Wild things in Norsey Wood

The Countryside Warden

The Bluebells certainly lived up to their reputation, and just managed to hold on for the Bluebell Walk on the 5th May. Even though the main event has passed, there are still loads of reasons to get out in Norsey. Nesting birds are going mad: a pair of Blue Tits have even taken up residence in an old Dormouse box stored next to the Council truck. If you hang about for long enough on Great Fox Hill you may catch sight of a Treecreeper that is nesting in the end of a hollow branch in an oak tree. The foxes themselves are obviously at a busy time of year, with cubs in the den. I saw four briefly in one week, all in the middle of the day. The first fledgling Robins are out and about, hiding under bushes, and although they have the look of abandoned baby birds, their parents are keeping a close eye on them.

There have also been a number of reptile sightings. A young Grass Snake was spotted crossing Norsey Drive, and there have been the odd Adder sightings, particularly on Norsey Meadow. Many people have asked whether I have yet seen any deer in Norsey, and until last week I could only say that I've found a few droppings and tracks. But scrambling around in the undergrowth I disturbed our smallest species of deer, the Muntjac. Muntjac deer were introduced to Britain at the beginning of the 20th Century by the Duke of Bedford, who kept a small herd in woodland next to Woburn Park. They originate from South-East China and Taiwan, but made quite a home for themselves in Britain, occupying woods all over the country. It is nice to see deer but we don't want to see too many in Norsey, as they like to browse the regrowth on coppice stools, and are quite partial to Bluebells.

By the end of June we should be seeing Dragonflies emerging from the ponds in the wood. In the past, Broad Bodied Chasers, Brown Hawkers, Banded Demoiselles and Blue-tailed Damselflies have been recorded, along with a few others. The woodland Anemones, Bluebells and Lesser Celandines may have gone, but they were just the beginning of the wildflowers to be seen in Norsey. Ragged Robin is in flower along the Butterfly Ride. Along the edges of the paths you can see Yellow Pimpernel, and beneath the Hazel plantation near this year's coppice site the heather Callune vulgaris is flowering.