QUODITCH EDUCATION DEVON
QUODITCH MOOR NATURE RESERVE

A WALK IN MARCH

FIELD FOUR

Field Four covers 3.3 acres(1.323 hectares)

Towards the north side of the field, in the middle, there are some small ponds, hollowed out when some trees fell down. Here there is a mass of tadpoles and newts.

Again the grass has gone a golden colour, where it has not been grazed.
 

Parts of the field are beginning to regenerate after the woodland was cleared in the mid nineties. They will need clearing back to maintain the grass and flora underneath.
And here are members of the Devon Branch of Butterfly Conservation. They visit us twice a year to help with scrub clearance. In recent years they have concentrated on Field Four. It has made a lot of difference to this area, particularly since the foot and mouth epidemic meant that the field could not be grazed.
The Deer have appeared again. This is the track right through the middle that leads on to the Forestry Plantation.
In the woodland the ivy is showing its different stages. Some of the immature leaves are heart-shaped, later they take up their better known shape.
   
Here's an interesting looking growth on a birch tree. We're not sure what causes this.

This unusual fungus is known as "Witches Butter" (Exidia Glandulosa)
   
   
The Ride around this area is still rather wet


Since the foot and mouth outbreak we have started to use Exmoor cross Ponies. They are still well protected in their winter coats.


MOVE ON TO FIELD FIVE


Page updated 17 March 2006