Nature

Melwood Your Local Nature Reserve an ongoing project

Conservation of habitats is often a slow process but some tasks recur each year. Cutting the meadow, control of scrub and management of invasive species such as nettle and ivy continue, along with routine tasks such as cleaning and repairing nest boxes and strimming taller growth in the wood. However, we are also trying to improve the diversity with introduction of native species as seed, small plants and young trees. 2019 started much as every year, with an excellent show of snowdrops. A few plants responded to the relatively mild winter with peak blooming in February. The daffodils also put in a strong showing and are now well distributed around the wood. During 2018 we planted some natural varieties and these are showing healthy growth, although they won’t flower for a couple of years. The oxlips and primroses showed well in April but sadly produce little seed, as the flowers get eaten by rabbits. However, there is a remarkable mixture of hybrids between oxlip and cowslip and oxlip with primrose. The latter produce bigger and showier blooms, for which we can thank some very busy bees.

The birds were in spring mood early and the air was full of their tuneful calls in Mid-April. A bird walk was held with Mike Foley in May and a wide variety of species were again spotted.

Sallow and Barberry bushes at the side of the meadow are making good progress and provide attractive displays of Pussy Willow catkins and hanging clusters of yellow flowers respectively. Controlling the nettles around these bushes remains one of the summer’s more uncomfortable jobs. The hedge planted along the eastern side of the wood continues to make slow progress. The adjacent dead hedge needs constant repair as animals don’t respect boundaries and make their own ways through the wood and neighbouring areas.

The older hawthorns continue to be coppiced in order to encourage new young growth. This improves light to the floor of the wood and encourages a wider variety of ground hugging plants. This is facilitated by regularly removing

Dusky Cranesbill ground ivy. A brush cutter is used to break up the ivy and we hope to see an increase in woodland flowers in this area. The objective of the conservation work is to increase the biodiversity in the wood, whilst remaining true to the natural habitats of the local area. Underpinning everything between oxlip and cowslip and oxlip with primrose. The latter are the trees and flowers, produce bigger and showier blooms, for which we can thank supporting a range of insects, which in

The birds were in spring mood early and the air was full turn support of their tuneful calls in Mid-April. A bird walk was held with Mike Foley in May and a wide variety of species were again

Sallow and Barberry bushes at the side of the meadow are making good progress and provide attractive displays of Pussy Willow catkins and hanging wood continues to make slow progress. The adjacent dead hedge needs constant repair as animals don’t respect boundaries and make their own ways through the wood and

The older hawthorns continue to be coppiced in order to encourage new young growth. This improves light to the floor of the wood and encourages a wider variety of ground hugging plants. This is facilitated by regularly removing continued on page 21

are the trees and flowers, supporting a range of insects, which in turn support

Meadow sunny side Meadow shaded side Young tree area Densely shaded woodland Meadow Wooded edge old hedge line Lightly shaded Memorial Lime tree woodland Yew hedge Sunny Coppicedclearing Elm scrub River Mel

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Wood Blossom

birds and bats in the wood and surrounding area. Observing the success or otherwise of work undertaken is therefore an important casual activity whilst walking around the wood. A number of flowers introduced have established and the trees and bushes survive, although not all are growing as fast as was hoped. Dusky cranesbill and nettle-leaved bellflower seem to be slowly spreading. In what is basically a dry wood, the importance of areas of leaf mould has been emphasised by the appearance in 2018 of a couple of flowering wood anemones and a fern, tentatively identified as male fern. The former must originate from roots planted in the same area 3 or 4 years ago and thought to have perished. The latter seems to have established naturally, possibly from spores carried on passing boots. Two specimens of wild garlic (Ramsons) are of unknown origin and may have been overlooked until uncovered by brush cutting. The slow introduction of native bluebells grown from seed continues but the rabbits keep heavy pressure on them.

Flower meadows remain the most threatened habitat in South Cambridgeshire so we continue our efforts to ensure this part of the habitat is maintained to encourage a wide variety of species. 2019 will progress our aims in the wood and longer term we hope to improve the flora of the meadow.

For more information on the group, visit the website at www.melwood .btck.co.uk or contact Bruce Huett at brucehuett@ compuserve.com or 01763 232 855 Bruce Huett based on material from Jim Reid.