Voice Magazines - Ripley & Marehay - February 2026
Hello Readers,
At the time of writing, our angry orange acquaintance over the pond hasn’t colonised us yet, but he is on track with his world domination plans! We’ll all be calling it a ‘Sidewalk’ rather than a ‘Pavement’ in no time!! I am obviously joking before anybody writes in, but times are certainly strange. Still, it doesn’t do to dwell on such misery and negativity, there is plenty of that doing the rounds at the moment, so back to more important issues…. we are currently debating the size of the Wagon Wheels in the office this week! Specifically, we love a jammy Wagon Wheel but we were a little outraged about the size these days. Alas, it probably does me a favour as I somewhat vainly try and shed the Christmas chub, but this is besides the point. Anyway, in other news, did everyone enjoy a bit of bird twitching? We clocked quite a few Finches, a couple of Robins, some Tits and a fair few Wood Pigeons.
I know you’re only supposed to record the number you see at any one time but I still couldn’t tell you if there are 64 sparrows visiting our garden or if it’s the same 3 on rotation, who kept popping back to see whether I’d topped up the feeder?!
We’ve also published our Christmas comp winners in this edition as usual. Thankyou so much for entering and well done to the winners who bypassed our sneaky red herring and saw straight through the fact that Rockin’ Robin was not in fact, a Christmas song. Sarah loved bob bob bobbing around and delivering the goodies like Buddy the Elf! And I believe our winners were super excited to have won. So, we’ll do another giveaway in late Spring, so keep your eyes peeled because we’re lining up some cracking gifts again….it isn’t far away now!
Happy Reading,
Emily x
info@voicemagazines.co.uk
Funtastic February 2026
February may be the shortest month of the year, but it’s certainly one of the busiest.
This month, our front covers celebrate everything that makes February special — from national events and cultural celebrations to local festivals and simple moments of joy. With 11 editions, each cover highlights a different theme, while together they showcase the variety and vibrancy that February brings to our communities.
ALFRETON EDITION Food lovers will spot PANCAKE DAY (17TH FEB) featured on the cover. A long-standing tradition that brings families together, it’s a day of fun, indulgence and friendly competition — who can flip the best pancake?
BAKEWELL EDITON CHINESE NEW YEAR (17TH FEB TIL 3RD MAR), welcoming the Year of the Fire Horse. Marked by colour, symbolism and hope for the year ahead, it represents renewal, energy and ambition — themes that resonate well beyond the celebrations themselves.
BROADMEADOWS EDITION Derby hosts the UK GHOST STORY FESTIVAL (FROM 27TH FEB), offering a fascinating mix of folklore, history and storytelling. Perfect for long winter evenings, it taps into our love of mystery and the supernatural.
CLAY CROSS EDITION Local culture shines with the CHESTERFIELD WINTER BEER FESTIVAL (6TH & 7TH FEB), a popular event bringing people together to enjoy craft ales, good company and a lively atmosphere — a true winter highlight.
DARLEY DALE EDITION Music fans can look forward to THE BRIT AWARDS (28TH FEB), celebrating British musical talent and creativity. It’s a night that reflects the diversity and influence of UK music, both past and present.
ACRANDOM TS OF 17th Feb day
HUTHWAITE & SUTTON EDITION Sport features strongly this month, beginning with the WINTER OLYMPICS (6TH TIL 22ND FEB). Athletes from across the world come together to demonstrate dedication, resilience and excellence, providing inspiration and drama during the colder weeks.
KIRKBY-IN-ASHFIELD EDITION NATIONAL LOVE YOUR PET DAY (20TH FEB) reminds us of the comfort, loyalty and happiness our pets bring into our lives every day.
MATLOCK EDITION Friendship is celebrated with GALENTINE’S DAY (13TH FEB), recognising the importance of strong bonds between friends and the joy of supporting one another.
RIPLEY EDITION Kindness is celebrated with RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS DAY (17TH FEB), a reminder that small gestures can make a big difference. From helping a neighbour to offering a smile, this day highlights the power of compassion within our communities.
