Carlton Marsh

Our mate Ralph Hibbert died this morning! He tested positive for Covid 19 recently and appeared to be reasonably well, but this morning he had a little fall and may have had a blood clot on his brain? He was 81. Ralph was a bloody good naturalist, his passion was identifying and counting butterflies in the locale. He was a pretty good botanist too. About 20 years ago he became one of our wildlife group helping with the management of the reserve. We shall miss his cheeky chappy antics and friendship. Here are few photographs from happier times.  

Ralph's got the chair with a group of Barnsley Nats. you might know.

Ralph and Keith Bannister with the lovely Pat Jobling, her daughter in law, Dave Smith and Geoff Miller in the backgrouund

Ralph with Chris Parkin

From left, CG, Les Corrall and Ralph on an open day

Dark Green Fritillary Ralph and Les found on 27/7/10

It was somewhat damaged by the time I got to see it a couple of days later.

One of the last things Ralph did was to write his early memories of WW2 for a free local magazine called Chewin T' Cud. It also goes out to ex pats around the world and part 2 is in the next edition. 

It was quiet today on the reserve 21 Shoveler, Water Rail, 1 Redpoll, Great Spot Woodpecker, Kingfisher, 12 Pied Wagtail and 30 Magpie. 

A very late Brown Hawker equalled the latest ever of 12/10/08.

Clouded Agaric and Jew's Ear was amongst the fungi found.