QUODITCH EDUCATION DEVON
QUODITCH MOOR NATURE RESERVE

A WALK IN MARCH

March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers.

Welcome to Quoditch Moor Nature Reserve. At this time of the year the land is starting to dry out. You might get away with hiking boots but there are still places where Wellingtons are the order of the day.

Our site consists of six areas, which you can see on our map
As you enter through the gate at the southern end you come into field one.

This is the main field covering about eight acres ( 3.3 hectares). It has been left untouched over the winter but now it will be grazed to keep the grass down and allow the other plants to survive. At the moment the long grass is the winter home to Snipe and Woodcock. If you come at the right time you may see the beautiful flight of the Barn Owl which appears around the trees at the top of the field leading into field two.

Watch out where you tread when you walk through the grass. If you look very closely you will notice masses of spiders scuttling around trying to escape from you. They are too fast to photograph.
   
   


In 2004 we were using ponies to keep the grass down. Since the foot and mouth outbreak it has become difficult to find cattle to graze our fields. They wil be moved around the land to avoid "poaching" (taking the grass down too short) Note the propriatorial robin who always greets us by the main gate.
They have settled in well and are rapidly taking down the old, long grass.
 
At the north end of the field over to the right you can walk through to the Ride.

Page updated 29th March 2004

 

MOVE ON TO FIELD TWO