On Wednesday 17th June, Rob Stallard led a circular walk which began at the car park of The Fox at Peasemore. The route started out along the track towards the centre of the village. Several tall flower heads of Goat’s-beard were growing at the side of the path, mostly characteristically closed, but one had an open yellow flower. House Martins were flying in and out of nests under the eaves of a house opposite the church. The route continued through an attractive garden and out into a field of Broad Beans. Flowers growing beneath the crop included Scarlet Pimpernel in profusion, Common Poppy, Field Pansy, Cut-leaved Crane’s-bill, Sun-spurge and Field Bindweed. Yellowhammers and a Whitethroat were calling from the hedge at the far end of the second bean field. The next lane led to an open area of flowery grassland. Despite the cloudy conditions, freshly emerged Marbled White and Large Skipper butterflies were spotted, together with Anania fuscalis, a small brown moth which feeds on Yellow-rattle. Flowers here included Hairy Tare, Lady’s Bedstraw, Common Bird’s-foot-trefoil and Common Spotted-orchid. The walk continued along a shady former drove road. Big old multi-stemmed Field Maples and Hazels were growing on the bank beside the track. Little long-horn moths, Nemophora degeerella, with ridiculously long antennae, were bouncing up and down beneath the trees. The leaves of a number of ancient woodland indicator species, including Moschatel and Three-nerved Sandwort, were found here. The track then continued between open fields. One of these had a wide margin which had been sown with a wild-flower mix. A number of plants of the parasitic Common Broomrape were found and Pyramidal Orchids were just coming into flower. Butterflies found here included Common Blue, Small Heath and Meadow Brown, while further on down the track an Orange-tip was seen.
The walk continued into Leckhampstead. Narrow-leaved Ash Fraxinus angustifolia, planted in the playing field, was thought to be a first record for West Berkshire. The group then followed the track through Grove Pit, a nature reserve where local volunteers and the West Berkshire Countryside Society have been clearing scrub, coppicing and planting native trees. One of the tree specimens which have been planted is an English Elm of a variety which is being tested for resistance to Dutch Elm disease. Butterflies seen here included Green-veined White, Large Skipper and Speckled Wood and there was a Brown Silver-line moth. After crossing a road, another footpath led up the hillside back towards Peasemore. At a sheltered bend were about 8 Small Blue butterflies, together with a Large White and a Small White. The next big field had been planted with a wildflower mix, including plentiful Kidney Vetch, the caterpillar food-plant of the Small Blue. More Pyramidal Orchids and a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly were seen here. Garden Warblers and Yellowhammers were heard on the walk back to Peasemore. The walk was followed by an enjoyable lunch at The Fox.
Pictures by Rob Stallard, Ian Esland and Laurie Haseler