SELSTON EDITION Love takes centre stage with VALENTINE’S DAY, CELEBRATED on 14TH FEB. Whether romantic, platonic or self-love, Valentine’s is a reminder to pause and appreciate the people who matter most, making it a perfect symbol of connection and warmth during winter.
SWANWICK EDITION Rugby returns with the SIX NATIONS (STARTS ON 5TH FEB), uniting fans across the UK in friendly rivalry and national pride as teams battle it out on the pitch.
Together, these 11 covers tell the story of February - a month full of celebration, connection and community spirit, proving that even the coldest weeks can be rich with warmth and meaning.
We ran the most fabulous competition in December with amazing support from local companies and bumper entries from local residents. One of the challenges was to spot all the Christmas songs illustrated in the picture – and we did warn you there would be a red herring! Many of you correctly noticed that “Rockin’ Robin” sneaked in, despite not actually being a Christmas song at all. We wanted to share the pics of the happy winners to show that we didn’t just run off with the gifts ourselves (although we wanted to!!), and also to remind you all… “you’ve got to be in it to win it!!
HERITAGE TRUST
A GOTTLE OF GEAR
Ripley may not be known for its famous personalities but a closer look sometimes produces surprises: one such is Johnson Clark.
He was born in 1886 in Ripley, quite possibly at Peasehill Farm which his father Richard seems to have been renting. He grew up in Belper and at 14 got a job at Cox and Malin’s in Derby.
On holiday in Blackpool, he bought from a performer a book entitled “How to Become a Ventriloquist” for twopence and began to practise. Aged about 18 whilst in Skegness, he managed to join the troupe of Pierrots run by Fred Clements, performing on the beach or on a “pitch” adjoining Hildred’s Hotel. He told a story of how he had bought a set of 5 ventriloquist’s dolls, but one day on the beach a high tide swept them out to sea. Friends in the party bought him a new boy puppet, which remained with him for the rest of his career.
He made his first appearance in London in 1904 in Waltham Green, using the stage name Vernando. Later he reverted to his own name, using his mother’s maiden name as his forename.
His act was as “The Sportsman Ventriloquist”, with a “naughty boy” dummy named Hodge. He performed successfully on radio and became a regular on the variety theatre circuit in the mid-20th century. He toured America in 1909-10 and eventually took part in the Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium in 1931.
His brother, Henry Clark, also became an entertainer, taking the stage name Hal Bryan and appearing in variety shows and as a pantomime dame.
Johnson died in 1956, having been taken ill whilst performing at the Opera House in Workington, and was cremated in Carlisle, where he had been due to open in a pantomime later that year.
Caricature by George Cooke (1914)
Johnson Clark and “Hodge”.
Clements Pierrots in Skegness
NOTTS FUNERAL DIRECTOR
BEREAVED FAMILIES IN SELSTON BY SPONSORING NEW GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP.
Nottinghamshire’s Gillotts Funeral Directors has been helping bereaved people with the grieving process by sponsoring a valuable new free support group in Selston.
Paula Daley, a psychotherapist and founder of Revive Counselling and Wellbeing Community Interest Company (CIC) at the Tin Hat Centre in Selston, said she is extremely grateful to Gillotts for helping start up Haven Bereavement Group whose sessions have been running at St Helen’s Church in the village.
Paula has been running the group with a colleague, Lucy, a qualified bereavement counsellor.
Local people have been coming along to get support in being able to live alongside their grief.
Paula, who has worked as a bereavement counsellor for a local hospice, said: “The Haven Bereavement Group was created to provide a safe, supportive space where people can share their experience and deepen their understanding of grief and loss.
“It offers a place where people can speak openly and honestly around grief, explore how loss has affected them and realise they are not alone – as grief can often be deeply isolating.
“For the people who attend, life can still feel very challenging. Many are struggling in different ways, and grief continues to impact them day to day. The group enables people to be open about how they are feeling, reduces feelings of isolation, and supports them in finding ways to move forward alongside their grief.
