Water at The Pit

Dear Friends,

My sincere apologies for the delay in getting the December website material, and the January 2025 articles due to computer failure and changing our server. The storm damage in early January also paid a part.

The heavy rainfall towards the end of the month saw our annual rainfall total up to 1200mm or 49 inches**, and this is having growing consequences for the future of the planet, yet alone in Christleton. Severe, spectacular and dangerous flooding in Spain and in the UK this winter, are just examples of this increase globally. The Christleton Pit Group doesn’t have to be as active as in the past, simply because we no longer have to look for a source of water. For years we’ve struggled to maintain the balance of nature and the resources we have. Historically the Pit has had no water on many occasions, the last major event was during the drought of 1976 when we were left with small pools in a desert of sand and vegetation. We know from historical evidence that it was a pond for fish for the Lord of the Manor in 1711, who used the large depression left in the ground from the extraction of marl to fill with water, and stock with fish.

You can see the effect of the water level at the Pit by the pictures of the overflow in Bricky Lane. The Pit Group monitor and clear the pipes regularly, and this winter we have already seen the overflow working three times. The pictures below show some of the activities of the Pit Group during 2024. Maintenance tasks such as repair to the dipping platform, repairing the steps near the seat adjacent to the Dixons Houses, removing large stands of bramble and fallen tree branches are just some of the tasks shown below. We have our own store of equipment, which we have accumulated over forty years. The work we do is funded by members fund raising efforts, with major projects funded by grants from Christleton Parish Council. The Pit Group promotes itself at the Parish Council Open Mornings and at the Fete, and new members are always very welcome.

A wide variety of wildlife species are seen at the Pit each year, and it was great to see the group of colourful shoveler ducks return for about the sixth winter. The drakes are very colourful with a thick green (shovel like) bill, and can be seen most days in a hypnotic dance with the browner coloured females. They tend to be very secretive hanging out in the bushes at the back of the Pit, but warm sun will bring them out to the centre of the Pit where they perform their dance ritual. I’m also delighted to report the visit of a Great White Egret, for three days this month. The Great white egret is bigger than a grey heron, has a long yellow bill, and has a very awkward looking flight. It is very distinctive, and this is a first for the species at the Pit. They have been seen at Hockenhull, and are common at Burton Meres RSPB reserve. I also saw a pair on a smaller marl pit near Doddleston, so I guess they are becoming more common in our area. They are one of the many species moving north due to climate change. It’s hard to imagine as a wildlife enthusiast from the 1970’s, that spectacular waders like avocets, spoonbills, little, cattle and Great white egrets are now common in the UK, and that they are present in good numbers Cheshire and on Wirral.

** Average annual rainfall for Christleton since 2018 is 1125mm or 45inches, treble that of the 1970’s when I first started recording.