Harlestone Heath
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A small strip of acid heathland, which is very rare within Northamptonshire |
This small site was left as a fire break between the Firs conifer plantation and the railway line. It has since developed into a secluded little reserve and is one of the few last remaining areas of acid heathland in the county.
A stream runs through the reserve and there is also a pond, a marshy area and two different types of grassland, which gives a great variety of habitats for such a small site.
Many heathland plants can be found here including heather, petty whin, green-ribbed sedge and flea sedge, the last three being county rarities. Green woodpeckers can often be seen feeding on the large nests of wood ants under the trees or on nests of meadow ants out in the grassland.
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Plants: Wood anemone, petty whin Insects: Wood ant, yellow meadow ant Birds: Green woodpecker, tits, siskin |
Plants: Heather, basil-thyme, green-ribbed sedge, flea sedge Insects: Wood ant, yellow meadow ant, speckled wood and brown argus butterflies Birds: Green woodpecker |
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