Newts

[hsl]

Just a quick comment. I remember when I was a kid we used to go fishing down the local brooke. We always found Newts , Stone Loaches and different Sticklebacks (we used to run our fingers along the edges until we felt something, then scooped it out. I wouldn't dare do that now! (We always put the life back, but realise it was a mistake to disturb them now.)

Recently I was down the brooke playing golf and noticed that there was no life at all in the brooke, apart from snails Is this a case of all wildlife in this country being wiped out, or just Newts and Sticklebacks etc? Still sad though.

[Kayleigh]

I remember sciving school and fishing in the local brook we used to catch sticklebacks..Not seen any for years..

[galanthus]

Hmmm, as adults we can be fooled into looking at what appears in front of us, as kids we are determined there be magic in those there rivers and get on our bellies to look, hence finding our creatures.

If I sit with a glass of wine looking at my pond I see the little creatures, if I get down with nose almost in water, (yes the neighbours are used to it ), I see more. Next time you're there pop your golf clubs down and get down where you can see whilst dragging fingers through water. You may not see anything but it'll take you back a few years

[Hobjob]

Originally Posted by galanthus

You may not see anything but it'll take you back a few years

Probably see your golf ball though

[ron1863]

Originally Posted by galanthus

Hmmm, as adults we can be fooled into looking at what appears in front of us, as kids we are determined there be magic in those there rivers and get on our bellies to look, hence finding our creatures.

If I sit with a glass of wine looking at my pond I see the little creatures, if I get down with nose almost in water, (yes the neighbours are used to it ), I see more. Next time you're there pop your golf clubs down and get down where you can see whilst dragging fingers through water. You may not see anything but it'll take you back a few years

Good post Galanthus and it brought back memories of my childhood when we too used to wade in streams looking under stones etc. As a youngster you don't care about getting down and dirty.

Oh, and newts, sticklebacks etc are still around in numbers, you just have to know where to look - closely

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by galanthus

Hmmm, as adults we can be fooled into looking at what appears in front of us, as kids we are determined there be magic in those there rivers and get on our bellies to look, hence finding our creatures.

If I sit with a glass of wine looking at my pond I see the little creatures, if I get down with nose almost in water, (yes the neighbours are used to it ), I see more. Next time you're there pop your golf clubs down and get down where you can see whilst dragging fingers through water. You may not see anything but it'll take you back a few years

I lie on the grass looking into the pond watching the newts sort of tail fanning Its fascinating The neighbours think I'm bonkers..They are not wrong..

[demicav]

Originally Posted by hsl

Just a quick comment. I remember when I was a kid we used to go fishing down the local brooke. We always found Newts , Stone Loaches and different Sticklebacks (we used to run our fingers along the edges until we felt something, then scooped it out. I wouldn't dare do that now! (We always put the life back, but realise it was a mistake to disturb them now.)

Recently I was down the brooke playing golf and noticed that there was no life at all in the brooke, apart from snails Is this a case of all wildlife in this country being wiped out, or just Newts and Sticklebacks etc? Still sad though.

As a child I was always in fields, streams and ponds looking for wildlife and I always found it. I didn't have to go far, it was all around me and I loved it. I collected Newts and Sticklebacks quite often (ashamed to say it now but was a child and they weren't protected back then). I've been back to these areas many times and they're now barron. No fish at all, no Newts, nothing. It breaks my heart so I can really empathize with you. I'm sure there are areas that still have flourishing numbers but it's sad to see areas which hold special childhood memories change to such a degree.

[Kayleigh]

When I built my pond two years ago, we got about 10 newts straight away..I couldn't believe they would colonise a pond that quick..Just goes to show they are in desperate need of habitat and I am glad they have chosen my pond

[galanthus]

Originally Posted by Hobjob

Probably see your golf ball though

[hsl]

Originally Posted by demicav

As a child I was always in fields, streams and ponds looking for wildlife and I always found it. I didn't have to go far, it was all around me and I loved it. I collected Newts and Sticklebacks quite often (ashamed to say it now but was a child and they weren't protected back then). I've been back to these areas many times and they're now barron. No fish at all, no Newts, nothing. It breaks my heart so I can really empathize with you. I'm sure there are areas that still have flourishing numbers but it's sad to see areas which hold special childhood memories change to such a degree.

Yeah I fully agree with you. What galanthu's said might be right for some people, but I knew instantly how things had changed down there. I remember when it used to rain heavy, we used to have scoles(?) of (I think) Rainbow Trout in the brooke, over 6" long, from the nearby ponds. But they never come anymore. Even the sea weed stuff isn't the same

Once I even found a lobster with babies in a pipe that was next to the brooke's manhole!

We used to play football at this school with a proper pitch, and it had a really dodgy man made pond in the grounds. But that was teaming with Newts.

To me, something is very wrong with the world. We never have snow like even 15 years ago here. All the life is dying out (long after the wolves and bears etc did).

People are spoilt little toads who need to sort themselves out <_<