September 2012

As the summer turns into autumn and schools start their new term the volunteers at Warley Place are continuing with tasks of maintenance in this lovely reserve.  The first change you may notice on arrival is that the path just inside the inner gate has been made up with ballast.  (I am told it is MOT Type 1)  The cows had made a real mess of the area by the gate in the wet weather and hopefully this will make the entrance safer.  Despite this you are still advised to wear sturdy footwear for your visit.

 

It is very hard to avoid mention of the weather.  Perhaps the kindest way of putting it is to say that the weeds have enjoyed it!  The main tasks recently have been clearing ragwort from the East Meadow, and brambles and weeds from West Meadow.  It is important to reduce these so that next spring the crocuses and daffodils can be seen in their full glory. 

 

The area alongside the wall on Warley Road has also been weeded so that the colchicums or 'naked ladies' should be seen in a few weeks.  Whilst working in this area an interesting fungus Geastrum triplex – earthstar fungus – was found on some dead wood.  This fungus emerges as a plain ball similar to a tulip bulb and then opens up splitting to form a star around the central ball.  Let us hope that this autumn will give us plenty of varieties of fungus to see at Warley.

 

Bracken and bamboo are being tackled amongst the rhododendrons.  This involves volunteers venturing into the large bushes in order to root out these very invasive plants.

 

There has been a change in the route of the path as you leave the walled garden to the north.  It used to pass over an underground boiler house but a recent survey found that this was unsafe.  It would be very expensive and dangerous to attempt to repair it so it will be filled with rubble.  The new path provides a short cul-de sac to enable you to see the reservoir.

 

The long dead tree, which was home to the greater spotted woodpeckers in the photograph on the website, fell down in the gusty winds recently and is now across the butterfly drive.  It will be moved aside soon, but it is worth stepping off the path to look more closely at the woodpecker holes.  Just approach with caution as wasps were seen around the tree when it first fell down and may be looking for a new home. 

 

Do come for a quiet walk and enjoy the reserve. Let's hope that the next few weeks will bring us some glorious autumn colours.  As usual I look to my favourite Spindle bushes (Euonymus europaeus) to give a good show alongside the path between the sweet chestnuts and the gorge bridge.  I am hoping to see clearly the difference between the two bushes this year as both plants are covered in berries.