Messenger April May 2020

Conigre Mead Melksham was a field of
rough grass until bought by local people who set
about digging ponds, clearing scrub and planting
trees and wildflowers. It was given to us as a
nature reserve in 1989 and is now a lovely mix of
ponds, wildflower-rich grassland and shrubs.
Easily accessible with good, level paths, you can
walk around the meadow, and sit overlooking the
Bristol Avon.
On sunny days watch the courtship displays of
emperor dragonfly, red-eyed and common blue damselfly and the rare white
legged damselfly. In spring and summer the meadow is a pink-and-white
patchwork of ragged robin and ox-eye daisy, red campion and meadowsweet.
Keep an eye out for butterflies such as the orange tip and brimstone - one of the
earliest to come out in spring.
Over the pond, fringed with golden marsh marigolds and yellow iris, you might
see the blue flash of a kingfisher. Migrating wading birds, such as the common
sandpiper, stop off here and regular visitors include moorhens, mallards and mute
swans. You may spot a grass snake sunning itself, or water vole by the river. A
18 MESSENGER APRIL MAY 2020
14 MESSENGER APRIL MAY 2020
12 MESSENGER APRIL MAY 2020