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August 2010

Hollybank Woods, Emsworth, Hampshire.

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Wildlife

The Meadow Grasshopper is the only flightless grasshopper in the UK. Photographed in Hollybank clearing. Actual body length approx 15mm. (PHOTO: AB)

BIRDS:
Raptors - Sparrowhawk, Tawny Owl, Little Owl, Kestrel, Buzzard are resident. Hobby also hunt along the eastern edge of Hollybank. A nightime foray through the woodland in February or March might even discover Long Eared Owl in the trees.

Woodcock are to be found here on the damp woodland floor. Dusk forays into the open woodland along the western boundary in spring or early summer reward with the sounds and sight of roding woodcock. There could also be Nightjar, but no confirmed sightings have yet been recorded. Pheasant are a common sight and sound.

Gulls - all five common species should be seen flying over. In the early months of the year, before they leave to nest elsewhere, they often ''day roost'' on the open fields by Southleigh Farm.

Woodpeckers - Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers are always resident and the elusive Lesser Spotted is seen somewhere in the woods each year (best place to look is close to the Emsworth Common Road east of Hollybank Lane and February is one of the best months to track them down by their calls).

Both Nuthatch and Tree Creeper are always present - the Nuthatches always making themselves known by their calls but the Tree Creepers being much quieter and elusive.

Thrushes - Mistle and Song Thrushes are still to be found here and their song, together with that of Blackbird, brightens springtime walks through the woods.

Redwing may be seen here from October to March - they come for the Holly berries - and when they are about the calls of Fieldfare (which feed in the woodland edge fields) can often be heard as they fly over.

Tits - Marsh Tit is always present along with the common species (Blue, Great, Coal and Long Tailed) Learning the calls and songs of the tits adds greatly to the interest of a woodland walk (same goes for all the birds in woodland - the place is full of them but few can be seen among the trees and leaves while they can all be identified by the sounds they make).

Finches - Chaffinch are numerous and both Green and Goldfinch will be found on almost every visit as will the Bullfinch when you are familiar with its plaintive piping calls from the thicker vegetation.

Warblers - Chiffchaff and Blackcap song can be heard in most parts of the wood in spring and early summer along with occasional Willow Warbler, while Common and Lesser Whitethroat are present around the woodland edge. A few years ago two Wood Warbler were seen in Southleigh Forest near Woodberry Lane, so although rare, it is still possible that their shivering song might be heard in Hollybank. Closely related to warblers are the ''kinglets'' of which Goldcrest is abundant and Firecrest have also been seen.

The Spotted Flycatcher used to breed here but is now only seen on passage, chiefly in the autumn. Spring passage brings many interesting birds through the woods such as Common Redstart and Nightingale to pause here for an hour or so.

Crows and Doves. Carrion Crows and Woodpigeons are of course inescapable wherever you go but these woods do still have the gentler cooing of Stock Dove and the bright colours of Jay with Jackdaw nesting in some tree hollows. The cawing of Rooks is not uncommon as they have a small rookery where Long Copse Lane crosses the county boundary.

INSECTS:
With so much dead wood present the wood is a perfect habitat for insects.

The success of efforts to clear scrub and allow the light to bring back a good ground flora in the woodland will perhaps be most easily measured by recording the butterflies seen here over a period of years.

Gatekeeper butterfly, a common sight in summer.(PHOTO: AB)

Examples of the rarer woodland species are Silver Washed Fritillary, White Admiral (now once again established in the wood) and Purple Emperor. Purple Hairstreak are doing well but they are difficult to spot as they hover round the tops of the oak trees, but some of the larger common species can be found fairly easily - Brimstone being abundant along with Comma and Red Admiral. Peacock can still be seen but Small Tortoiseshell has almost vanished everywhere so it is not surprising that sightings are rare. Holly Blue thrives on Holly and Ivy, Orange Tip and Small Copper among the ground vegetation (Cuckoo Flower/Sorrel) where their caterpillars can often be found. Gatekeepers still flourish and several other species (all three Whites, common species like Meadow Brown, and migrants such as Painted Lady and Clouded Yellow) fly through the woodland but are not dependent on it.

In passing it may be worth mentioning that Hops still grow on what was the eastern boundary of Holly Lodge and that the Comma loves this as a food plant!

The few butterfly species that most of us can recognise are a tiny part of the woodland lepidoptea - hundreds of moth species make up the bulk of it.

Although there is no permanent pond or lake in the woodland dragonflies can be seen and the Common Darter and Broad-Bodied Chaser are regular enough to be regarded as a resident.

The creation of a viable pond in the the damper part of the woodland will be a major factor in extending the biodiversity of the woodland.

Hornets seem to be increasingly common in recent years.

keep an eye out too for the multitude of Dragonfly on the wind during summer months.

