17 March 2016 Parc Pale/Pondhead

Angela guided us on a sunny spring morning on a circular walk around part of Pondhead Inclosure near Lyndhurst. This area of woodland is managed by Pondhead Conservation Volunteers, who coppice some areas and also produce charcoal for sale locally to raise funds for their activities.

Coppiced Hazel in Pondhead

As we walked from the car park we found Redwings and Stonechat in and around the bushes and small trees and during the walk the best birds seen were Buzzard, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Nuthatches, and a Green Woodpecker heard. 



 

Hazel - the tiny female flower

We were too early in the season for much in the way of spring flowers. We admired the male Hazel catkins and careful searching discovered the tiny red female flower (left). Also noted were Round-leaved Water Crowfoot, Butcher's Broom, Hard Fern and Yew.