“Many people say: ‘I shouldn’t be feeling this way, I should have moved on’. There’s a common belief that with time, these feelings will disappear because time alone heals.
“Time can help but it’s not about your grief going away. When someone dies, that creates a circle of loss within you. That circle doesn’t always get smaller — instead, you grow around it, learning to live with grief as part of your life.”
Paula said she was very grateful for support from Gillotts, without which she would not have been able to offer the valuable sessions for free.
She said: “It’s vital that people are given the space to express how they feel, rather than carrying their pain alone. When feelings are pushed aside, the pain doesn’t disappear. Death is still something many people find difficult to talk about, which can leave individuals feeling isolated in their grief.
“It has been amazing to have support from Gillotts. This service is much needed, and it’s been great to have been able to put it on for free.”
Gillotts Funeral Director partner Joanne Hutsby said: “We have been very proud to support the Haven Bereavement Group in Selston. At Gillotts we see grieving families every day and we are there to support them as they go through the toughest times we all experience. Bereavement counselling can be invaluable for people in learning they are not alone and that support is out there for them. It’s a natural fit for us at Gillotts to be supporting this work and we are very happy to hear it has been such a success.”
Paula Daley from Revive with Zowie Hart at Gillotts Funeral Directors in Selston
Slimming World Recipe Chicken Supreme
Method:
1. Preheat your oven to 200°C/ fan 180°C/gas 6.
2. Put the asparagus and peppers in a non-stick roasting tin. Spray with 1 cal cooking spray and roast for 15-20 minutes or until tender.
3. At the same time, spray a medium non-stick frying pan with 1 cal cooking spray and put it over a low-medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and stir-fry for 5 minutes, or until lightly browned.
THURSDAY MORNING 7:30am & 9am
THURSDAY EVENING 5:30pm & 7 ST JOSEPH’S CHURCH HALL 94 Butterley Hill, Ripley, Derbyshire DE5 3LW
This spin on the french classic is full of flavour and perfect for a special evening in.
4. Add the chicken, bacon and mushrooms and cook for a further 10 minutes, or until chicken is cooked.
5. While the chicken’s cooking, put the quark, stock, mustard powder and a little seasoning in a large bowl. Mix really well to get a thick sauce.
6. Add the sauce to the chicken mixture, stir really well and simmer for 5-10 minutes. Sprinkle with the parsley and serve with a third of a plate of the roasted veg.
Ingredients:
• Bunch of asparagus, woody ends snapped off
• 1 red and 1 yellow pepper, deseeded and roughly chopped
• 2 skinless and boneless chicken breasts, thickly sliced
• 4 back bacon rashers, visible fat removed, roughly chopped
• 300g button mushrooms, cut in half
• 100g plain quark
• 100ml hot chicken stock
• 1 tsp mustard powder
• 1 tsp dried parsley
Ready in: 35 mins
Gliderobes Unveils New Hinged Wardrobe Collection in Derbyshire Showroom
When you think of Gliderobes, you might picture sleek, space-saving sliding wardrobes - but there’s more to our story.
Our Derbyshire showroom now proudly features an all-new range of beautifully crafted hinged-door wardrobes, combining timeless design with the quality and practicality you’ve come to expect from Gliderobes.
Each new display showcases the versatility of hinged wardrobes - ideal for both classic and contemporary interiors. Whether you’re drawn to minimalist matt finishes or warm wood grains, our new collection demonstrates how hinged doors can bring elegant character and accessibility to any bedroom.
Visitors to our showroom can explore a wide variety of internal layouts too - from
adjustable shelving and soft-close drawers to integrated lighting - all tailored to make your storage beautifully functional. And while wardrobes remain our speciality, we’re also excited to feature a stunning media wall unit and a boot room on display, both perfect for creating stylish, built-in focal points in your living space.
At Gliderobes, everything is made to measure in our Derbyshire factory, ensuring a perfect fit and flawless finish every time. Whether you prefer the effortless glide of sliding doors or the classic charm of hinged designs, our expert team is here to help you design storage that works beautifully for your home.
