Ramsden Corner
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This small, secluded reserve is worth exploring for its surprising variety of habitats |
The northern section of the grassland at Ramden Corner is acidic, with abundant sheep’s sorrel and bent grasses giving the grassland a red sheen throughout much of the year. There are also large quantities of heath bedstraw and sweet vernal-grass, together with the yellow flower of cat’s-ear and tormentil.
The woodland to the west of the grassland has a stream running along its western edge. Inside the wood, where the sandy soil overlies the lower clay, wet flushes emerge. These flushes are important for opposite-leaved golden-saxifrage and wood horsetail, both uncommon in Northamptonshire.
A large number of species of birds have been recorded on the reserve, including redpoll, brambling and grasshopper warbler. Green and greater-spotted woodpeckers are also often seen.
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Plants: Opposite-leaved golden-saxifrage, wood horsetail Insects: Comma, orange-tip, and small tortoiseshell butterflies Birds: Nuthatch, redpoll, brambling, grasshopper warbler, cuckoo |
Plants: Heath bedstraw, cat's-ear, tormentil, sheep’s sorrel, gorse, wood vetch Insects: Small copper and speckled wood butterflies Birds: Green woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker |
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