Sign 8: A Closer Look ….

Wet Woodland

Wet woodland is a priority habitat and is important for supporting a diverse range of species, particularly insects and other invertebrates like snails and spiders.

The Speckled Wood butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly that is commonly seen in woodland, hedgerows, and gardens across Southern England. It is on the wing between March and October and is widespread in its distribution.  It is the only butterfly that can hibernate as either a caterpillar or a chrysalis.

Birds you are likely to see in this area

The Wren is almost a guaranteed bird to hear and see in the Cassiobury Park nature reserve, as other species such as Chaffinch have disappeared. 

Although small, it is not the smallest bird in Britain, which is the Gold Crest and can also be seen here and along the river. 

Ash Trees

There are a number of Ash trees along the path here and they need regular monitoring for Ash dieback, which could destroy them; so before then they need to be taken down.