Visit the Gliderobes showroom in Derbyshire today and discover how much more we do than glide.
hinged-door wardrobes
Media Wall Unit
ACHIEVE YOUR HEALTH GOALS AT ULTIMATE HEALTH & FITNESS RIPLEY WITH SMALL GROUP PERSONAL TRAINING (SGPT)
WHO WE ARE?
Ultimate Health and Fitness Ripley SGPT is more than just a gym, we’re a community dedicated to helping local residents achieve their health and fitness goals in a supportive, welcoming environment.
We’re a team of passionate trainers who understand that everyone’s fitness journey is unique. Whether you’re a complete beginner who hasn’t exercised in years or someone
looking to take their training to the next level, we’re here to guide and support you every step of the way.
Our facility is built on the belief that sustainable fitness comes from education, accountability and genuine connection. We’re not interested in short-term fixes—we’re invested in long-term results that change lives.
HOW WE HELP?
Our approach is simple: we meet you where you are and create a clear path forward. Here’s what sets us apart:
• Expert Coaching: Our qualified trainers provide hands-on guidance, proper technique instruction and ongoing support.
• Community Accountability: Train alongside others who share your commitment to getting healthier and stronger.
• Education First: We teach you the “why” behind every exercise so you can make informed decisions about your health.
• Sustainable Approach: No crash diets or unsustainable workout regimes, just proven methods that fit into your real life.
• Structured Programming: Clear, effective training sessions that deliver results.
Many people in our community struggle with common fitness challenges and we’re here to help:
“I don’t know where to start” We eliminate the guesswork with clear, structured programs designed specifically for beginners. You’ll never feel lost or overwhelmed.
“I’ve tried before and failed” Past setbacks don’t define your future. We help you understand what went wrong before and create a realistic plan you can actually stick to.
“I don’t have time” Our efficient training methods maximize results without requiring you to live at the gym. We work with your schedule, not against it.
THE PROBLEMS WE SOLVE? READY TO GET STARTED?
“I feel intimidated by gyms” Our welcoming, judgment-free environment ensures everyone feels comfortable from day one. We celebrate all victories, no matter how small.
“I can’t stay motivated” Our community support and accountability systems keep you engaged and on track, even when motivation wanes.
“I don’t see results” With proper programming, expert guidance and consistent support, you’ll finally break through plateaus and achieve the results you’ve been working toward.
If you’re tired of going it alone and ready to join a community that truly cares about your success, we’d love to meet you.
Visit Ultimate Health and Fitness Ripley SGPT and discover what’s possible when you have the right support, guidance and environment.
START YOUR JOURNEY TODAY
AMBER VALLEY RUGBY CLUB
BANTER, BRAGGING RIGHTS, AND BIG CLUB SPIRIT
Amber Valley RUFC recently hosted the annual rugby clash against Riddings Cricket Club - a fixture that always promises great spirit, plenty of laughs, and more than a few post-match refreshments.
While the day is full of friendly banter, let’s be honest… underneath it all, it’s definitely about bragging rights. This year, those honours went to Riddings, who emerged victorious and will no doubt remind us of that fact for some time to come.
This year’s match was extra special as it doubled as a charity fixture in support of the MND Association. Thanks to the generosity of players, supporters, and both clubs, we raised an incredible £1,000+, turning a competitive afternoon into something truly meaningful.
What really stood out was the atmosphere. Members from all levels of the club came together to support the event,
in
creating a brilliant “one big family” feel both on and off the pitch — exactly what rugby is all about.
NEW GIRLS TEAM TAKES TO THE FIELD
Despite the weather doing its best to disrupt plans lately, the newly launched girls’ team kicked off in January and has already made a fantastic start. The girls who’ve attended are loving the sessions and are excited to keep building their skills. If you fancy giving it a go, please get in touch — it’s honestly not as hard as you might think!
