The year ended quietly with another showing of the film of the history of the RVPB, another volunteer session to plant more scrub patches between the Cat’s Back bridge and the Dorlcote Road entrance to the Common and another of Barbara Littlechild’s bird walks. This identified 29 species, including a goldcrest, but not the elusive firecrest which very few have seen or heard. But very fitting for Christmas, Nick Rutter spied two collared doves on the Scope - a first for the Common.

Happy Christmas and New Year everyone