NATURALIST
evidence of their presence in the form of discarded nut shells and fir cones. In early spring birds are often located by their song - with a pair of binoculars handy, it soon becomes possible to identify the songster and with practice most of the tits, finches and especially the nuthatch can be recognised by sound alone. The rare and elusive nightjar can also be heard or if you are really lucky, seen in the woods on summer evenings. But it is the bats that are one of the star turns of the Tamar Valley, with over a dozen species having been identified. Most are nocturnal, emerging in the evening from their roosts amongst the old mine-workings. They are often seen skimming over the surface of the river and around the trees lining the banks, navigating their way using ultrasound. Each species emits a unique call, catching the reflected echoes in their over-sized ears to ‘picture’ the locality. At the heart of the woodland around the post-industrial
wastes of the 19th century Devon Great Consols Mine workings, plants still struggle to colonise the dry sandy residues over a century later. These still carry traces of copper, tin and poisonous arsenic extracted from the rocks below. However, on the fringes of this area, a heath-like flora has developed and where conifer needles carpet the ground red wood ants colonies, with a level of sophistication which matches that of the hive-bee, construct extensive ant-hills in which to raise their brood. At the time of writing, there is some concern for the future of the estate with both the ownership and management of the woodlands under discussion. Our hope should be that its value in terms of landscape, protected habitats and species, its history and public accessibility should be taken into consideration for all who live and work in the area. n Pete Mayston
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