Summer Leys - Northamptonshire OS Map Reference SP 886 634

Summer Leys is a local nature reserve at Wollaston in the Upper Nene Valley, in Northamptonshire. It is owned by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire.  The RSP Nature group met to enjoy what the reserve had to offer.

This large, ex-gravel pit is made up of a main lake with gently sloping banks, shallow areas of water and ponds, low lying islands, a large scrape and a fringe of reeds surrounded by grassland and wet woodland. This is ideal habitat for wintering birds: goosander, wigeon and gadwall reach nationally important numbers, joined by large numbers of roosting lapwing and golden plover. We saw many Bullfinches, BlueTits and Goldfinches.

Wading birds use the scrape and the shallow lake margins. Oystercatcher, ringed plover, little ringed plover and redshank stay to breed, while whimbrel, turnstone and common sandpiper often pass through during migration. Numerous pairs of common tern nest in a colony on the islands, the reserve management usually cut back vegetation each autumn to keep them safe, and every few years we re-profile the wader scrape.  

Otters are rare but regular visitors to the reserve, while the taller reeds and rushes around the lake may reveal the ball-shaped woven nests of harvest mice. We did no see any.  Sixteen species of dragonflies and damselflies have been recorded here and it is one of the best places to see the uncommon hairy dragonfly, which dances around the edges of Marigold Pond in May and June. It was a hot day and the dragon flies flew at speed round the water edge in the morning but were no where to be seen in the afternoon.   Late spring sees hobbies hunting insects over the reserve.

Kim’s Corner, a fragment of species-rich neutral grassland, is a good place to watch butterflies. In late summer, it comes alive with the songs of grasshoppers and crickets. In the summer the area is haycut, followed by sheep grazing. To maintain the open natures of the lake banks, the management teams coppice willow and cut back other vegetation and remove encroaching scrub.   

It was a splendid reserve with lots of insects. 

Bradfield Wood Suffolk

Bradfield Wood is a working wood that is unique as it has been under continuous traditional coppice management since 1252, fulfilling local needs for firewood and hazel products.  it is one of Britain's finest ancient woodland and is a glorious haven for wildlife.  Coppicing is a traditional method of woodland management where stems are cut at ground level promoting vigorous re-growth.  Some Ash coppice stools in Bradfield Wood are thought to be over 100 years old. As the coppice shoots regenerate their dense bushy growth provides excellent cover for migrant songbirds such as Garden Warbler, Blackcap and Willow Warbler. Mammal including the Stoat, Yellow-Necked Mouse, Dormouse and Badger are also resident.  

On sunny Summer days the sheltered rides create the prefect habitat for butterflies, of which there are recorded 24 species. Of special note is the White Admiral butterfly which can usually be seen sipping nectar from the flowers on brambles or lone may get a glimpse of the Purple Hairstreak in the canopy of the Oaks. I was not lucky enough to see these two species.

The day we visited was dull and cool and our hope for the variety of butterflies was disappointing. I was pleased to see the Silver washed Fritillary that appeared in the afternoon, a Peacock and a Meadow Brown.  However, it was fun finding other insects and some found me to bite!  The Silver Washed Fritillary appeared  in the afternoon.  Some of the insects I saw were a male and female Scorpion Fly,  Soldier Beetles, various spiders catching prey and one protecting her egg-sac, Cricket, Shield bug, Silver Y Moth, Peacock Butterfly, 

 

Lark Farm Barton

The hedgerows have matured and there were more insects than I have seen for a long time, especially butterflies.  There were Damsel flies, Hover Flies,  Ringlets, Lulworth Skipper, Marble White, Meadow Brown, Wood White, a Woodpecker and Red Admiral.