Long Spinney in Wing

18/12/2025

DID YOU KNOW?
Here is a list of what not to feed and what to feed wild birds:.......................................
❌ FOOD TO AVOID ❌.......................................
❌ BREAD …
Offers little or no nutrition and can fill birds up too quickly, and stop them from eating other, more nutritious food that would give them energy.
It can also cause Angel Wings, which will cause the wings in young birds to be deformed and stop them from being able to fly!!!
❌ LIQUID FAT …
Liquid fat, like drippings from a roast turkey, etc can be extremely harmful to birds.
This is because their feathers and wings might get covered in grease as they feed, making it then difficult - or impossible - to fly.
❌ SALTY FOOD …
This is REALLY dangerous to birds as it is toxic.
Never feed them salted peanuts, crisps, rice, or processed meats such as bacon!
❌ SUGARY or SPICED FOOD …
Avoid sugary cereals or anything with salt or spice.
❌ MOULDY FOOD...
Never, ever put out mouldy bread or seeds, or spoiled food.
.
❌ DESICCATED COCONUT ...
This really is a “no-no” to feed birds.
When eaten, it absorbs liquid and swells inside their tiny stomachs,
which will cause the bird pain and could potentially cause fatal blockages.
❌ AVOCADO …
It contains a substance called persin,
which can cause heart damage and breathing problems in birds if eaten.
❌ CHOCOLATE …
Yummy for us humans …
but NOT for birds, as it is toxic to many animals ( including dogs )................................
👍 SAFE FOOD 👍...............................
👍 SEEDS
Black sunflower seeds (or hearts), niger (thistle) seed, millet, and safflower seeds attract many types of birds.
👍 PEANUTS.
High in fat ( but they MUST be unsalted !!! ) and offered in small pieces - OR - through mesh feeders to prevent choking, especially for young birds.
👍 SUET & FAT:
Fat balls, suet cakes, or beef suet provide crucial energy, particularly in winter.
👍 INSECTS:
Live mealworms or waxworms are excellent, especially for robins and wrens.
👍 OATS & GRAINS:
Uncooked porridge oats, pinhead oats, and cracked corn are good choices.
👍 Fruits:
Soft fruits like apples ( cut in half and pips removed )
ESSENTIAL = Fresh Water & Cleanliness =
1/ Water is Key:
* Provide clean, fresh water daily in a shallow dish.
* Placing it away from feeders to deter predators.
2/ Keep Feeders Clean:
* Clean feeders and water dishes regularly (weekly) to prevent disease transmission

30/11/2025

Hi all

The last 2 maintenance afternoons for 2025 will be on:

Wednesday 3rd Dec _ AND _ Sunday 7th Dec

From 1 pm until 4 pm
(or earlier finishing if we get more helpers joining the team of volunteers !!! )
🟢 THE MEETING POINT 🟢
* The Green Metal Container by the entrance into the Spinney from Bewick Green ( located at the top of the hill )
* If you arrive a bit later, just look out for us in Long Spinney!
(If you are unsure where the meeting point is, please contact us, and we will send you a map! )
🎅 DECEMBER "To-Do" 🎅
* Sweep dead leaves from any bridges.
* The picnic bench still needs levelling.
* Strim and tidy the area near the dragonfly.
* Ground clearance and preparations for wildflower planting/seeding.
* Start rebuilding the dead hedge along Badger Copse - so need to cut and prepare hazel rods.
* Remove any obstructions that might have been thrown into the stream or ponds to stop flooding.
🔵 TOOLS NEEDED 🔵
( if you have them - as we only have a few spare to lend out )
* Wheelbarrow
* Spade
* Rake
* Secateurs and/or shears.
🔴 DON'T FORGET 🔴
* Gardening or working gloves
* Suitable footwear such as boots or wellies!
❗️MORE HELPERS ARE ALWAYS NEEDED ❗️
* There is always a lot to do throughout the year to ensure Long Spinney is well-maintained and safe for us all to use and enjoy - the maintenance of all of Long Spinney takes place twice a month by a team of volunteers - we always look forward to welcoming more helpers to join us!
Not all the jobs we need are hard work or involve heavy lifting or pushing heavy wheelbarrows - easier jobs that still need to be done include:
* Cutting back brambles or nettles encroaching on the paths
*
Sweeping boardwalks and bridges to ensure they are not slippery from wet leaves, mud or ice during the autumn and winter.
Any time you can spare and join the small team of volunteers at any (or both!) of our twice-a-month working parties/maintenance afternoons is really appreciated.
Even an hour or two of your time makes a huge difference - as many hands make light work!
Don't hesitate to reply with any comments, questions or suggestions!
We hope to see you on Wednesday and/or Sunday!
❗️P.S ❗️
If you wish to be added to our emailing list for newsletters ( etc ) or to join our volunteering team, please send us an email:
[email protected]

