Nature Fact

If you want to see foxes, you will need to watch the Earth from a safe distance. The best time is at dusk when they are more likely to emerge. Remember to sit downwind and to remain silent as fox's senses of hearing and smell are acute

Site Management

The February Guardian Work Party assisted the Rangers in cutting down Gorse bushes to ground level. This will encourage new growth to shoot from the base stem and develop into healthy young bushes. The clearance and tidying within the Hazel Wood area continues and is an ongoing project.

Nature Watch

The past month saw mixed weather of wind, rain, mist, frost and warm sunshine. Improving weather conditions during the latter part of the period increased the chances of wildlife sightings.

The following have been observed on monitoring visits:-

Birds.... Robins, Wrens, Blackbirds, Song Thrush, Coal Tits, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Long Tailed Tits, Green Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Tree Creeper, Meadow Pipits and a female Reed Bunting.

Mammals... A pair of Roe deer and several female Roe deer.

Plants... Celandine and Hazel Catkins.

Fungi... Yellow Brain, Jelly and Blueing Bracket.

There were early sightings of Brimstone, Peacock butterflies and Bees on the boundaries adjoining gardens.

First sightings of Frog and Toad spawn in the stream and pools are awaited.

Comments: Christine Wilcox
Photographs: Christine and Keith Wilcox

Nature Fact

The Roe Deer male(Buck) have short antlers up to 30 centimetres long. The antlers drop off at the end of the year and grow back again in February. In this respect they are different from other species of deer who lose their antlers in Spring and grow them again in Summer. When the Roe deer's antlers first grow, they are soft and tender and covered with a thin velvety skin. This thin skin is rubbed off against the trunks of trees. Look out for markings on the bark approx 1 metre from the ground