Fancott Wood and Meadows
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Wonderful flower-rich meadows and a traditional bluebell woodland near the source of the River Flit |
Teeming with wildlife, the grassland is home to an extraordinary range of flowers, starting with cowslips and adder’s-tongue fern in the spring, followed by ragged-robin, great burnet and the now scarce saw-wort in the summer. Even the grasses of the old pasture are special, with quaking-grass and sweet vernalgrass indicating its traditional nature. Hay cutting and grazing have been key to their survival and the larger hay meadow shows evidence of ridge and furrow farming practices. Buzzards can be seen majestically circling above the meadow.
The woodland, known as Chalton Spinney, has towering oak and ash, with alder in the wetter areas. In spring, the woodland floor is carpeted with bluebells, along with sanicle, dog’s mercury and the occasional primrose. Multi-stemmed shrubs of hazel tell of past coppicing, while on the meandering path through the wood you may discern the smell of garlic emanating from clumps of ramsons.
Birds: Thrushes |
Amphibians: Toads Plants: Bluebell, cowslip, adder's-tongue fern, sanicle |
Plants: Saw-wort, great burnet, pepper-saxifrage Birds: Blackcap, swallow, woodpeckers Insects: Dragonflies and damselflies, small copper and common blue butterflies |
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