Kind regards,
The Long Spinney Team

14/11/2025

November maintenance in Long Spinney = completed ✔
THANK YOU to the volunteers who turned up to help!
Wed 5th = 6 volunteers
👍👍👍👍👍👍
Sun 9th = 4 volunteers
👍👍👍👍
The team managed to do lots of grass strimming and mowing on both days, as well as pond clearance.
They also cleared the stream in the hope that it can flow freely through the winter rains and prevent flooding within the spinney. They also set up diverters.
It is not just hard work, we do have a tea break to get some well-earned rest and enjoy some tasty biscuits and a chat!
☕️🍪☕️🍪
The final two maintenance afternoons for 2025 will be on:-
WEDNESDAY 3rd December
and
SUNDAY 7th December
From 1 pm to 4 pm
🟢 As always ....
We keep our fingers crossed that a few more residents and/or Long Spinney users will want to come along and join the small team of regular volunteers, so we can get more done from the never-ending "To-Do" list of jobs ( and so we can all finish a bit earlier for a change )
Even if you can only spare an hour or so of your time, more helpers are always welcome!
🔴 If you notice ...
any urgent health and safety issues or vandalism in the Long Spinney area, please let us know what the problem is and the location and if possible, take a photo!
Our email is: [email protected]
Hope to see you at either or both of our December afternoons!
Kind regards,

The Long Spinney team
P.S
We kindly ask that people don't throw sticks, branches and other "stuff" in the stream and ponds, as this will cause the area to flood during the winter - but it also generates extra work for the volunteers to deal with outside our twice-a-month maintenance afternoons...

07/11/2025

* UPDATE * NEW START TIME FOR SUNDAY 9th *
As it is Remembrance Sunday on the 9th of Nov we will start an hour later than usual -- so meet up is at 2 pm!
We look forward to welcoming more volunteers who are keen to help us maintain Long Spinney!

Kind regards,

The Long Spinney Team

03/11/2025

Please be aware of heavy machinery on site on Bewick Green this week, the contractors will be carrying out the annual autumn cutback. Thank you.

02/11/2025

NOVEMBER 2025 Maintenance afternoons / Working parties:

WEDNESDAY 5th Nov
&
SUNDAY 9th Nov
from 1 pm until 4 pm
( or earlier finish if we get lots of helpers turning up!!! )
THE MEETING POINT...
* The Green Metal Container by the entrance into the Spinney from Bewick Green at the top of the hill
* If you arrive a bit later, just look out for us in Long Spinney!
( if you are unsure where the meeting point is - please contact us and we will send you a map! )
NOVEMBER "To-Do" ...
* Clearing the stream of any obstructions to stop flooding.
* Cut back some hazel to repair the deflectors we built in the water, as well as make some more.
* Reposition the picnic table and add some slabs to stop it from sinking.
* Strimmers are up and running again, so we could do with some strimming in various areas of tall grass, etc.
TOOLS NEEDED ...
( if you have them - as we only have a few spare to lend out ):
* Wheelbarrow
* Spade
* Rake
* Secateurs and/or shears.
DON'T FORGET ...
* Gardening or working gloves and suitable footwear such as boots or wellies!
MORE HELPERS ARE ALWAYS NEEDED ...
There is always a lot to do to ensure Long Spinney is well-maintained and safe for us all to use and enjoy.
Any time you can spare and join the small team of volunteers at any (or both!) of our twice-a-month working parties/maintenance afternoons is really appreciated.
Not all the jobs we need are hard work or involve heavy lifting or pushing heavy wheelbarrows - easier jobs that still need to be done include:

