On Sunday 25th October, Graham Saunders led a circular walk which started from Ufton Nervet. The first footpath led westwards across the fields to the site of a medieval moated manor house with several fish ponds. The moat was lined with Bulrushes and there was a large patch of Gypsywort on the northern bank. The footpath continued to Ufton Court. Graham recounted how when he had a bat licence, he recorded Pipistrelle, Serotine and Brown Long-eared Bats in the house, while the ice houses in the grounds were hibernation sites for Brown Long-eared, Natterer’s and Daubenton’s Bats. Not far from the front of the house is an enormous old oak pollard, which was measured to be 7.82 metres in girth. It appeared to be in good health. The track continued along the northern boundary of the Ufton Court grounds, past a fish pond which was full of the alien Skunk Cabbage. Growing in a gateway was a Fragrant Agrimony plant. It had pointed lemon-scented leaves, the seed cups were smooth and ungrooved and the lowest spines were reflexed. Small yellow apples on the ground came from a nearby Crab Apple tree, the first of several seen on the walk. Black Nightshade, with white and yellow flowers, was growing in another gateway. The track climbed, first up a damp clay band, then up a drier sandy stretch where there were many animal holes in the bank at the side.
The walk continued through the farmyard of Old Farm, across a grassy field and along a track below a row of copses. Blackthorn bushes in the hedge were covered with sloes. A small flock of Redwings flew overhead calling. Most of the trees still had green leaves, but the Field Maples were gloriously golden. Tall seed heads of Small Teasel were showing above a patch of disturbed ground next to the track. A lone Peacock butterfly flew across the path. There were fine views in the late afternoon sunshine across the valley of the Kennet, with distant glimpses of Englefield House and Pangbourne College. The route then turned southwards up a quiet lane. Bush Vetch and the pink hybrid between Red and White Campion were in flower on the bank and big Holly bushes at the side of the lane were covered in red berries. The next footpath led back eastwards towards Ufton Nervet. A distant Roe Deer was spotted, grazing in the bottom of the field. Suckering elms were growing along the edge of the next copse, but just inside the wood, a much larger elm was growing up through an oak tree. Finally, back at the start, 6 more Roe Deer were spotted in the next field.
Pictures by Rob Stallard and Laurie Haseler
| RDNHS trip to Ufton Nervet 25.10.15, led by Graham Saunders | ||
| List of Plant Species | ||
| Scientific name | English name | Comments |
| Pentaglottis sempervirens | Green Alkanet | |
| Linaria vulgaris | Common Toadflax | |
| Malva sylvestris | Common Mallow | |
| Typha latifolia | Bullrush | |
| Solanum nigrum | Black Nightshade | |
| Stellaria alsine | Bog Stitchwort | |
| Achillea millefolium | Yarrow | |
| Persicaria hydropiper | Water-pepper | |
| Agrimonia procera | Fragrant Agrimony | In fruit |
| Lycopus europaeus | Gypsywort | |
| Gnaphalium uliginosum | Marsh Cudweed | |
| Persicaria maculata | Redshank | |
| Veronica beccabunga | Brooklime | No flowers |
| Urtica urens | Small Nettle | |
| Prunus spinosa | Blackthorn | Full of berries |
| Dipsacus pilosus | Small Teasel | In fruit |
| Raphanus raphanistrum | Wild Radish | |
| Veronica persica | Common Field-speedwell | |
| Euphorbia helioscopia | Sun Spurge | |
| Silene x hampeana | Hybrid Red x White Campion | |
| Cruciata laevipes | Crosswort | |
| Vicia sepium | Bush Vetch | |
| Taraxacum officinale | Dandelion | |
| Lamium album | White Dead-nettle | |
List by Renée Grayer