This week's General Interest walk is led by Pam Poole setting off from the Oakley car park at 10:00
Grid ref: SU225046
What3words: crafted,punctuate.former
This week's General Interest walk is led by Pam Poole setting off from the Oakley car park at 10:00
Grid ref: SU225046
What3words: crafted,punctuate.former
Horsefly habitat © Richard Smith |
We convened in Culverley car park, near Beaulieu, on a cooler day compared to recent extremes.
Setting off down a bank we paused a while on a little bridge over a quiet stream, admiring the flashes of fluttering colour from the Holly Blue, Gatekeeper and Beautiful Demoiselle damselflies.
Holly Blue © Sue Skarstein |
Blackcap - immature © Chris Robinson |
Passing through open areas we saw Mistle Thrush and, circumventing cattle sheltering in an oasis of shade, made our way into Tantany Wood, finding Redstart, Long-tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Wren and several sightings again of Spotted Flycatchers.
Woodland Grasshopper © Andy Skarstein |
Silver-studded Blue - female © Chris Robinson |
We found Dwarf Gorse and Coral Necklace and Round-leaved Sundew where once it would have been wetter, a couple of Common and Silver-studded Blue butterflies and a Dark Giant Horsefly.
Dwarf Gorse with Ling © Chris Robinson |
Coral Necklace © Richard Smith |
Dark Giant Horsefly © Andy Skarstein |
Our route
|
With the relaxation of Covid rules we were a year late celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the founding of Lymington & District Naturalists' Society with an afternoon tea at South Lawn Hotel, Milford-on-Sea.
After a welcome introduction from Robert Payne, our Chairman, we were treated to a superb digital photographic presentation by Steve Laycock, which in turn was followed by an excellent tea!
Robert welcomes members and guests © Tina Vaughan |
and Steve begins his presentation © Tina Vaughan |
Somewhat better than the biscuits on our Thursday morning walks © Tina Vaughan |
This week's walk is a General Interest walk at Culverley with Robert and Glynis
Grid ref: SU 367 046
What3Words mixed.pushy.pays
Given the current weather conditions remember to take drinking water as well as sun lotion and hats if appropriate
On a cool, overcast morning, ten of us gathered for the morning sailing from Lymington to Yarmouth. As we departed, we spotted large numbers of Canada Geese on the Lymington marshes, with a single Barnacle Goose amongst them. Shelduck, and most gull species were seen at the low tide mark along with Common and Little Tern flying past as we crossed the Solent.
Cinnabar caterpillars on Common Ragwort © Chris Robinson |
Near
Yarmouth, we watched a pair of Rooks digging for grubs on the verge by the
terminal. As we approached the railway track the botanists amongst us
identified Bristly Ox-tongue, Common Orache, Prickly Lettuce, Marsh and Common
Mallow, Fennel, Common Sea-lavender as well as Creeping, Marsh and Spear
Thistles. Cinnabar moth caterpillars were feeding on a Common Ragwort plant, but
not on the any others we passed on the walk. We paused to look over the reed
bed next to Mill Copse and heard a Reed Warbler as a Swift flew overhead.
Alongside the railway track Brambles were in flower but only a few Gatekeeper
were about in the cooler part of the day.
Mating Gatekeepers © Chris Robinson |
Greylag Goose © Chris Robinson |
Redshank and Curlew © Richard Smith |
We elected for an early lunch stop at the End of the Line Cafe, sat outside in the sun, and as the day warmed, saw more butterfly amongst the grasses and wild flowers around the perimeter; Meadow Brown, Marbled White, and Small Skipper all appeared.
Small Skipper © Chris Robinson |
After
lunch, a brief foray around the Afton Marsh Reserve gave views of a Jay, and
Moorhen and Mallard ducklings paddled in the stream running around the reserve.
Jay © Chris Robinson |
Returning
through the churchyard at Freshwater and across the fields beyond Kings Manor
Farm, the sun came out and as the day got even hotter, large numbers of
butterfly were seen with Gatekeeper, Painted Lady, Common Blue and Peacock all
added to our list. Passing through Saltern Wood, an active and noisy colony of
wild Honey Bees were seen in a tree close beside the path and observed from a
respectful distance.
Wild Honey Bees © Chris Robinson |
A brisk
final walk across the swing bridge allowed us to catch the planned afternoon
sailing and it was good to end a warm day sitting in the sea breeze to cool off
as we sailed back home after a total walk distance of about 5.5 miles. RS
Our route
|
Pre-reading for members joining the Isle of Wight field meeting
This longer circular walk covers a maximum of 12km of mostly level ground with some single track that can be muddy in parts. A brief visit to Afton Marsh reserve is planned and if time and energy permits, a visit to Freshwater Bay is also possible. Depending on timing and numbers, we’ll stop for refreshments at the cafe in Freshwater. See details here: http://www.honnorandjeffrey.com/afton.html
FERRY:
We meet at 08:30 at the Lymington Ferry Terminal to depart on the 09:00 sailing and aim to return on the 16:05 from Yarmouth but open returns are standard for foot passengers.