- Cutting back brambles or nettles encroaching on the paths
- Sweeping boardwalks and bridges to ensure they are not slippery from wet leaves, mud or ice during the autumn and winter.
Even an hour or two of your time makes a huge difference - as many hands make light work!
Don't hesitate to reply with any comments, questions or suggestions!
We hope to see you on Wednesday and/or Sunday!
P.S
If you wish to add you to our emailing list for newsletters ( etc ) or to join our volunteering team, please send us an email:
[email protected]

Kind regards,

The Long Spinney Team

20/10/2025

... ANGEL WINGS ... DID YOU KNOW ...
🦆🪿🦆🪿.🦆🪿🦆🪿🦆🪿🦆🪿
“Angel Wings are also known as“Airplane Wings”
And it might sound cute, but…
It is a terrible condition that primarily affects waterfowl like
ducks, geese, and swans.
🦆🪿🦆🪿.🦆🪿🦆🪿
"Angel wing" is a deformity in birds, primarily waterfowl, where the wing joint twists outward, causing the feathers to stick out sideways.
This condition makes flight impossible and is often caused by a combination of genetics, improper diet (especially high protein and carbohydrates), and rapid growth.
While the condition is permanent in mature birds, it may be correctable in young birds by correcting their diet and physically strapping the wing.
The RSPCA advises against feeding bread to wildfowl and recommends healthy alternatives like oats, corn, or seeds instead
❓What does it look like ❓
The affected wing ( or wings ) will stick out at a right angle to the body - rather than lying flat against the bird’s back.
❓What causes Angel Wings ❓
* Genetics *
There is a suspected genetic component to the condition. ‘
* Diet *
A diet high in carbohydrates and protein.
Common when birds are fed bread, can lead to improper joint development.
* Rapid growth *
Too-fast growth due to diet can cause the underdeveloped joint to twist.
* Other factors *
Nutritional deficiencies, improper incubation, and excessive heat during the early growth period are also suspected causes.
❓How does it effect the bird❓
* Inability to fly *
The deformed wing prevents the bird from flying.
* Inability to migrate. *
The inability to fly also prevents them from migrating, and can make it harder to escape predators.
* Potential for increased mortality *
In some cases, the inability to fly or escape predators can lead to a higher mortality rate.
❓What to do if you find a bird with angel wing❓
1/
Do not feed it bread or other human foods:
This can contribute to the condition in other birds.
2/
For young birds:
If the bird is young, contact a local wildlife rescue. They may be able to correct the condition with proper diet and by strapping the wing.
3/
For adult birds:
If the bird is an adult, the condition is likely permanent. The bird may need to be cared for in a sanctuary if it cannot survive on its own.
4/
Avoid touching wild birds:
It is best to observe the bird from a distance and call a professional for help.
❓ Is there a prevention to stop this happening ❓
The best way to prevent angel wings from happening to birds is to avoid feeding waterfowl bread and other high-carbohydrate foods.

Ensure they instead have access to a balanced diet.

