Look out for the 6 numbered posts along the trail. Click on each point on the left hand image to see a brief description of that area. START Starting from the "Furry Friends Wheelie House", follow the winding road down towards the lake. On your left you pass our donkey paddocks and a small vegetable garden on your right. Further down, on the right are the restricted grazing paddocks, which are for rather fat ponies !
Post 1- the REED BED
We built and planted the reed bed to improve the environment for wildlife. Individual NORFOLK REEDS (the same type that are used for thatching) were planted in Spring 2001 and very quickly "took hold" and bushed out. The reeds filter out any impurities and clear water flows out of the other end. The reeds will attract birds associated with this type of habitat to nest, such as the REED WARBLER, SEDGE WARBLER and REED BUNTING.
Post 2 - the WILD FLOWER MEADOW
Our wild flower meadow is a special and important area and somewhat of a rarity. 97% of meadows have disappeared in this country since the 1930's - during the Second World War farmers had to plough them up in order to produce extra home-grown food. Since that time more and more meadows have been lost forever. The meadow is home to well over 50 species of flowers and grasses. At the height of summer it is a colourful tapestry and includes the rich purple colour of the TUFTED VETCH and ORCHIDS, bright yellow BUTTERCUPS, the clear blue of the GERMANDER SPEEDWELL, the white YARROW and the cerise pink of the GREAT WILLOWHERB. The meadow has to be managed very carefully in order to ensure tat the many different flowers and grasses continue to reappear year after year. It is known as an "UNIMPROVED MEADOW", which means that no artificial fertilisers or herbicides are ever used. Fertilisers would encourage stronger, coarser plants and grasses to take over, gradually dominating the smaller, more valuable species. The meadow looks its best during May and June. PLEASE KEEP TO THE MOWN PATH to avoid trampling the flowers. One late hay cut is taken off during August after the plants have dropped their seeds. The meadow is grazed by sheep until early February to help provide bare patches of earth to avoid and prevent plants, such as hawthorn, from invading the area. Their dung and urine return natural nutrients to the meadow. Butterflies include the MEADOW BROWN in summer, the more common PEACOCK, SMALL TORTOISESHELL and RED ADMIRAL and the less common SPECKLED WOOD, SKIPPER, GATEKEEPER and BRIMSTONE butterflies. Also seen is the 6-SPOT BURNET Moth (day flying).
Post 3 - the LAKE
We excavated the lake in 1993 and it measures 3,000 sq.m, being some 5m at its deepest. A small island was created for water birds to nest on, though some use the outlets at the sides. Birds to be found include SWANS, CANADA & GREYLAG GEESE, MALLARD, COOT, TUFTED DUCK, MOORHEN, HERON and LITTLE GREBE. The lake is home to DRAGONFLIES, MAYFLIES and DAMSELFLIES and other pond life such as GREAT DIVING, SCREECH & WHIRLIGIG BEETLES, WATER BOATMEN, POND SKATERS, WATER LICE and LEECHES. STICKLEBACKS, FROGS and TOADS have also been seen. Scoops and buckets can be found in the hut for Pond Dipping and creatures identified by using the magnifiers and the information boards. Plants of interest include BULRUSH whose fluffy seedpods were used for kindling years ago. Other WILLOWS, at the far side of the lake, provide additional shelter.
Post 4 - the HEDGES and TREES
Various species of native trees have been planted on the bank at the left-hand side of the lake, including ROWAN, CHERRY and GUELDER ROSE. The berries of the latter can be eaten - but only if cooked. In America, they are used as a substitute for cranberries. In the hedges are found HAWTHORN, BRAMBLE or BLACKBERRY and BLACKTHORN. The hedgerows provide food, shelter and nesting sites for many birds. Small mammals use the hedges to move about and feed in relative safety. Blackthorn berries, or SLOES, can be used to make jelly or Sloe Gin - by soaking the berries in gin which then turns bright pink.
Post 5 - the PLANTATION
From the gateway, the trails leads into a small plantation of OAK, FIELD MAPLE, ASH, ALDER and HAZEL trees. Large-leaved GOATS WILLOWS are planted towards the hedge boundary and will eventually grow to 10m high. The thin, narrow-leaved trees are young CRACK WILLOWS (also found near the play area). POPLARS, which can reach a height of 30m, have also been planted. These, and the willows, are moisture lovers and will help in making this area less boggy. In a brook alongside the hedge are found plants including FOOL'S WATERCRESS and the WATER STARTWORT. RABBITS and the occasional HARE, PHEASANTS, PARTRIDGE, SQUIRRELS and OWLS can be seen and in the adjoining fields.
AT THE END OF THIS PLANTATION YOU CAN TAKE ONE OF TWO PATHS Post 6 - Information Board - extended Nature Trail
The GATE TO YOUR LEFT leads back through our paddocks to the Farm. STRAIGHT AHEAD takes you through the POPLAR WALK which was planted in 1994. To YOUR RIGHT is an area where we are encouraging a small boggy, WATER MEADOW habitat. The distribution of the buttercups indicates the different types of ground. May through to July are especially pretty where a carpet of buttercups and YORKSHIRE FOG (a beautiful pinky/red grass) can be seen. From here, THE FORT, ADVENTURE PLAY Area and LIVING WILLOW teepee and tunnel beckon. Follow the tracks back to the Farm - or maybe take a ride on the "MANOR FARM EXPRESS"!