It comes as a surprise to many walkers taking the Capital Ring walk to see a semi-rural area in Wembley abundant with much flora and fauna.
At the top of the Hill is the pond with Mallards, Moorhens, the occasional Teal, frogs and Toads. The resident crows make the sky seem black when circling overhead but then a splash of green appears with the Parakeets pass by. For the last few years they have made their homes in the tall trees.
There are Magpies, Wood Pigeons, Starlings, Collared Doves, Blackbirds, Thrushes including the Mistle Thrush, Woodpeckers, Robins, Wrens and if you are luck enough to go up the Hill at twilight you can hear a Hoot Hoot from the two types of Owls that live in the local trees, the Barn Owl and the Tawny Owl.
Many of the hedgerows that separate the fields date back hundreds of years. They look spectacular when in bloom. There are many types of trees, bushes, shrubs with some bearing fruit in the summer which not only helps to feed the animals and birds but the humans as well.
Many of the trees are enormous, stretching high into the sky. One of the tallest trees lost its nesting box this year, but hopefully the pair of Kestrels who come each year will find a suitable place to nest this yea, which will allow residents the see the parents teaching the young to swoop.
There are Hedgehogs, Bats and Foxes, who are classed as urban foxes as they live on food left out in the bins or on leftover food. They also eat small rodents and birds; sometimes people become worried when they hear a screaming noise at night - it sounds if there is a cat fight, but its ok, no one is being hurt – it’s the Foxes “talking”.
Barn Hill is abundant with flowers (look out for the Bluebells), trees, animals and birds. They need to be protected so that future generations can see them too. It’s not difficult to see the beauty around us on the Hill, all you need to do is take a walk and look.
Jenny Pamplin, BHRA Committee member
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