Fen: Red 'n' Pinkness

Warning: Non Cambridge 23 Content - its totally off-topic and its all about the Fen...

The Fen is just beginning to take on a slight brown cast. High summer is on it way and some of the plants are done for the year already. The leaves on the trees have lost their spring softness and brightness and have hardened up ready for a tough summers work.

A curious number of red and pink things spotted today; a bright red ladybird and brick red tortoiseshell butterfly sunnning themselves side by side; the spent red lower leaves of the sorrels and wild geraniums; arching branches of dog-rose with soft pink blooms turned up to the sun; and lavendar-pink emerging thistle flowers atop their spiky spires.

If you have a hour to spare over the next 24 hours perhaps you'd care to help our colleagues from the Museum of Zoology with their 'BioBlitz' on the Fen?

''At 1pm on July 2nd 2010, experts, volunteers and members of the public will begin a race against time to count as many species of plants and animals on Coe Fen in Cambridge as possible within 24 hours. No small task! And we are looking for you to get involved with this exciting project exploring the biodiversity within our city.

As well as the survey of the site, there will be walks, trails and hands on activities provided by wildlife organizations from around the region. Members of the public are invited to drop in on the Friday afternoon and Saturday. Visit base camp on site when you arrive for maps, recording forms and hands on activities.''
http://www.museum.zoo.cam.ac.uk/events/bioblitz.cambridge.2010/