Old Sulehay
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A fragment of the ancient Rockingham Forest and one of the Trust’s largest reserves in Northamptonshire |
Old Sulehay is a picturesque mosaic of limestone quarries, grassland, woodland and wetland. The disused quarries provide a diverse habitat in themselves – from scrub, through grass to bare ground. This in turn provides a home for many different invertebrates, such as green tiger beetle. These high-speed hunters like the sun-warmed, sandy bare ground. Glow worms can be seen in June in the longer grass. Many of the wild flowers here are rare in Northamptonshire and attract a wide range of butterflies. In May look out for the grizzled skipper butterfly in Stonepit Close. The areas of scrub support several bird species, such as whitethroat and bullfinch. Listen for the soft purring of the turtle dove and the laugh of the green woodpecker in summer.
The woodlands are abandoned ash, oak and field maple coppice and have a diverse ground flora particularly in Old Sulehay Forest. Great and lesser spotted woodpeckers live here, along with nuthatch and tree creeper. A number of rides run through the wood, bound by distinctive ditches and banks that were created in the 19th century. Managing these rides prevents vegetation encroaching and enables sunlight to reach the floor, encouraging plants like nettle-leaved bellflower. Invertebrates thrive in the sun-warmed conditions and feed on the nectar sources, such as dogwood and bramble, that grow on the edges of the rides.
Limestone grasslands are important habitats due to the rich diversity of plants and associated invertebrates they support. Over the last 60 years it is estimated that up to 80% of limestone grasslands have vanished, largely due to changes in agriculture. Using wildflower seed collected from other sites in the local area, the Sammock’s Hill area of the reserve is being restored. As it develops we hope that invertebrates will move in from neighbouring quarries and grassland.
Plants: Stinking hellebore, spurge laurel Birds: Snipe, woodcock |
Plants: Toothwort, bluebell, ramsons, wood anemone, cowslip Insects: Butterflies Reptiles: Common lizard, grass snake Birds: Nuthatch Mammals: Badger, fox |
Plants: Nettle-leaved bellflower, ploughman’s-spikenard, wild thyme, viper’s bugloss, yellow-wort, small scabious, clustered bellflower, common spotted-orchid Insects: Butterflies, green tiger beetle, long horn beetle Birds: Buzzard, red kite |
Fungi: Woodland and limestone grassland fungi Plants: Old-man's-beard Birds: Fieldfare, redwing |