On this lovely Spring morning, brisk at first but warming later,
11 headed across the open plain to the ford and pony-drift collecting pens at
Millersford Plantation, our path lined by glorious golden Gorse. We took a
woodland path into the Plantation, then out of the trees into an area of
drastic clearance where acres of conifers had been felled to restore heathland,
leaving a bleak, battlefield-landscape. Thankfully, among the tree stumps
and stark trunks that remained, Silver Birch and Hawthorn saplings and heather
survived.
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| Lousewort |
Along the path rising above the cleared valley, a tiny, purple
patch of Lousewort sat at the base of a sandy bank where Solitary Bees
frequented tiny holes. A few Comma, Peacock and Brimstone butterflies were
stirring in the sunshine. Bird calls and drumming indicated that Blackbird,
Chaffinch, Robin, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Green and Great-spotted
Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Song Thrush and Stonechat were nearby but sightings were
few. However, two Common Buzzards floated above the remaining trees in
Millersford Copse, pestered by a Carrion Crow, and later a Raven was seen and
heard.
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| Dormouse box |
After taking the view over Hale Purlieu, we retraced our route
downhill, crossed the stream and turned NE. Several evergreen Holm Oak trees
stood out among their deciduous neighbours. We soon headed over the
now-treeless hillside and continued along track and open grassy plain back to
the cars.
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| Deer lower jaw bone |
An adjacent small pond harboured a foreigner: floating leaves with
bright yellow-tipped spikes, later identified via the RHS website as Golden
Club/Floating Arum (Orontium aquaticum) from eastern USA. There was no spathe
but the spadix had clusters of yellow flowers near the tip. MW/SP