While the weather may be hampering games, training is still going strong both indoors and outdoors for all sections. So, wrap up warm, come along, and give rugby a try — you’ll be glad you did.
rugby a try? call Stuart 07966 867 946 for the men,
More than just a club, we are the #ValleyFamily. You can visit our website www.ambervalleyrfc.co.uk pages to contact us or follow what we do. You can find us at Lower Somercotes, Somercotes, Alfreton
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Replacing an ageing septic tank?
Navigating strict planning or environmental consents?
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From design to installation, our package treatment plants help you:
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A dogs Day out
This walk last featured in the magazines about 5 years ago and it’s one we frequently take Flakey on. The Trails are great for winter walking and present a number of opportunities to let him off-lead.
As well as the trails there is a great variety of scenery, not least the views from the ‘Miner’, which is the highest point in Nottinghamshire.
6-MILE CIRCULAR WALK FROM BRIERLEY FOREST PARK
A moderate and varied walk for you and your dog. The route should take around 3 hours. The route has a couple of decent inclines and there are stiles to cross. There are a few stretches of road so take care. The weather will have impaired the terrain, so a good pair of boots are always advised. And as always, follow the Countryside Code.
START: Brierley Forest Park Visitor Centre, Skegby Road, Huthwaite, NG17 2PL.
1. Begin in the car park. Facing the visitors centre exit the car park on the right, passing through a kissing gate and continue straight along the path. Continue to pass a picnic area and pond on your right.
2. Continue straight ignoring all other paths for some distance. Eventually you come to a junction of several paths, bear left, signposted for ‘Silverhill Trial’.
3. Continue along the trail passing a golf course on your left. Near the end of the golf course, you reach a cross roads of footpaths with a kissing gate on either side of the trail. Turn right, to enter a field. Continue along the fenced off path across the field to the far side to enter the trees through a gap and continue across a wooden footbridge into another field.
4. Cross the field diagonally right and at the far side cross a stile adjacent to a telegraph pole into another field. Keep on the path, diagonally across the field to cross a stile and a bridge into another field.
5. Take a slight diagonal left to cross the field, heading for a gap in the fence on the left-hand perimeter of this field. Pass through the gap and uphill onto the Silverhill Trail.
6. Turn right, signposted for ‘Teversal’. Pass over a road bridge and then an old station platform on your right. Continue until reaching a signpost on your right. Bear right and then turn left following the signs for ‘The Miner’ and ‘Highest Point’.
7. Keep straight ahead until you cross a road bridge, then bear left, following the signs for ‘The Miner’ and ‘Highest Point’.
8. Continue along this trail, passing a pond on your right and onto a T-junction with a large ‘Silverhill Wood’ sign on your right. Turn right here and continue winding gently uphill along the trail for approx.1 mile. At a fork in the path, bear left uphill. Pass through a large wooden gate and shortly after turn right to climb some steps to ‘The Miner’.
9. At the top of the steps bear left, keeping ‘The Miner’ monument on your right and continue downhill along a footpath to re-join the trail. Continue downhill, through a wooden chicane, a metal width restrictor and onto a road.
10. Turn left along the road to a T-junction. Turn right along the main road and then after a short distance take the signposted footpath on your left. Pass by a metal gate and cross 2 stiles to
go through a kissing gate and turn right onto the Silverhill Trail, signposted for Tibshelf.
11. Continue straight to pass over a cross road of footpaths. Then after some distance cross over a bridge and shortly after take a path off to the left. Follow the path as it bends left to join with another path and follow the signs for ‘Brierley Forest Park’.
12. Continue until reaching a crossroads of footpaths (the same as in point 3) and turn right, passing through a metal gate and onto a footpath through a golf course.
13. Continue uphill and at the top continue with a hedge on either side until reaching a some signposts before turning left along a footpath signposted ‘Frackley’.
14. Continue straight for some distance. Ignoring a path bearing left, carry on to pass ‘Hole No. 2’ on your left and then through a wooden gate. Immediately after a gate the path splits, bear left and continue straight until reaching a crossroads of footpaths with a signpost on your right. Follow the sign to return to Brierley Forest Visitors Centre and then back round to the car park.
