QUODITCH EDUCATION DEVON  
QUODITCH MOOR NATURE RESERVE
A WALK IN MAY
Field Six

Field six is about six acres (2.45 hectares) in size. It is mainly covered with deciduous woodland with only a few patches of grass.

In the future some of the areas will be opened up a little to preserve the grass. But it will be a long job.

The trees, particularly the willows, are constantly trying to fill the gaps.

However, in the Spring of 2007, as part of our management plan, we decided to go for it.

Here is the middle of the field in May , suitably cleared.

It looks a bit drastic and will take a while to recover, but soon the plant life will return. It will be interesting to see what appears after many years of semi-shade.

   
Here is the same area in may 2009, suitably recovered.
   
Already the lousewort is beginning to appear.
   
Our largest and favourite beech tree is beginning to come out into leaf.

The deer wallow is almost dry. This picture was taken in 1998.

   
By 2006 it had totally silted up, so in 2007 we redug it and as you can see below by May 2009 it had regained its use by the deer.
 

The wild flowers are beginning to appear near the stream. This is Wood Sorrel (Oxalis acetosella)
The flowers appear later in the month

 

This is Common Valerian (Valeriana Officinalis). This appears all over our land but there is a large area of it in this field where the trees have not swamped the grass.

This is Greater Stitchwort, (Stellaria holostea) (Caryophyllaceae)

You can see a large clump of it at the bottom of the field near the stream.
   
Here is a close-up with a lesser celandine in the background.
   
Here is one of our favorite plants, Herb Robert.

There are many lichen in this area that are visible all year round. This is Bearded Lichen (Usnea Subfloridana). Its presence shows that the air is very unpolluted here.

At the bottom of this field is a stream which divides the land from the Forestry beyond.

You can make for the Ride and walk the half mile back to the entrance or, if you prefer, you can follow the path on the west side of our land as far as field three and then cut back through the middle. We hope you have enjoyed your visit.

Page last updated 3rd September 2004

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