Heath violets, in acid grassland at The Lodge April 2024 - P.Bradley
Heathland at The Lodge now totals about 104ha including acid grassland, heather, gorse and bare ground. The introduction of Dartmoor ponies to extensively graze parts of the heaths was a big change. Their job is to nibble here, eat there, scuffle the soil and, yes, poo a bit. A recent rarity was identified: ‘nail fungus’. Known from places like the New Forest, ‘nail fungus’ grows on pony poo. It looks a bit like tacks or drawing pins, hence the name. And yes… the ponies are due to come back in mid-May.
After many years of effort, invasive birch and bramble are now largely under control, thanks to maturing of the heather and the work of dedicated volunteers who ‘pop’ small birch every winter, under the direction of Sonya Hardy, the warden.
Under a special licence we move some Natterjack toad spawn and tadpoles into pools on the New Heath each Spring, to help to spread the toads across the reserve. We’ve mown links through areas of mature heather to help the toads move around site, and additional shallow ponds are planned.
More bare ground patches have been created within heathland and grassland, to benefit the important heathland invertebrate populations, and the Natterjacks that like bare sand or short vegetation to hunt among. Over on the Skylark trail, former sand quarry areas have been re-landscaped in collaboration with Tarmac, creating some really interesting lumps, bumps, grooves and cliffs, just what nature loves! More parts have been sown using heather brash mown from the rest of The Lodge.
Our wind turbine field (on the Woodpecker trail) continues to improve for flowers. Only this week, I was surprised to find the beautiful Heath Violet in flower there, along with the more usual Sheep’s Sorrel, Centaury, Cranesbill and Storksbill. Now (April, May) is the time to see it in all it’s glory!
Best wishes,
Peter