This walk is for illustrative purposes only. Voice Magazines Ltd takes no responsibility for anyone who chooses to follow this route and encourages all walkers to obey all byelaws and signs and to respect the area they are walking in, ensuring they pick up all dog mess and obey the countryside code at all times.
Guess the words and Fill in the crossword !
Across
1 Athletic? Casting my eye over it (9)
Pitcherwits® are crossword puzzles where some of the clues are in pictures.
Sound easy? It’s not called “Pit-your-wits” for nothing! The mixture of cryptic and picture clues, combined with Professor Rebus’ unique sense of humour, will keep you entertained for hours.
Across
5 That woman needs some therapy! (3)
6 Bit of compassion for donkey, please (3)
10 Nice index in your earpiece! (3)
11 Arched overhang at final mistake (7)
12 Produce eggs in action replay (3)
16 Trip to have gone out from (3)
17 With a nod back to University type (3)
Down
2 Romulus and Remus, twins having obligation (4)
3 Bargain event place in Cheshire? (4)
8 Heated, he put it back (3,2)
14 Stringed instrument with money in it, say (4)
15 Spot a quiet, slow leak (4)
7 Restarted the match while at loggerheads with her twin (5,2) 13 DIY, suckers? (7)
EVIL IN HIGH PLACES BY RORY CLEMENTS
This is a twisty and compelling historical thriller set in Germany on the cusp of World War II. The world’s athletes, the media, and visitors from across the globe have gathered for the start of the Winter Olympics in Bavaria.
The powerful Nazi government intends this to be a triumph. Its propaganda machine is in overdrive, temporarily hiding its anti-Jewish signs and behaviour, for nothing can be allowed to besmirch Adolf Hitler’s ascendancy.
And when a movie star, who happens to be the mistress of Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s propaganda minister is murdered, this must also be kept hidden from the world.
This book cleverly mixes real figures and events with fiction. But it doesn’t shy from the sometimes savage reality of life under the Nazi regime. Often these kinds of stories are told from the perspective of a foreign spy who goes in to save the day. But this novel is far more interestingly and subtly told from the voice of a German policeman, albeit one who is profoundly distrustful of his government.
It’s very fast paced, atmospheric and well researched and a fascinating look at deep political corruption. Evil in High Places, in fact.
Fill in all the numbers!
This is a sudoku 1 square grid
81 cells
9 3x3 blocks
1 simple rule: Use all the numbers 1-9, with no duplicates allowed, in any row, column, or block.
These puzzles are devised by the brilliant Professor Rebus. For more of his puzzles visit www.pitcherwits.co.uk
D O O R S
D e r w e n t
D e r w e n t
W i n d o w s & D o o r s
W i n d o w s & D o o r s
w w w . d e r w e n t w i n d o w s . c o . u k
w w w . d e r w e n t w i n d o w s . c o . u k
i n f o @ d e r w e n t w i n d o w s . c o . u k i n f o @ d e r w e n t w i n d o w s . c o . u k
We all grew up with one of these in the kitchen. Ours was in use on several days of the week and was always sat on one of the back burners of the hob when not in use.
My mum made great chips. With salt and vinegar, there was nothing better for tea. She would lift them from the fat in the wire basket, give a little shake and then tumble them onto the plate. In my younger childhood, she used lard and I used to love watching it melt away to a liquid on the heat, revealing the cremated crumbs at the bottom of the pan from food fried for previous teas and suppers. When cold, the wire basket would be set into the lard like twigs in ice.
The greatest joy would be when my parents had a Vesta Chow Mein and deep fried the crispy noodles in the hot fat. It was like magic watching them puff up in the pan. The 1990s saw the end of an era. The fire brigade came to fit smoke detectors in the house and gave us a free deep
fat frier in exchange for taking away the old chip pan. The firemen ceremonially removed it from the kitchen as though it were radioactive.
As I remember, I can almost smell the hot fat bubbling as the chips cooked to a perfect golden colour. Frozen oven chips just don’t give the same satisfaction.
IS SPRING ON ITS WAY?
