Hackfall Woods: 02-05-2017

This week 14 NCVs returned to Hackfall Woods. Six walked all the paths to remove any overhanging vegetation and the rest followed up their training from last week by undertaking a Wild Watch survey transect. 

There were a number of sightings of grey wagtails and dippers but none of any vole holes. One lucky group found some fresh otter spraint (otter poo in case you were unsure). On the look out for invasive species, the surveyors were glad to report that there were no signs of Japanese Knotweed and only two sightings of the dreaded Himalayan Balsam. However, as the surveying area was not at the edge of the wood where we normally have to pull the stuff up we are not celebrating just yet. It is, after all, very early on in the season! 

A few photos below give a flavour of the day.....

This little team of footpath checkers lopped...

...and sawed their way around the woods.....

...leaving nice clear pathways behind them.

A couple of teams met up for coffee at the sand banks.

Some of the interesting finds:

Sanicle - an ancient woodland indicator species

A dying bat which had lost a wing.

Pendulous sedge.

Toothwort - a parasitic plant that lives off the roots of various trees.
Aren't you glad your teeth don't look like that!

A strangely twisted tree trunk.

The otter spraint.
(Full of bones and smelling fishy.)

An otter's skull (definitely the find of the day!)

And of course the wild garlic and bluebells 
were out in full force.

Gorgeous!

Ros E.