The Lotus Hills

Autumn in the Lotus Hills; late 1980s.

The Lotus Hills (Lianfengshan – Two Conjoined Hills [!]) are already protected in a park. There is woodland, dominated by conifers, and this in turn attracts woodland birds, including shy species such as owls and thrushes, which can here find some relatively undisturbed areas for feeding and resting.

The woodland here was planted early last century (Wilder 1925), prior to which the hills were evidently largely deforested. Man still has a large impact on the woods, including (at least till the 1990s) by people gathering dead grass, leaves and branches for fuel in autumn.

The woodland can be improved, to become more natural – more akin to the natural forests that would have once covered the area; only remnants of near natural forests are now found in Hebei, in hills such as at Old Peak (Laoling) north of Qinhuangdao. This might be achieved by a combination of:

• Planting native trees, shrubs and other plants – perhaps from Old Peak;

• Allowing better natural re-growth of woodland, with some species perhaps arriving naturally (in bird droppings, say). This could be achieved if harvesting of dead plant material is restricted, or halted.

Woodland at Old Peak, 1990s.

More natural woodland will attract more birds, including a considerably higher diversity of breeding species: breeding birds could be similar to those at Old Peak, and might likewise include globally rare Feae’s Thrush Turdus feae, and Elisae’s Flycatcher (Chinese Flycatcher) Ficedula. elisae.

The enhanced bird diversity – especially the more varied songs during spring mornings will make the Lotus Hills more pleasant for visitors. So too would more varied tree and other plant species, including when these are in flower, and when deciduous trees turn to golden brown in autumn.