I've been making my way into work this week through the snow drift fields of Collingham, following the hidden footpaths and trails that lead to the reserve.
As I'm sure you will agree, the views have been spectacular and the snow really does add something magical to the landscape, but what has really pleased me is observing how some of the little touches of conservation management carried out at the reserve are benefitting our wildlife in these hard times.
The woodland is a great example of where small scale habitat creation is paying off. The wood, sometimes known to locals as 'The Fox Covert', is only 3ha in size with a mix of mainly Sycamore, Oak and Birch. Let me explain a little further what we have, and how we have changed things.
Each of these species has something different to offer. The Oak is well known for supporting the greatest diversity of organisms with estimates of up to 300 different species associtated with this majestic but incredibly valuable tree.
Compare the Sycamore with this and you will find much less diversity due to it's more recent colonisation of the British Isles, however the Sycamore does have a trick up it's sleeve for wildlife, and that is biomass. The Sycamore can in fact have an incredible amount of aphids, more than most other trees, offering a worthy food source for our insect loving birds such as long-tailed tits and goldcrest. It also flowers much earlier than other species and therefore provides a great nectar source for often overlooked moths and butterflies.
The Birch is a wonderful pioneering species which has many associations with fungi and invertebrates, next time you are in the wood look for the large bracket fungi that provide a dapper collar to many of our specimens. The Fox Coverts collection of Birch is also reaching a climax age and size and will now be providing a superb source of dead wood, vital for the health of a woodland. In fact conservation woodlands are recommended to have up to 50% dead wood, this will in turn provide nesting holes for woodpecker and treecreeper, and a mountain of food for detritivores like the humble woodlouse.
So, what have we been doing in the woodland and how has it helped? The Sycamore can often create a heavy canopy reducing light penetration for ground flora, so much work has included opening up a wide ride through the heart of the wood for the benefit of insects and new pioneering trees, we have also ring-barked a selection of large Sycamores to create some more standing deadwood.
In addition, and what has really come to my attention with the snow, is how many of our small birds and mammals will be in desperate need of shelter and access to open ground to feed. This has been most notably achieved by the creation of large brash and wood piles stacked throughout the wood. I watched closely yesterday as a family of wrens cheerfully darted around inside the dense thicket of leaves and branches that will be a winter refuge.
All of this valuable work has been carried out by our resourceful volunteers, and although Langford Lowfields is most commonly thought of for the large-scale work on our growing reedbed, it is well worth remembering all the little touches that make a difference elsewhere.
float like a butterfly