The Lost Wildlife Of Welling

A Memory of Welling.

Who can remember the cheerful chirping of house sparrows appearing as if from nowhere and landing en masse on a tree or fence, only to fly off again in a moment's notice. Or the wonderful murmeration patterns from clouds of starlings in suburban skies over Wellling. Down the garden path at home it became impossible to walk there on warm sunny days when butterflies settled to spread their wings. Neighbours three doors down entertained toads at the end of their garden, and opposite where we lived, the teenage son kept newts in a pond. There were hedgehogs, frogs, and foxes, a common sight, and on Bostall Heath rabbits lived in a warren. Insects, too, like earwigs, stag beetles, wasps, furry caterpillars and ladybirds were there if you cared to look. Of special interest, though, was something quite extraordinary that happened to a friend's father on his allotment at the foot of Lodge Hill. He had to stop working when engulfed by a cloud of cabbage white butterflies in their hundreds.. Butterfliy clouds though rare were not uncommon. Llike much else once seen in and around Welling, it is long gone and sadly unlikely to return