Sources:
https://www.wyemarsh.com/usercontent/PDFs/Angel_Wing_Syndrome.pdf
https://www.helpwildlife.co.uk/advice/airplane-wing/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_wing
https://www.rspb.org.uk/

10/10/2025

OCTOBER - Maintenance afternoons completed ✅

Report from our volunteers:

Wednesday 1st October...
* There were 4 of us this afternoon.
* Liz kindly came over with tea and biscuits, and she also stayed to lend a hand, which was much appreciated 👍☺️
* The first job was to remove a fallen tree that was partly blocking the stream.
* Next, we sadly had to cut back the tree by the bench, which was slowly dropping lower and lower!
* We managed to strim by the pond and the bank where daffodils come through
* Last job was to clear the drainage pipe near the picnic bench
So it was a full-on afternoon!
Sunday 5th October ...
* The volunteer team today was 4 in total, and the work they got done was excellent ( just like the Wednesday team !!! )
* All 6 bags of wood chippings were used on paths.
* Then they dealt with the trees & scrub near the apple trees & began to prune
All in all, two really good afternoons with lots that got done by such a small team of volunteers!
MANY THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK!
The next 2 maintenance afternoons will take place in November:-
Wednesday 5th - and - Sunday 9th

15/09/2025

CAUTION ... STORMY and WINDY WEATHER ...
Entry to Long Spinney during high winds is to be discouraged due to the likelihood of falling trees and branches.
ACCESS IS AT YOUR OWN RISK
PLEASE TAKE DUE CARE AND ATTENTION
Please note that Rushmere Country Park in Leighton Buzzard will be closed due to high winds - but do check their social media for updates as they will re-open if they feel it is safe to do so.
We do not close Long Spinney, but advise any users to not enter during high winds, stormy weather and anyone entering in such conditions does so at their own risk.

Thank you!

12/09/2025

So, that’s the September working afternoon completed....

Yes, it was only 1 maintenance afternoon done in September ( on Sunday 7th ) as the weather was “ not great “ on the Wednesday. ..
A big THANK YOU
to the 7 volunteers on Sunday's maintenance afternoon
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Here is some of the work completed:-

1/ Assembling the first stages of the bug hotel 🐜🐞🐌🕷
2/ Clearing debris from the stream
3/ Lots of clearing of brambles from the forest glade in readiness for next year's spring flowers
And a big THANK YOU
to Liz for providing us with tea and biscuits for our break. 🍪🫖☕
It is always greatly appreciated.👍
The amount of work completed on Sunday by the team of 7 volunteers is just brilliant, and it all looks great.

The work on the bridge to the horse field is at a very high standard and was repaired by our volunteers 👍
The next two maintenance afternoons will be in OCTOBER:

🟢 Wednesday 1st - AND - Sunday 5th
🟢 From 2 pm onwards.
Again, any Long Spinney users or residents who wish to come along and help us out are always welcome!
We can not stress enough the need for more volunteers to join the team to keep all of Long Spinney in good working order for us all to enjoy!
Even an hour or so of your time is much appreciated and will make a huge difference to the volunteers - and as the saying goes:
Many hands make light work!!!
Any questions, comments or suggestions - or to inform us of any vandalism or any urgent repairs that need to be done for Health and Safety reasons, please contact us by email.

[email protected]

Thank you
The Long Spinney team

31/08/2025

Hi all
Our 2 maintenance afternoons by the volunteer team for SEPTEMBER will be on:-
WEDNESDAY 3rd _ and _ SUNDAY 7th ( from 2 pm till 5 pm)
🔴 SEPTEMBER "To-Do" LIST ( so far… ) 🔴
1/ THE STREAM =
Rebuilding the bridge pipe outflow and clearing it of pallets, wood and any other debris before the autumn rains start, which would cause flooding.
2/ MATERIALS (wood/branches) =
Enhancing existing dead hedges, and if enough volunteers turn up to help us out, create a new dead hedge!
3/ BRAMBLES / NETTLES =
cutting back along the paths.
4/ TIDY UP =
around the benches where trees are overhanging
🟢 TOOLS NEEDED 🟢
(If you have them, as we only have a few spares to share)
= Wheelbarrow
= Spade
= Rake
= Secateurs
= Shears
🟠 DON'T FORGET 🟠
* Gardening gloves, suitable footwear such as boots or similar.
* Water or a soft drink to keep hydrated.
🔵 THE MEETING POINT 🔵
The Green Metal Container by the entrance into the Spinney from Bewick Green at the top of the hill.
* If you arrive a bit later, just look out for us in the Spinney area *
❗️MORE HELPERS NEEDED ❗️
There is always much work to be done to keep Long Spinney well-maintained, so we need as much help as we can get from residents and Long Spinney users!
Not all the work that we do are hard work or involves heavy lifting!
Easier jobs would include: Cutting back brambles and nettles with secateurs or sweeping boardwalks from mud or wet leaves in the autumn and winter, for example!
Any time you can spare to help us ( even if it's just an hour!) makes a huge difference and is much appreciated by the volunteers.
🤞We hope to see you on Wednesday and/or Sunday 🤞
Don't hesitate to reply with any comments, questions or suggestions.
P.S
If you wish to join the email list to get the information about future maintenance afternoons, please send us an email.
Many thanks
The Long Spinney Team
Email: [email protected]