Mild autumn conditions were followed by a swift downturn in the weather through December and into January with deep frosts and heavy snowfalls. However, despite the spells of cold, wintry weather, there were signs of the seasons changing and even of Spring on its way. Hazel catkins are some of the earliest signs of Spring arriving especially in places such as along the Monsal Trail around Hassop, and in the nearby Derbyshire Dales. Some summertime flowers persisted into late December, with garden roses suddenly reappearing, and wildflowers like Red Campion, Common Hogweed, Cow Parsley, Herb Robert and Ox-eye Daisy all still to be found blooming in the Peak’s countryside. Indeed, in woodlands, parks, and gardens, birdlife has also been showing signs of change with first territorial songs given by Mistle Thrushes hidden in the highest branches of tall trees. Loud and melodious these birds sound rather like a Blackbird’s song but less sweet and not so inventive. Also in early December, there were bursts of song from Great Tits and then more recently Blue Tits too, as the Robins change subtly back from their slightly harsh winter song to a sweeter sound of springtime. Tawny Owls, active in local woods since late November, are now well into their breeding season and increasingly vocal. Great Spotted Woodpeckers can be heard with their repeated, high-pitched, ‘chik-chik-chik’ calls delivered from the tree-tops along with their territorial drumming on favoured trunks. On rivers such as the Derbyshire Derwent, the Mallard ducks have already paired up and in some cases have young broods already on the go, and the parent birds are anxiously
trying to keep the ducklings safe from harm. Not all will be successful. Moorhens and Coots are becoming more actively territorial with aggressive encounters increasingly frequent. Exotic Mandarin Ducks are seeking out suitable nest-sites often in tree-holes, and Little Grebes are back on their breeding areas and establishing territories. Another early bird that sings during February and March to establish its riverside territories, is the Dipper or as it used to be known, the Water Ousel.
In gardens around the region, early signs of Spring on its way were to be seen in late December with the first Snowdrops just pushing through. Now, with the weather noticeably milder, carpets of brilliantwhite Snowdrops are joined by the bright yellows and purples of the ubiquitous Crocuses, and early honeybees and hoverflies are drawn to their rich supplies of nectar. Interestingly, the ever-increasing carpets of Snowdrops, in both gardens and the wider countryside, are welcomed and, in some places, have become major tourist attractions for visitors to heritage houses and the like. That Snowdrops are not native but a European import, probably from medieval times, is conveniently overlooked and we treasure them despite this. Our views on the merits and perils of nonnative and so-called ‘alien’ species are surprisingly subjective! Early-season daffodils are also appearing and, in some cases, followed by the rather uncommon Wild Daffodils such as in woodlands around Matlock and the Cromford Canal.
Professor Ian D. Rotherham, researcher, writer, broadcaster on wildlife and environmental issues is contactable on ianonthewildside@ukeconet.org. Follow his website www.ukeconet.org, blog www.ianswalkonthewildside.wordpress.com/ & Twitter @IanThewildside Bluesky @ianthewildside.bsky.social
HONEYBEE & CROCUS
SNOWDROPS
ROBIN
Specialist garden maintenance and landscaping services in Derbyshire and surrounding areas
If there’s a patch of milder weather in February it can be a good time for getting things into the ground early, with the usual caveats not to plant in waterlogged or frozen ground.
Fruiting bushes and plants such as raspberries and blackcurrants and strawberries can be planted in the ground now. Give strawberries some good manure and don’t plant too deep – the crown of the plant should be level with the soil, not beneath it.
If you didn’t get round to putting alliums or late spring favourite bulbs such as lilies or anemones in last autumn there is still time to do it though they will flower a little later. Soak anemone bulbs well before planting.
Plants tolerating an early start in the soil include hardy geraniums and Japanese anemones. Both are happy in light shade.
Cut back last season’s long stems of sedums which are starting to show buds. This avoids the buds being damaged or constrained as they grow.
Cornus, also known as dogwood, are those bushes which provide brightly coloured vibrant winter stems. If you cut them back almost to ground level once they have done their job this winter, it gives you much more chance of producing really good colour next year.
