Reflections on Restharrow Scrape

During the month of June 2019, there was a brilliant display of people’s reflections on the Scrape.

There were contributions from a range of people as you can see below.

Some penned their reflections:

RESTHARROW SCRAPE
Restharrow: a shrubby pink-flowered plant with a tough woody root, arresting the prongs of the harrow.

Rest: ceasing from bodily or mental exertion or activity

Harrow: a large rake or frame with teeth to stir the soil.

To harrow: to draw the harrow over, to lacerate, to cause anguish or torment

Such a small pretty unassuming flower, hidden, delicately curled, lying snug to the ground but causing enough grief to farmers long ago that it got such a name. Nature, it seems, won that particular battle. At SBBOT we help in this battle for nature to hold its rightful place against human activity and works to give this land and scrape back to nature, allowing birds and wildlife space to live and breathe alongside us. The newly expanded scrape will increase the potential for plants, insects and amphibians to repossess this small corner of Kent.

We benefit enormously. Watching wildlife brings rest and recreation to a frazzled humanity. Use this scrape to rest from your cares, use it to put behind you the harrowing tales on TV or media, use it to step outside the daily grind, breathe slowly and take time to notice the small things, the detail of a small inconspicuous plant, the ripples, the tilted reflection of a reed in the water. Just sit. Turn off the phone, and cut the connections to the outside world. Just sit. Wait for the natural world to creep back into your consciousness. Notice the colour, feel the wind, and rejoice in the wide sky and open space. Take time for yourself and rest. This is RestHarrow. It's theirs, it's ours, it's yours.

Sarah Lane

People reminded us of the development of the Scrape so far:

From the original excavations:

to the opening of the extension of the original hide:

to the interior of the hide as it was until recently:

There were many pictures of how things change at the Scrape over time:

Water level photographs by Duncan McLean

 

 

 

August 2017 by Heather Willis

 

More reflection in words:

Reflection on Restharrow

Shot silk-rippled
Water ruffles,
Red throated arrows soar and swoop.

Peewit plummets,
Tumbles, tosses
Tells his name to the arching blue.

Sways the reed bed,
Silken tasseled
Whispering secrets seldom seen

Rest, reflect,
Be still and ponder,
Still the heart and soothe the soul.

Mary

 

Mencap groups regularly visit the scrape and have produced some very good photographs:

 

There is an element of luck in what you may see when you pop into the hide:

Click here for an account by Nigel Hefford: being in the right place at the right time

 

Our WEX children’s group also learn and get inspiration from the Scrape:

They were inspired by the Dragonflies:

 

and learnt about insects

 

and wildfowl:

Another reflection in words:

Restharrow Scrape is part of our recording area and the birds seen there are recorded by our members and visitors:

Click here to see A leaflet describing a walk to Restharrow Scrape - available from the shop

and A sample of extracts from our recording sheet for Restharrow Scrape for 2019 so far...

We asked people to add their observations of birds to a sheet during the display. This is the list they came up with (in no particular order):

Lapwing, Avocet, Teal, Little Grebe, Garganey, Little Egret, Snipe, Moorhen, Coot, Linnet, Egyptian Goose, Swallow, House Martin, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Jackdaw, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Jay, Turtle Dove, Sandmartin, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Crow, Redshank, Spotted Redshank, Greylag, Mute Swan, Mallard, Kestrel, Great White Egret, Sparrowhawk, Wood Pigeon, Stock Dove, Peregrine, Short-eared Owl, White-fronted Goose, Canada Goose, Pochard, Wigeon, Grey Heron, Jack Snipe, Goldfinch, Grey Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail, Cuckoo, Swift, Wood Sandpiper, Spoonbill, Little Stint..........

This is a pretty good list but by no means a full list of all the species of bird that can be seen on the scrape.

People also recorded bird behaviour:

 

We had original art work from all ages:

and three pieces by very long term member of the Observatory, John Hollyer:

This view also featured in a photograph by Sue Smith: