Woodland, Wildlife and Grassland

 

Woodland

High Woods is an enchanting, ancient woodland full of wild cherry trees and rich in flora as well as forna. It was grown in the traditional way through the centuries. This lets sunlight into the wood and encourages bluebells and other flowers to flourish. Much of the meadow is acidic grassland where herbs - such as cat's-ear and heath bedstraw- grow.

The woodland is thriving with life such as tawny owls, sparrowhawks, woodpeckers, nightingales, badgers, foxes, grey squirrels, mice any many others. During the day, small herds of roe and deer roam between the tree trunks of our mixed woods, red squirrels bustle around the treetops in pine woods and butterflies alight on flowers at the forest. A night descends, mammals like foxes, bats, badges and dormice come out to hunt.

Woodland trail through High Woods

Grassland

There are several different types of grassland, characterised by their soil types. Acid grassland can be found in both upland and lowland area where fine-leaved grasses grow, alongside wild flowers like heath bedstraw and pretty blue harebells. Neutral grassland is associated with calys and silty soils.

A well-used High Woods trail

Species

Species found in grasslands are adder's-tongue fern, wild flowers and bee orchids which attract butterflies, such as the eye-catching Adonis Blues (below) and Marbled Whites. Many other butterflies are found here, such as Orange Tip butterflies, Chalkhill Blues, Meadow Browns and any more.  

Adonis Blue butterfly

- Cupcakes Are Forever xoxo