Sheelagh Hill led a walk at Nettlebed Common on the warm sunny morning of Wednesday 21st August. The group were joined by Elizabeth Smeeton, the Clerk to the Conservators of the Nettlebed and District Commons, who gave a brief outline on the history and the management of the commons. First stop was the cricket pitch, where the tiny Bird’s-foot and the equally small Slender Trefoil were growing amongst the closely-mown turf. The route then led through a strip of woodland to a number of small clearings which were carpeted with flowering Heather. 2 Holly Blue butterflies, a Small Copper and a Silver Y moth were nectaring on the Heather in the first clearing, with small bright orange Vapourer moths flitting across the clearing in the background. The next clearing had several Common Blue butterflies on the Heather. A tall Rowan tree at the back of the clearing was covered in orange berries.
Continuing through the woods, a damp area had Bulbous Rush, Common Yellow Sedge and flowering Tormentil. The many big pits and hollows in the woods were a reminder of its industrial past, supplying clay for the brickworks. Another damp hollow had Hard Fern, with upright inner fertile fronds and larger, brighter green, spreading sterile fronds around the base. Several Common Wave moths were found amongst the Bracken here. The route then led upwards to Windmill Hill, the highest point on the common. Broad-leaved Helleborine and Slender St. John’s-wort were found nearby. Dropping back down through the woods, another damp area had a thin covering of Sphagnum Moss, with several small Frogs nearby. Another damp clearing had Corn Mint, Water Pepper and Common Hemp-nettle. The walk was followed by lunch in the garden of the White Hart in Nettlebed.
Pictures by Laurie and Jan Haseler