One of our regular visitors, Ben Inman, has kindly penned this guest blog for us, which explains just what it is that keeps him coming back to Coombes Valley....
My first visit to this oasis of natural beauty was some four years ago and I remember having a guided tour of the woodland loop being led by a particularly attentive and strikingly marked pheasant. I guess the bird associated any human as a source of food and followed me closely. The time was early autumn and the leaves were turning from summer green to a mix of yellows, coppers and gold. The view across the valley and mixed woodland was absolutely splendid in the low autumn sunlight.
View from Young Woodland Loop by Ben Inman
Since that first evening, I have become a bit of a regular visitor. I’m not a local but work from time to time in Stoke-on-Trent, and make a bee line for Coombes Valley at the end of the working day for some welcome respite from life in one of the last bastions of British heavy engineering.
I’m not a particularly knowledgeable naturalist or ornithologist, just someone who likes the natural world, and one of the questions that always fills me with dread when I visit reserves is that inevitable question ‘what have you seen?’ The truth is, loads; I just don’t know all the names, though I do try to identify sightings later. The point is; I see something different each time I visit. A couple of years back I watched a great spotted woodpecker attempting to raid a nest box with pied fly catchers in residence. After a few minutes a very disgruntled fly catcher - returning to the box - launched itself at the woodpecker like a missile. Very effective, the woodpecker took off into the trees and wasn’t seen again for some time.
View of Clough Meadow by Ben Inman
A few weeks ago, I sat on the seat at the end of the Woodcock trail listening to the bird song. The density of the woodland dulls the sound of any infernal combustion engines and all that one can hear is the music of birds. Two blackbirds were definitely competing for the most complex tune; the addition of a song thrush and a robin or two for good measure meant that the sound was absolutely melodic.
I had my best ever view of a tree creeper from the main path, which is slightly elevated and allows great views down to the valley below. It also means that small and well camouflaged tree creepers can be spotted and watched with relative ease, and Blackcaps can also be seen in the canopy above. In fact, right from the moment you enter the reserve there is something to see, as chaffinches fly overhead to and from the feeders. One evening a year or two back I asked myself the question, just how many wrens can be sustained per meter of woodland, either the same family was following me around or there had been a population explosion, a really good sign of the health of the forest.
Common carder bee image by Ben Inman
Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been walking through the meadows looking at the butterflies and mini flying things, or not so mini when regarding several good views of dragonflies across Clough Meadow! There has been a multitude of peacock butterflies this year. I guess they must be having a good year for a change.
Peacock image by Ben Inman
The great thing about Coombes Valley is you know the reserve is well managed, but the hand of man is totally unobtrusive - all to the credit of the hard working, friendly and extremely knowledgeable wardens and volunteers under the direction of Jarrod Sneyd, the reserve manager. It’s a good location for an all day visit because it has the necessary toilet facilities and hot drinks are available when the centre is open. All you need to bring along is a picnic.
The beauty of this place is the natural tranquillity, even with many visitors; human presence is not immediately apparent thanks to the cover of the tree canopy above, which can also be a great boon in showery weather. Even looking across from Buzzard Bank, and there are buzzards a plenty, some times it’s hard to believe there are other visitors.
I’m looking forward to my next visit, I believe kingfishers have returned.