Today I have been for a lovely walk around Rainbow Wood and into Tinkers Wood at The Rare Breeds Centre, I have noticed a few things along the way.
The start of the Bluebells…. they are just starting to rise through the woodland mulch and mud, I hope to take some photographs for you to look at this week. They are tiny at the moment and very delicate.
Did you know?:
- The biggest threat to the Bluebell is the destruction of woodlands in which they grow.
- Climate change (if the climate of Britain warms a few degrees the Bluebell will fail to germinate after mild winters)
- Bluebells are intolerant of trampling, water logging, deep shade and competing with vigorous grasses
The Bluebells through our woodland bloom between April and June, covering the woodland floor with a blue carpet of flowers, it is vital that you stick to the paths to avoid damage to these tiny flowers.
Bluebells flower before the surrounding trees come out in full leaf (this may change over the next few years – due to climate change) by doing this the Bluebells are able to complete their lifecycle while daylight levels are high.
They propagate by seed, which are to heavy to be borne by air (the wind) and so they spread relatively slowly, and by natural division of the bulbs underground, much like a daffodil.
The new pond is full of water and the Ducks are back on the ‘Duck Pond’, they have come back to breed and before long it’ll be spring time and the farm will have the familiar site of Ducklings following along behind their mother.
After the high winds lots of trees have been damaged causing old branches to snap and fall to the woodland floor, these will soon become home to lots of insects. They will provide a home and shelter.
The Woodland Coppice
Along Tinkers Wood Nigel has been out coppicing. When you next visit the centre read up on coppice in our Interpretation lodge (near the secret lake)
And lastly a walk around Rainbow Wood showed me that the much hidden pond (not the secret lake) (you will need to walk around Rainbow wood to find this pond) is alive with nature.
In the mud close to the edge I was able to see Badger foot markings, this pond is now obviously a water hole for some of the animals that live in and around the woodland.
There were lots of Rabbit droppings around the pond, I managed to catch site of a rabbit diving into the bramble bushes to take shelter from me passing by.