Back in May, the Conservation Team planted a hundred or so
oak saplings and a handful of other species left over from another job on a
patch of Snipes Dene. The Dene had been left largely denuded when the Forestry
Commission’s non-native conifers were felled about three or four years ago. In
a not particularly thorough search, we found maybe a couple of dozen young oaks
– many showing signs of nibbling. Presumably many others have not survived the rabbits.
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| Snipes Dene |
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| One of the surviving Oak saplings |
In September last year, we designated a small area of the Dene
to monitor for natural regeneration. A work party did its best to rid the patch
of Western Hemlock saplings which were growing profusely. A year later this
invasive, foreign conifer is flourishing and will have to be uprooted soon if it
is not to take over.
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| A patch of Western Hemlock |
However, other, more welcome, native trees are also taking
hold: oak, beech, holly and, quite extensively, birch. Much of the ground is
bare and hard-packed, or is deep in brashing woven through with bramble.
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| Bramble with blackberries |
Although
the area still has a barren look about it, foxgloves – now long skeletal
fingers pointing skyward - are abundant and more than twenty other flowering
species have appeared over the past twelve months, along with numerous hard
ferns and male ferns, and more than seven identifiable species of fungi.
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| A Holly Tree becoming established |
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| Hard Fern |
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| Foxglove |
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| Enchanter's Nightshade |
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| Red Campion |
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| Hawkweed sp. |
Animal life seen here over the summer includes five species
of butterfly and the common carder bumble bee, but some things that might be
expected are missing: we have seen not one ant or woodlouse, though this
embryonic woodland floor abounds with two small species of spider which must be
eating something. Bones of rabbits and other small mammals are dotted around; Ranger
Phil, on his early morning patrols, has often seen a fox family here who are
most likely responsible. Life – and death – is returning to Snipes Dene.
