the lens.
They have been made from recycled plywood donated by Vestas Blades (swiped from their recycling skip) and given a more natural look by sanding through the layers of wood to create wobbly, contoured patterns. With a bit of luck, the posts should be in place during the coming week.

Doorstep Medina - Bats in the Estuary

Last Friday 21 intrepid explorers set out along the Newport-Cowes cycle track at dusk with bat detecting equipment to try and track down some bats before they hunker down for hibernation.

Whilst we still had some light we swept the nettle verges for insects and bugs to discover what would be coming out for the bats to feast on.

The bat detectors were surprisingly easy to use, and as the sun set and darkness fell we began to hear the bats echo-locating via the equipment. Once they had been heard they were easier to spot, and we soon saw a lot of bat activity up and down the cycle corridor. You can see the excitement in a young detective whose detector has just shown a bat in flight.

Ian, leading the walk, was fairly sure that we saw at least 2 species of bat, the Pipistrelle flying around the trees on the cycle track and the Daubenton's flying low over the water on Dodnor Creek.

Blackberry Leaf Salad

The Guardian recently reported in an article on hedgerow foraging that blackberry leaves "taste just like blackberries and can be added to fruit salad". Ian and Suzie recently tested this theory out by sampling leaves straight from the bush, and can report that blackberry leaves taste absolutely nothing like blackberries, but actually taste like chewy bitter leaves, and will not be gracing our dinner tables in an unusual fruit salad.

Go with the floe

What's this? A demonstration of how life in East Cowes could be if polar ice-caps continue to melt? A budget reproduction of 'Titanic'? No - it's the next stage in the East Cowes
No Barriers project taking shape. Look out for these forms fixed to the blue hoardings in coming weeks (possibly not Jo and Hannah).

Eclipse

This remarkable photograph was taken at 14.51 on Tuesday 11th September. The complete and unpredicted solar eclipse was visible only from within the lift at Venture Quays, East Cowes.

Black day for poetry

A bus stop named after a road or a building makes sense and isn't very remarkable, but one named after a person is much more touching - specially when the person isn't a national hero or grandee, but a local character. Generations of music students used to get off their bus here for their weekly piano lessons with Miss Black. Over the years, her reputation and musical influence made her a much-loved part of local culture and she is still talked about today by her former students.

Another tribute to Miss Black has now been paid by Sylvia Bartram in the form of a poem. It was one of ten winners of the competition to write poems about the Island's bus stops and although the stop has now been moved about a hundred yards down the hill, this seems like the right place for it. The poem has been cast in bronze and, thanks to the present owners of Miss Black's house, set into the garden wall.


If you want to take a look for yourself, the Number 10's your bus!

New Artwork At Floating Bridge

Here it is. Another lovely artwork to cheer the spirit while you wait for the floating bridge to come in. It was made by a group of artists based in Bridge house which is just across the road from the waiting room onto which it has been fixed. The previously dull, brown wall really sets off the mosaic and the whole area suddenly feels more attractive.

'The Big Draw' in East Cowes

Good News and Bad News

Which would you like first?

Bad News:
The recently completed interpretation panel that accompanies the Intertidal sculpture in Totland was vandalised and needed a completely new panel.
(boooo ....hissss.....)
Good News:
We have now fixed it and it looks good as new.
(hooray ... we wont be beaten ....)
More Good News:
The Copnor Bridge artwork that has been onshow in Portsmouth for well over a year now is in great nick and has been untouched by vandals.
(hooray again! let's hope I'm not tempting fate)