Dear About
I have just read with interest your article on the Country Park restoration in your great little magazine, About. My partner and I use the area a great deal to exercise our two Jack Russells and to observe the flora and fauna and just enjoy the area. My main interest is spiders and last summer I caught many on film.
One of my favourites is Pisaura Mirabilis – the nursery web spider – so named because the easiest time to see them is when the females are motionless, guarding their youngsters in their nursery web. They are quite impressive as they can grow up to 15cm and have many different abdominal markings as can be seen in the photo.
It was found by Ecclesbourne reservoir between markers five and six. A second with bold chevrons was high up, close to the viewpoint between 4a and seven.
They are easiest spotted in June and July and can be approached quite closely if you are slow and quiet. They sometimes have a second batch of eggs but the females are a trifle moth eaten by then and not the splendid creatures of early summer!
If you take time just to sit quietly on the grass at the side of the tracks you’ll be surprised at the activity after five or six minutes. Just try it and if you see two OAPs in the bushes, don’t call for the law, it’s only us spider spotting.
Yours sincerely
C Taylor - Hastings
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Dear About
Residents of Hastings and St Leonards may be interested to know that items from their long waterworks heritage have been preserved and are on view at the Brede Waterworks. The enormous 400 horsepower steam pumping engines began to provide the town with its principal water supply more than 100 years ago. Steam powered pumping ended in 1964 but the Brede Valley Giants have now been restored by the Brede Steam Engine Society, together with smaller engines from the 1880s. In the magnificent Edwardian Grade II listed Engine House they may be seen in action on the first Saturday of every month and on most bank holidays from 10am to 4pm and admission is free.
In the village of Brede, about six miles north of Hastings on the A28, visitors will find sign boards alongside the church directing them to the Waterworks which is situated in the beautiful countryside of the Brede Valley. There is ample parking space available outside the Engine Houses.
Also on display is a collection of archive documents covering the proud history of Hastings Council’s Waterworks since its commencement in 1832.
Telephone enquiries are welcome on 01424 440332.
G Coleman - Hastings
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This page last updated: 18/07/2006