Nature Notes From Green Meadow

Green Meadow is not just an animal sanctuary. The area also supports a variety of wildlife and flowering plants with over 120 different trees, shrubs and flowering plants having been found so far. The underlying rocks are sandstone and the soil is therefore neutral - acidic in nature with characteristic plants such as Gorse, Broom, Foxglove, Sheep’s-sorrel, Squirrel-tail Fescue and Creeping Soft-grass present as indicators. Bracken occurs as scattered patches but is a dominant feature of the steep bank in the middle of the sanctuary. At the bottom of the slope a damp meadow stretches eastwards to meet the Nurton brook which forms most of the south eastern boundary. The meadow has patches of Soft-rush, Hairy Sedge, Cuckoo Flower and Creeping Sweet-grass. Present all through are scattered Marsh Thistles which are important nectar sources for Butterflies, Bees and other flying insects. This meadow is being un-grazed at present to assess the wildlife value and see which species are present. The north-end of the meadow merges into springs and a permanently damp site adjoining a small Alder-Willow wood. This wood has springs going through and from it and is rich in marshland plants, briophytes, lichens and invertebrates. The striking Marsh Marigold is present together with Valerian, Meadowsweet, Alternate-leaved Golden saxifrage, Angelica and Moschatel, plus in the drier places, Yellow Archangel, Bluebell, Ramsons, Wood Anemone and Wood Millet. Molluscs thrive in this environment and include Marsh Snail (Succinea Putris), Shiny Glass Snail (Zonitoides Nitidus), Tawny Grass Snail (Euconulus Alderi), Two-Toothed Door Snail (Clausilia Bidentata) and two typical woodland slugs, Tree Slug (Limax Marginatus) and Forest slug (Arion Subfuscus). Frogs, Newts, Dragonflies and Damsel Flies welcome this damp area and Herons and Mallards regularly visit. Snipe and Woodcock have been seen in the past. The large Crack Willows to the north of the wood and on the boundary together with the mature Alders and Black Poplars near the stream provide rough bark which is much beloved of the tiny Treecreeper, a tiny bird that searches the trunk crevices for spiders and other invertebrates and which nests behind loose bark present on these older specimens. The Alders are an important food source in the winter for Redpolls and Siskins which acrobatically search out the seeds on the ends of the branches. In the south east corner of the Nurton brook, Yellow Flag Iris and Watercress occur and in places along the spring lines and the brook Narrow-leaved Water-parsnip forms large dominant patches. Shrubs and bramble form a very important habitat for wildlife both as shelter and food sources. Field Rose, Dog Rose, Dogwood and Guelder-rose (a shrub not a rose!) are the most beneficial and occur throughout. Butterflies, Bees and Hoverflies are attracted to the rich nectar source and Long Tailed Tits and Warblers find them ideal protection from predators for their nests. Hazels provide nuts and Blackthorn and Hawthorn early blossom and autumn fruits and berries respectively. Spring and summer migrant birds include the delightful Yellow Wagtail together with Swallow, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Garden Warbler and Whitethroat. The occasional Cuckoo is also seen. Resident birds range from the tiny Goldcrest and Wren to larger species such as Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Kestrel, Sparrow-hawk, Tawny Owl and Buzzard. Also present are species that have declined nationally such as Lapwing, Grey Partridge, Song Thrush, Yellowhammer, Linnet, Tree Sparrow and Sky Lark. Ravens are seen regularly flying over giving their harsh frog like “crock, crock” call. Hawthorn berries are especially attractive as an autumn and winter food for visiting migrant birds such as Fieldfare, Redwing and the much rarer Waxwing. Resident Blackbirds, Mistle Thrush and Song Thrush also take advantage of the berries. The bird-feeders and tables near the chalet are used regularly by Chaffinch, Robin, Greenfinch and various Titmice. Wrens like to hunt along the nearby rock face which forms part of the garden area. It is intended to put up a number of different sized nest boxes to help hole-nesting species in the near future and a pond may be a possibility in the southern end of the sanctuary. Butterflies are present in varying numbers from spring through to late autumn starting with Orange-tips which feed on the Lady’s-Smock and Small Tortoiseshells, Peacocks, Comma and Red Admiral whose caterpillars feed on Nettle through to the “Browns” whose caterpillars feed mainly on various grasses; Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Hedge Brown and Small Skipper. The adults often feed on bramble flowers and large gatherings can be seen especially on a warm, sunny day. As I write this the Swallows have left the nest in the large barn, and a family of Collared Doves have hatched in the goat shed, which brings me back to the start of the write-up about the sanctuary being for animals and wildlife. The two go hand-in-hand. The first few years at any site are spent finding out what lives where, what it is, and how we can help it ? That is still happening and thanks to the interest, dedication and total commitment by Daphne and Cliff, and all the helpers, it is assured a safe future.

JOHN FLEMING; Ecological Adviser.