Look out this season for... A sure sign that summer is on the wane and autumn very much in full swing is the evidence of Garden Spiders everywhere. These spiders can be seen all along the Crane Valley and, not surprisingly, in your garden as well. Garden Spiders spin classic spider webs, and hang patiently in the middle, waiting for prey. They can grow to quite reasonable sizes (often around the size of a ten pence piece) and are easily identified by the distinctive pattern on their backs.

Flora	The Crane Valley enjoys a rich variety of flora. Much of Crane Park is broadleaf woodland, with common trees such as oak, horse chestnut and sycamore. Beneath the canopy flowers such as Lesser Celandine provide welcome colour. The open scrubby areas (including Mereway Nature Park) are dominated by species such as elder, hawthorn and bramble. The riparian vegetation is particularly rich around Crane Park Island Nature Reserve, where a mosaic of microhabitats are home to several unusual aquatic plants. There are also small patches of meadow and native grassland (including the Twickenham Rifle Club site). FORCE is in the process of gathering botanical data for several sites of interest: Plants identified at Mereway, the Rifle Club and the DNR.

The bird life of the Crane Valley is typical of the types of habitat represented. The commonest species are probably Wood Pigeon and Wren, with species such as Blue Tits, Great Tits, Blackbirds and Robins easily seen. Woodland specialists such as Nuthatches and Treecreepers breed in Crane Park although they are not seen as often as Great Spotted Woodpeckers. The River Crane has several pairs of breeding Kingfisher and supports a small population of Grey Wagtails. Several species of conservation concern can be seen in the Crane Valley. House Sparrows are in serious decline in southern Britain but there are good populations around Mereway Nature Park and the Rifle Club. Song Thrush is a priority species in the Richmond Biodiversity Action Plan and is still easily heard around Crane Park, which provides ideal habitat. FORCE is involved in survey work of bird life in the Crane Valley. A handy Bird List for the Lower Crane Corridor, which includes a relative likelihood of seeing each species on a walk in the area. Birds of the Lower Crane Corridor Birds of Mereway Nature Park.	Birds

Other Fauna	While Grey Squirrels and Foxes are the most commonly seen wild mammals along the Crane, the area is perhaps most interesting for its small population of Water Voles at Crane Park Island Nature Reserve. Hedgehogs, Wood Mice and Brown Rats are all fairly common. Both  Common and Soprano Pipistrelles are the most readily seen bats in the area but Daubenton's Bat also occurs along the river. Probably the least known aspect of the local fauna is the invertebrate life. Butterflies such as Peacock, Comma, Brimstone, Holly Blue and Orange Tip are abundant in the area but less familiar species such as Large Skipper are also present. Close inspection of the undergrowth will turn up fascinating species such as Scorpion Flies and beautiful beetles such as the Rose Chafer.  FORCE is currently seeking funding for improving water vole habitat along the river and is engaged in monitoring of bat species. We are also involved in monitoring of moth species and have built several beetle loggeries in the area.