THIS AUTUMN’S WORK.
We have completed our improvements on the verge opposite Windmill House and the grass seed which we have sown has germinated, though it looks like green bum fluff so far. Let’s hope it matures with the Spring sunshine. We’ve opened up the paths for Winter walking and now we are continuing our work to improve the view over the Common from Windmill Hill. We hope to continue down the hill and round the corner but hope that Transport for Bucks will tackle some of the heavily leaning Blackthorns for us.
GLADES, RIDES AND WOODLAND EDGES.
These habitats are closely related, interesting and valuable. They mimic natural influences such as fires and windblown trees and most excitingly, the way these woods were inhabited by the big beasts like the Auroch (see left, familiar to viewers of Game of Thrones). Humans have now have taken over from the big beasts in the way that woodlands are managed for our purposes, such as coppicing – where coppicing is still common.
They are complex transition zones between sunlit, high energy habitat and the cooler, shadier and much more secluded interior of the woodlands. They support a wide range of wildlife, much of which differs from the woodland interior inhabitants. They comprise a diverse range of sun-loving plants and insects which are predated upon up the food chain, making these habitats very fertile.
Woodland edge provides the same kind of value as the glades and rides but has an extra value in that if maintained or allowed to develop naturally it protects the woodland interior conditions. ‘Edge Effect’ is a notable ecological consideration. A natural woodland would have had a graduated edge, not like the woodland edges that we normally see bordering our fields which are open sided for more efficient land use but don’t protect the interior. So a natural woodland edge would be a buffer zone to the particular conditions within, suitable to the flora and fauna that have evolved to thrive there.
We have plenty of woodland edge (which is also quite natural) all around the grassland, so, being circular includes all compass aspects; the greater the variability of habitat that you have, the more possibilities for a variety of wildlife. We have a couple of rides which aren’t really wide enough and we are a bit short on glades. So if we were looking to improve our wildlife conservation potential there are some possibilities.
From the point of view of finding a species taking advantage of these habitats to raise a family it is the Spotted Flycatcher that we should hope to see which would indicate that we had been successful – rather as I hope one day we might see a Dabchick on the pond once more. We will put up some nest boxes.
With reference to the Village Pond, I am building a bund (I don’t like that clumsy word) behind which to trap a bed of silt in which to plant some local species of pond plants. Silt is a recalcitrant material, worse than chasing peas around your plate with a wooden spoon. So, I don’t really want to inflict onto my fellow volunteers that kind of frustrating labour required to move it if I can find an easier method. I have been wondering about ‘silt pumps’ or ‘trash pumps’. My pond ecology contact mentioned slurry pumps. Has anyone any experience of these beasts?
Graham Thorne