Pre-booking the ferry is essential and all foot passengers
should be there a minimum of 15 minutes before sailing https://www.wightlink.co.uk/
Day
Return fare is £19.40 or £14.40 for Senior Citizens
PARKING:
Parking
at the terminal for up to 16 hours is £9.00. Note that NFDC long stay
cards do not work here. Meter payment is by Ringo or credit
card only. NO cash payment option. The Ringo app does not always work here so
you are strongly advised to bring a credit or debit card with you.
BRING WITH YOU:
Something
for lunch
Plenty
to drink
Sunscreen
Insect
repellent
A
credit or debit card if we stop for a tea break / ice cream in Freshwater
Face
coverings are no longer required on the ferry at present but it might be wise
to bring one anyway.
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Our proposed route © Crown copyright 2022 Ordnance Survey. Media 005/22. The licence is valid until 31 December 2022. |
We set off from the Sea Road Car Park in Milford-on-Sea at low tide; aware parts of the route to Sturt Pond are flooded at high tide. Passing through the metal gate in the far corner of the car park we saw one of the wall rocket species and Dove’s-foot Cranesbill in bloom.
The path took us past banks of Brambles, Common Stinging Nettles
and large stands of Hemlock Water Dropwort. By the first wooden bridge we heard
a Cetti’s Warbler.
Moving on past thick hedgerow we saw Common Mallow, Hogweed,
Salsify (spectacular seed heads and mauve flowers), white Foxgloves, Spear Thistle,
Bittersweet (Woody Nightshade), white flowered Common Comfrey and a young Robin
in a birch tree.
Salsify with Swollen-thighed Beetle © Chris Robinson |
Syrphus vitripennis - a hoverfly © Chris Robinson |
Just past a small bridge the view opened up and we studied a beautiful metallic-green Swollen-thighed Flower Beetle on patch of Ox-eye Daisies in the sun. Other plants identified here included Pink Oxalis (garden escapee), Smooth Sow-thistle, Common Mallow, Purple Toadflax and Scots Pine with numerous cones.
Swollen-thighed Beetle on Ox-eye Daisy © Glynis Payne |
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Bittersweet © Richard Smith |
As we approached Sturt Pond we saw Yellow Iris, Silverweed
and Charlock in flower. A vole scurried
across the path.
Sturt Pond from Hurst Spit © Glynis Payne |
Along the edge of Sturt Pond we saw these plants: English Scurvygrass,
Sea Beet, Sea Mayweed, Sea Milkwort, Sea Aster, Lesser Sea-spurrey and Sea Purslane
and a variety of birds: Shelduck, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull, two
Cormorants in flight, Gadwall, Little Egret, and Oystercatcher. On reaching the
Hurst Spit end we saw Thrift, Field Bindweed (small pink flowers), Sea
Plantain, Buck’s-horn Plantain and Common Bird’s-foot-trefoil.
Sea Milkwort © Chris Robinson Sea Campion © Julia Race |
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Our proposed route © Crown copyright 2022 Ordnance Survey. Media 005/22. The licence is valid until 31 December 2022. |
Sturt Pond and Hurst Spit: meeting at Milford-on-Sea Village car Park by the community centre in Sea Road (Pay and display or parking clock) and setting off at 10:00 a.m.
What3Words: butchers.minute.doing
After a short walk to the improved path leading to Aldridge Hill Inclosure, the group came to a sudden halt, for to the right of the path a ditch and area of moist ground hosted many flower species. Fortunately the walk had some members with impressive plant knowledge and others equipped with fieldguides. As a result we all benefited from their knowledge and appreciated what we were looking at. Lacking necessary lenses for close examination meant that identification could not be guaranteed for every species.
Fallow Deer © Chris Robinson |
Heath Speedwell © Chris Robinson |
Common Cow-wheat © Richard Smith |
Stonechat - male © Chris Robinson |
On leaving the Inclosure we saw House Martins, a fast low flying Peregrine, Swallows and a distant Raven was heard and seen. With so much to look at we had taken well over an hour to reach Fletchers Thorns. As we had barely covered a third of the planned walk we decided to have our coffee stop before retracing our steps. However, armed with a map some of the group had the time to complete the intended route.
