Shepherd's Close
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A small woodland recently converted from a poplar plantation to mixed broad leaf trees |
This site was donated to the Wildlife Trust in 1966 as a poplar plantation. In 1984 it was converted to a mixed woodland of ash, maple and oak with naturally invading elm, hawthorn and blackthorn. The site has passed through many phases and its biological interest has likewise changed.
In 1984 it had common spotted-orchid, cowslip and adder’s-tongue fern. Between 1988 and 1993 an amazing 319 species of moths were recorded, while in 1991 a total of 224 birds of 22 species were caught and ringed for the British Trust of Ornithology.
In recent years it has become good for fungi, notably the semi-free morel and spectacular, rare scarlet elf-cup. In spring you can listen for migrant warblers singing to defend their breeding territories. In summer speckled wood butterflies appear along the paths and wood edges, and dog’s mercury and bluebells are slowly colonising the woodland floor.
Fungi: Scarlet elf-cup |
Fungi: Semi-free morel Plants: Bluebell, dogs mercury Insects: Orange-tip and peacock butterflies Birds: Chiffchaff, blackcap |
Insects: Speckled wood butterfly, moths |
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