Barracks Lane

I'm indebted to Keith for this post in my absence.

“I need a navigator” states Pete. “OK” responds Nigel and climbs into the front seat of the minibus. Pete shows Nigel where we are going on the map. “I’ve got the wrong glasses on” is Nigel’s response.

A good start! Fortunately Ollie and Liz had a good idea of where were going and, as it turns out, there were four road signs pointing to Barracks Lane.

The nature area at Barracks Lane is a series of quarries, long since fallen into disuse, lime kilns and pools. The site is split into two and, enigmatically, we had permission only to view the larger southern area from the path that ran through it, but were free to wander at will in the northern area.

The path through the southern area is a raised tramway used to service the kilns, and being a quarry, was steeply embanked. We needed to watch our step. This area was mainly a green, damp and gloomy place with tall trees fighting for the light and an abundance of hart’s tongue fern. Very few plants were in flower. In the canopy there was a symphony of noise from the jackdaws and their young. There were other birds about but would they show themselves?

Eventually we descended to the southern pool. This was quite large and bordered with some reeds, iris and a few other flowers. We pond-dipped this area later and discovered that the water was teeming with life; but it was devoid of birds (other than mallard and moorhen).

We moved into the northern area. This was a small area that had been planted but did have a pond. Lunch was taken at the side of the pond in the company of a host of amorous common blue damselflies which were laying eggs, mainly on the lily pads in the middle of the pond. After lunch some pond-dipped and others wandered “at will” seeing what they could find.

No-one fell in, but there was a very close shave when I tried to net a dragon fly, missed and almost overbalanced, and I was very concerned as Nigel got closer and closer to the water in his search for hydra. Lots of bugs turned up and one felt in awe as our detectives studied their books to identify them.

Overall this was a bit of a strange place but, surprisingly, it yielded a good list and mix of species including an “eyelash”.

Blog post by Keith Fowler