Petty Whin - flower in close-up © Andy & Sue Skarstein |
Meanwhile, on our return to the car park we saw Petty Whin, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, the orange-red of a Russula fungus, a charm of Goldfinches and a Skylark descending behind some scrub. In the semi-shade of a bridge Bugle was in flower and along the way Germander Speedwell. JE
Song Thrush © Richard Smith |
Walking on after our coffee break a smaller group of us walked across Poundhill Heath, where we heard and saw Raven and Meadow Pipit. We noted several fallen trees along the boundary line of the Inclosure and distantly, several large Silver Birch with heads blown out; presumably earlier storm-damage. Amongst the heather was more Petty Whin and in a damper area a large patch of Oblong-leaved Sundew. A Red Poplar Leaf Beetle Chrysomela populi was found amongst the heather, in almost the same location as a previous walk in May 2021.
Sundew © Andy & Sue Skarstein |
Red Poplar Leaf Beetle © Andy & Sue Skarstein |
Chicken-in-the-Wood © Richard Smith |
Returning
to the car park we noticed the iron dome of an old hydraulic ram pump in its
brick housing, sited quite near to the bridge but often overlooked. RS
Our route © Crown copyright 2022 Ordnance Survey. Media 005/22. The licence is valid until 31 December 2022. |
Franchises Lodge is a nature reserve covering almost 1000 acres. In 2018 it was acquired by RSPB, whose impressive long-term vision for habitat restoration of the woodland, and development of open heath is already evident. An important objective is the development of a “bridge” between Langley Wood to the north and the wider New Forest to the south. (1 on the map)
Saul Alonso giving us an introduction to the reserve © Tina Vaughan |
On a bright sunny morning, a group of us gathered to meet Saul Alonso, the RSPB Warden in sole charge of the reserve. Saul provided us with a background to the estate and the geography of the surrounding land before heading off down the bridleway and onwards into the private reserved area. Walking through the mixed broadleaf woodland we heard numerous birds including Blue, Great and Coal Tits, Wren, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Firecrest, Siskin and Blackcap, though we often had only fleeting glimpses of bird life through the growing canopy of leaves.
Nest boxes at Cameron's Cottage © Tina Vaughan |
We paused at Cameron’s Cottage; a formerly derelict building that has been completely refurbished by the Cameron Bespolka Trust in partnership with the RSPB (2). Much of the restoration has taken the cottage completely “off grid” using solar powered heating and electricity as much as possible. Bat, Swift and House Martin boxes have been installed during building. A hibernaculum for reptiles and a very well appointed bug hotel (formerly an outside lavatory) have been built in the surrounding grounds. A Grey Wagtail flew in carrying food and obligingly perched in a nearby tree for the photographers.
Grey Wagtail with food near Cameron's Cottage © Chris Robinson |
Following down the footpath we came to an area of Scots Pine where the sheer scale of Rhododendron clearance and the challenge ahead were evident. This non-native, invasive species has engulfed large swathes of the woodland, much to the detriment of the habitat. This is being systematically removed and burned on site with a long-term plan for eventual eradication which is expected to take many years to complete. Radical management and culling of deer, predominantly Fallow doe has already been undertaken. An initial survey suggested as many as 2000 deer were entering and grazing the reserve preventing any woodland regeneration.
Small-flowered Wintercress © Richard Smith |
Herb Robert © Chris Robinson |
Further on, we stopped for our coffee break at what had been dump where fly-tipping had been a major problem in the past. Much of this has been cleared and the remaining rubble, and mounds of earth are already colonised with Buddleia and wildflowers plus some probably garden escapes. A long-term plan is to develop this are for reptiles and for a butterfly bank. Goldfinches were seen feeding amongst the nettles and waste ground. The botanist in the group identified numerous wild plants including Small-flowered Wintercress, Dove’s-foot Cranesbill, Herb Robert, Verbascum sp, Ivy-leaved Toadflax, Spear Mint, Lemon Balm and Hedge Garlic.
Germander Speedwell © Tina Vaughan |
Yellow Pimpernel © Chris Robinson |
Walking along the path beside the pylons that thread across the lower part of the reserve, we saw more Greenfinches and a Common Buzzard circled overhead, Along the path, we identified Tansy, Germander and Wood Speedwells, Lesser Trefoil, Marsh Thistle, Silverweed, Yellow Pimpernel, Greater Stitchwort and Wood Spurge.
Speckled Yellow (moth) © Richard Smith |
Carder Bee © Tina Vaughan |
We returned to the cars up a steep climb, passing behind Cameron’s Cottage where we saw more Blue and Coal Tits and a Dunnock. An enjoyable and inspiring visit to this site which is already providing access and education for young people and has an ambitious and exciting future development plan.
References
1/ ‘Secret forest’ becomes one of the RSPB’s most significant purchases : https://www.rspb.org.uk/about-the-rspb/about-us/media-centre/press-releases/franchises-lodge/
2/ Cameron's Cottage In partnership with the RSPB in the New Forest : https://www.cameronbespolka.com/cameron-s-cottage
Franchises Lodge route
© Crown copyright 2022 Ordnance Survey. Media 005/22. The licence is valid until 31 December 2022.