Author Archives: JC

Barton Hills NNR

Barton Hills National Nature Reserve is mixed habitat of chalk grassland and beech woodland in the north Chilterns. The site is open access, and there are a number of footpaths.

Wild flowers cover the chalk grassland, including rarities such as the Pasque flower, greater pignut and field fleawort, plus classic downland plants like marjoram, rock rose and scabious. In summer you will see plenty of butterflies including chalkhill blue, marbled white and dark green fritillary.

The woodland contains an important population of large leaved lime trees and is also home to the scarce plant herb paris. Also, look out for mammals including stoats, weasels and hares.

The Nature Reserve is on the south-east side of Barton-le-Clay.

Dragonflies under the microscope: 21st February 2015

An interested group of about 20 gathered at Jordans Mill to listen to Steve Cham gives us an introduction to dragonfly and damselfly larvae, including a few pointers to help to identify them. As well as a slide presentation, Steve came armed with his collection of exuviae for each of us to hold and to take a closer look at under microscopes.

Dragonflies eggs hatch into larvae which live underwater for up to 5 years and are fierce predators, even taking small fish like sticklebacks. Steve explained that an exuvia [plural: exuviae] is the skin left behind after an adult dragonfly has emerged and flown, so they look just like the larva in its last stage of development.

Steve’s talk generated a lively discussion after which we had the opportunity to examine a few exuviae under the microscopes provided.

Working Woodland Centre, Clophill

The Working Woodlands Centre (WWC) provides infrastructure and support for the protection and enhancement of both the local environment and rural economy. It intends to stimulate new and support existing sustainable woodland enterprise, tourism and opportunities for communities to be involved and benefit from their environment.

It is situated at Deadman’s Hill Lay-by off the A6 between Bedford and Luton. It is adjacent to Maulden Wood Site of Special Scientific Interest, a 250 expanse of woodland and meadows.

Garden Snails and Slugs

Aided by our friend Peter Topley, we have another activity to help you amuse yourselves and learn more about wildlife in your very own gardens. Snails and Slugs are commonplace in our gardens and Peter has produced for us a photographic Identification Sheet for you to download and see what you can see what Snails and Slugs you can find on your own door step – well, close to it, anyway. 🙂

Duck End NR, Maulden

Duck End is the remnants of Maulden Moor and is a good all-round Nature Reserve managed by the Greensand Trust.

Three man-made ponds are managed particularly to benefit dragonflies but the site is also good for butterflies and birds.

Flitton Moor

Owned by Bedfordshire County Council and managed by the Greensand Trust with help from the Friends of Flitton Moor, the site is a good place for butterflies, dragonflies, beetles, grasshoppers and flowers. There is also a gentle perimeter walk around the site.

Dunstable Downs

A National Trust property overlooking chalk downland: good for views, walks, and spotting birds, butterflies and wild flowers.

Jordans Mill

Jordans Mill is situated just to the south-west of Biggleswade on the banks of the River Ivel. As well as seeing a working flour mill, there’s a visitor centre, shop and café.

Woburn Walk: Boxing Day 2013

The indefatigable Mary Sheridan led the walk from the Woburn town car park. Her walk was well attended, the group numbering 29 people, but any YounGnats must have stayed at home playing with their Christmas presents since all 29 were adults. Shame!

Here’s Mary’s summary …

The weather was dry but cold and we had to keep moving to keep warm. We had 42 bird species including Red Kite, Buzzard, Treecreeper, Siskin and Goldcrest. On the mammal front we had good views of five species of deer – Red, Fallow, Sika, Muntjac and Chinese Water Deer – plus Rabbit and Grey Squirrel. We watched a seemingly never-ending herd of Red Deer run across the road near Paris House and then down towards the lake in front of the Abbey. It was quite an impressive sight.

Fallow Deer

Fungus Foray @ Sandy, 3-Nov-2013

This proved to be a popular event with our younger naturalists, some of whom were impressively receptive to getting to grips with Latin names. The following should give you some practice. 🙂

We found a good diversity of fungi with some common species being prolific: Collybia butyracea (Greasy Buttercap) and G. peronata (Wood Woolly-foot). In addition there were plenty of other interesting speciessuch as Deathcap (Amanita phalloides), Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria), the earth-star species Geatsrum triplex and the commonest of the bird’s nest fungi Crucibulum laeve.

Several specialities of this site were also found including Amanita gemmata, Pluteus pouzarianus (unique to this site within Bedfordshire), Psilocybe cyanescens, P. montana, Tephrocybe ellisii, Clavulinopsis corniculata, Clavaria argillacea, Geoglossum elongatum and Neotiella rutilans .

The final total of 132 species was impressive (once again) and this included 5 species of Agaricus, 6 species of Amanita and 9 Mycena, whilst 8 boletes this late in the season was also noteworthy.

: Crucibulum laeve

: Fly Agaric = Amanita muscaria

: Amanita phalloides

: Bird’s nest fungi

: Geastrum triplex

: Rhodocollybia butyracea