Spring Woodland

What a strange April we have just had. Instead of rain showers we had lots of sunshine. There were a few days of rain but it has been mostly dry which has held the grass back from growing. Livestock have had problems finding grass to feed on. Some plants have come out earlier and others are late. One thing for sure is we need some rain this May to address the balance.

The countryside has turned many shades of green and there is nothing but the sound of wild bird song as birds attract mates or fight over territories. I heard my first Cuckoo early in April soon followed by the sighting of my first Swallow and last week I saw and heard my first Nightingale of the year. It is at this time of year that ground-nesting birds are very vulnerable to farmland operations like rolling, harrowing, silaging and heavy stocking of cattle and sheep in the fields.

With the numerous flowers that are out many insects can be seen collecting food from them. Honeybees swarm around this time of year and many other insects also take to the wing this month, such as the Stag Beetle and Mayfly. Many caterpillars are taking advantage of the new fresh green growth of leaves to be found and many birds can be seen feeding on them in turn. Young fox cubs will be out trying to learn from their mothers how to hunt vulnerable nesting birds.

There are many flowers to see this month in the woods among the Bluebells and Wood

Bugle Ajuga Reptans

Anemones. A pretty blue-purple one is known as Bugle Ajuga reptans and it prefers damp clearings in the wood. This plant quite often forms large mats as it sends out stems that spread across the woodland floor. Later in the year if there are hard frosts the leaves and stems die off, but where the stems have taken root along its runners it survives to recolonise the woodland floor the following year. In the past it was reputed to cure most ailments. Syrups made from the plant were made readily available to help treat ulcers and broken bones. The name is believed to have derived from the flower's resemblance to a thin glass pipe like bead called "Bugulus" used in embroidery.

Goldilocks Ranunclus auricomis

Another striking flower, which has, yellow petals is Goldilocks Ranunclus auricomis. It is found more commonly in old woodlands especially on the Wealden Clay in Sussex. This plant is a member of the buttercup family. One curious thing about this flower is that it frequently can be found growing happily with only a few petals on it and sometimes with none at all.

In the wetter parts of the woodlands and by streams and pond edges you may see Pendulous Sedge arex pendula.

Pendulous Sedge arex pendula

This is one of the larger species of sedge to be found. It is easily distinguished from the rest by its drooping flowers hanging like a pendulum. Sedges have triangular edged stems and Pendula Sedge is a very good example to learn from. It has long been appreciated by gardeners and can often be found growing in churchyards and gardens.

Wood Melick Melica uniflora

At this time of year look out for the most beautiful of all the woodland grasses the Wood Melick Melica uniflora. It has brilliant egg-shaped flowers known as "spiklets". This plant is associated with Semi-ancient woodland and is often found growing on old woodland banks.

If you know of a pond located in a wood you may be lucky to see a very colourful introduced duck known as the Mandarin Aix galericulata.

Mandarin Aix galericulata

It is by far the most colourful duck to be seen in the wild here. These ducks like the woodland habitat because they nest in holes in trees. They will already have found a nest and in some cases they may already have young. In some places they have been encouraged with nest boxes especially in parks beside ornamental lakes.