Female Broad-Bodied Chaser Dragonfly. (PHOTO: AB)

The importance of Bees...

Bee on Garlic mustard flower head. Also the larval food plant of the Orange Tip butterfly.
(PHOTO: AB)

Bees on ragwort in the Hollybank Lodge clearing. (PHOTO: AB)

With every 3rd mouth full of food consumed by the worlds population pollinated by bees, Hollybank's abundant flush of ragwort plays an important role in the ecology of our local bees during the spring, summer and autumn months.


PLANTS:
Hollybank Woods not only includes two counties but a varied selection of habitats (from dry heathland to streamside bog) and an associated variety of trees and other plants. The presence of the recently abandoned Holly Lodge and its garden, and plantings around the sites of human habitation east of Hollybank Lane (wartime encampment) add to the natural vegetation.

A wonderful colony of some 1000 Early Purple Orchids and the associated damp woodland vegetation in the Sussex section, and of course the great display of Holly trees that give the wood its name. While we are not aware of any botanic specialities, a thorough botanic survey is planned.

MAMMALS and OTHER WILDLIFE:

Hollybank Woods in the deep mid winter. (PHOTO: Chris Ison)

Grey Squirrels and Roe Deer are easily found in these woods. Fallow Deer are also well established as are Muntjac Deer. Wood mice, Bank Voles, Moles and many species of bat (including Bechstein's) occur here in great numbers. The woodland also supports healthy populations of both Fox and Badger.

Adders and Grass Snakes can be found and Common Lizards still live on the heathland section while newts come from local garden ponds to hibernate in the many hide-outs to be found in the woodland.

SURVEYS:

Hollybank Woods is an area of woodland rich in flora and fauna. Specific surveys are carried out on the primary indicators for habitat management. The archives page will have surveys online from time to time for download.

Regular surveys are carried out on a rolling basis covering the following areas: butterfly, moth, mice, badger, fox, deer, bird, fungi and flora. Data held for butterfly and moth include count numbers, the other survey areas record continuity of habitat use only.


CONTACTING US:
Email us at the address shown on the blog page. You will have to copy the email address down and type it in to your email as we no longer use a click link. We suffered from large amounts of 'spam' when automated web bots trawl email links, hence we now show the email address as a graphic and not a link.





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Meeting point for work days and walks.

Meeting point for work party days and guided walks / events 2009 | Back to top |

Wood Anemone. (Photo: AB)

During the Spring, Summer and Autumn there are monthly guided walks in the woodland. All walks start at the top of Hollybank Lane, meeting by the Friends of Hollybank Woods information board. Walks last 2 hours and start at 10am finishing about midday. (With the exception of the Summer moth and bat evening which starts at 8pm and finishes at about 11pm.) All welcome. Children very welcome, but need to be accompanied by a responsible adult. Please wear sturdy footware/boots. All guided walks meet at the top of Hollybank Lane and are free.

All Winter Work Party start at 10am and finish at 12 noon. Meet at the top of Hollybank Lane by the Friends of Hollybank Woods information board. All welcome. Woodland work tasks for all ages and abilities, from path clearing to litter picking. Children very welcome, but need to be accompanied by a responsible adult. Please wear sturdy footware/boots.

Work Party days run during the autumn and winter months. From April onwards, work days cease. This allows the nesting birds and breading animals the spring and summer months undisturbed.

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Fact File:
Roe Deer

Roe deer in Hollybank. (PHOTO: AB)

Deer fact file:

The mating season, or rut, for fallow deer starts in late September and peaks in mid October. Usually, the doe gives birth to a single fawn between late May - mid June. The fawn is weaned by October.

The rut, for roe deer, comes in late July and August. Peculiarly among British deer, there is a delay in the implantation of the fertilised egg in the female. This is believed to be nature's way of postponing birth until favourable conditions exist for the kids. Kids are born in the May or June following the rut.

Friends of Hollybank Woods

About and how to join:
The Friends of Hollybank Woods are a group of local residents who formed in the Spring of 2001 to promote the protection of Hollybank Woods. The wood is owned by Havant Borough Council and managed on its behalf by the Friends of Hollybank Woods who organise regular work parties and themed walks run by local naturalists. The group formed a management committee and undertake well planned conservation work in the woods for the benefit of both wildlife and people using the woods.

There are lots of opportunities to get involved, not just for those who want to do practical work. We need your support!

To receive a Membership Application pack and become a Friend, please contact the Friends of Hollybank Woods membership secretary. Membership costs £1.50 for an adult and £3.00 for a family. Under 16's free.

Anna Williams
Membership Secretary
Friends of Hollybank Woods
Hollybank House
Emsworth
PO10 7UN

Telephone Anna on (01243) 375502

You can email us too, contact details are on the Blog page.

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© 2010 | AB