April
At last some longer days and the sun has some real warmth. On sunny days look out for Brimstone butterflies, distinctive as one of the few yellow butterflies. They feed on the alder buckthorn, a rather non-descript shrub, but vital to this butterfly’s survival, and found in small woods and hedge banks throughout the area. Swallows are arriving in the valley and their return always seems to mark the real beginning of spring, as they make a welcome reappearance along electricity wires around farmyards. They feed on insects and need to refuel after their long journey from Africa, swooping low over meadows and wet valley floors to catch their prey on the wing.
In the estuary another traveller is returning, but less visible as the salmon begin their run up the river to spawn. Female salmon run up the rivers Tamar, Tavy and Lynher starting this month when there is a good freshwater flow down river after a good spell of rain. In recent years their numbers have fallen, the exact reason is still a mystery, but probably a mixture of factors. As a result netting of salmon on the river has been suspended for 10 years from 2004 to allow maximum breeding to help the species to recover. They are sometimes visible on the salmon ladder at Weir Head, Gunnislake, their leaps over the turbulent water are one of the finest sights in nature.
On the local farms cultivation is in full swing with increased areas coming under the cropping in recent years in response to the higher cereal prices. One recent change in the landscape is the appearance this month of temporary plastic coverings for the emerging maize crop on dairy farms to bring the crop forward for an earlier harvest. This can look quite strange from a distance with the glinting of the plastic in the sunshine. Cattle are also turned out this month once the fields dry out sufficiently. After a winter under cover it is always amusing to see them charging around the fields, tails held high and enjoying the sun.
Rosemary Teverson
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