The phrase swings and roundabouts certainly applies to our wildlife. This has been the case with the kestrel.

It was once our most common bird of prey, easily recognised by its skills at hovering and with its wonderful eyesight spotting small mammals on the ground. A swoop and its next meal was guaranteed!

Some years ago I worked on a television series with the late Russell Harty in which we described urban wildlife.

We stood on a bridge over the M6 and watched kestrels hovering over the motorway verges. Filming was easy because the bird was so common.

Things have sadly changed and nobody seems to know the precise reason. This is what is so fascinating for those who study wildlife. There are still so many things to confuse us!

Some say that one reason for the decline is the increase in the population of the much larger buzzard but I find this difficult to believe because they feed on different foods.

All bird populations fluctuate over the years and the apparent demise of the kestrel is just another case of swings and roundabouts. Only time will tell.

WHERE TO WATCH WILDLIFE - The Hodder Woods

In June and July these woods, below right, situated close to Hurst Green, have a footpath leading through them. The Hodder runs between the Higher Hodder and Lower Hodder Bridges and is a joy at any time of the year.

The year has been a really funny one so far. The coldest spring for many years meant that some flowers bloomed late.

The warm weather in the last couple of weeks has led to other species flowering at the right time.

The result has been that on the day of my visit the Butterbur which should have died back some time ago is still there along with some bluebells, primroses, wood anemones and a host of other flowers.

The birds were in full song and I spent some time watching and listening to jays as parents were feeding their ever-hungry children. I arrived in Hodder Woods at 9.30am and was still there at 4pm. This is a great place to watch wildlife.

A PLANT OF THE OLD TEXTILE INDUSTRY

Teasel can grow to heights of between three and six feet. It often occurs around old colleges in our area and this explains its one-time importance.

In the days of handloom weaving the cloth was finished off by raising the nap and “combing it smooth”. Once the flowers of the teasel had faded a prickly head is left. These were gathered and hung up on the ceilings of cottages. The flowers were gathered from August onwards and were perfect for a raising the nap of cloths.

The Teasel was also used in the final stages of the production of billiard tables. The Teasel was replaced by more efficient machinery but at one time it was vital in the lives of weavers. Next time you are on a country stroll look out for a growth of Teasels. You can be fairly sure that you are in the midst of old weaving country.