21/08/2025

OH DEER! DID YOU KNOW …
THERE ARE 6 SPECIES OF WILD DEER IN THE UK.

Red deer, Roe deer, Fallow deer, Sika deer, Reeves' muntjac deer, and Chinese water deer.

It is only the Red and Roe deer that are native to the United Kingdom.

All the other were introduced from other parts of the world - mainly for ornamental purposes, but also for hunting.
Our native species:
🦌Red deer
( Latin name: Cervus elaphus )
* This is the largest land mammal in the United Kingdom.
* In the summer, the coat is a rusty red colour, which turns brown in the winter
* The fully grown male (stag ) can weigh between 90 - 190 kg and stand up to 1m 37 cm to the shoulder.
* It has a short tail, and its average life span is 18 years.
🦌Roe deer
( Latin name: Capreolus capreolus )
* If you see a deer running away from you with a distinct white patch on their backside and no tail, then you have seen a roe deer!
* The colour of the coat is bright rusty red in summer and a dull greyish colour in the winter.
* Males (bucks) have small antlers, which typically have three points when fully grown.
* Fully grown, it weighs between 10 - 25 kg, and the average life span is 10 years.
Non-native deer species:
🦌Fallow deer
( Latin name: Dama dama )
* This deer is widespread across the United Kingdom.
* They can be identified by what looks like an inverted horseshoe ( black ) on their backside.
* They have the longest tail of all the British deer species.
* They can weigh up to 93 kg, and the average lifespan is 16 years.
🦌Sika deer
( Latin name: Cervus nippon )
* This deer is pretty similar to the fallow deer in colour, but will change from brow/red with white spots to a pale brown/yellow coat.
* Mature stags (male) typically carry a maximum of 8 points on their antlers. Females do not have antlers.
* Stags make a rising and falling whistle during the rut
* The male can weigh 40 - 70kg, and the female 30 - 45 kg and the average lifespan is 18 years.
🦌Reeves' Muntjac deer
( Latin name: Muntiacus reevesi )
* If you have heard the barking sound from a deer when it gets disturbed, then it is the muntjac!
* Its coat is brown, and it is small and stocky looking.
* Average lifespan is 18 years, and the average weight of the adult male is 10-18kg, and the female 9-16 kg.
* It was introduced into the UK from China in the 20th century when they were brought to Woburn Park in Bedfordshire. Some escaped or were deliberately released, and they established wild populations that have since spread throughout southern and central England and parts of Wales, becoming one of the most widespread deer species in the UK
🦌Water deer ( Chinese water deer )
(Latin name is: Hydropotes inermis)
* If you see a deer with what looks like fangs or tusks, then you’ve spotted a water deer!
* These fangs are used similarly to deer with antlers for display and as weapons.
* They have large, rounded ears and a teddy bear-like appearance.
* Chinese water deer were first kept at London Zoo in 1873, but escaped from Whipsnade Zoo in 1929 and then their numbers increased through introductions into deer parks and subsequent escapes and releases and the British population is now thought to account for 10% of the world’s total.
Three of the six species have been seen in Long Spinney:
🦌 Roe deer
🦌 Muntjac deer
🦌 Chinese Water deer

Source: The British Deer Society [ https://bds.org.uk/ ]

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