Big dipper

Wednesday 15th January 2025, Roveries Wood

I start with the Snow Flea update as I know you are on the edge of your seats wanting to know if we have been successful in finding more …

We weren't.

If that is all you are interested in, then you are free to exit. But for those of you who want to know what we were up to please read on.

Roveries Wood is an area of woodland that cloaks the twin hills that inhabit the land between the A488 and A489 where they converge just north of Lydham.

The woodland is mainly conifer plantation with some broadleaved trees. Features include a hillfort at the top of the southern peak and a pool on the lower slopes. The hills are bordered by a stream on one side and The England –Wales border on the other. The woodland is now being managed to support greater biodiversity.

Parking was tricky as we had to park nose to tail on a track, meaning there was no chance of an early escape for the cars that arrived first!

Kitted out we set off to explore the northern peak. (We had visited the southern one earlier in the year. See - Lamproderma giganticum.)

The entrance to the site was some way from the cars and, needless to say, there were several distractions on the way, including several patches of Polytrichum moss that were searched for Snow fleas, without success (as you already know). But we did manage to find a male Common earwig.

Photograph: David Williams

Once we finally arrived on site we were treated to some warm January sunshine as we explored the vegetation.

Our dipterist was ecstatic as he was able to chase flying insects to identify rather than depend on the use of suction samplers to find flies.

I am not very keen on picking up stones or wood to examine them to see what lurks underneath, but others have no issues with doing this. And they are rewarded; in this case by a Lemon slug.

Photograph: Neil Nash

As yet we had made little progress on our quest to reach the summit and beyond. With a little cajoling we started to ascend,

But there were so many distractions...

And we became distracted...

Until it was lunchtime.

In order to encourage the group to move on and up, the lunch spot was chosen so that they had to climb some of the way to the top!

Refreshed we undertook a more determined assault on the summit.

However, that did not mean that we ignored all the things that tried to divert our attention from walking up the hill.

Bird sounds made us stop, look and listen …

Photograph: David Williams

And patches of interesting looking vegetation were searched and creatures found.

A burying beetle, Phosphuga atrata.

Photograph: David Williams

And a yellow fungus high in a tree, possibly Yellow brain.

Photograph: David Williams

We reached the top!

Did we celebrate?

Did we plant our flag?

No!

We just carried on as if nothing momentous had happened.

Starting the descent we quickly came to a long grassy ride that took us to a path near and around the base of the hill.

Easy?

It ought to have been.

But it was very steep. Making people with dodgy knees tread very carefully and slowly Even a youngster was seen to zigzag down the slope to ease the pressure on his ankles and knees.

Eventually the escape route came into view.

The slope reminded me of a big dipper. We had made our way to the highest point. Then, having reached the top, we were plunged (fortunately not accompanied by screams) to the bottom. And like some big dippers there was a period of respite before the next climb began.

During this period when the ground was only rising slowly, we were deflected by a pool.

Regrettably on this occasion the vegetation around the pool kept its secrets from us although we did spot a fly taking advantage of the sun by basking on a tree trunk.

Photograph: David Williams

The next climb, to take us over the col between the two hills, started. There was the odd pause to take in the view and pretend to be distracted, but we made it to the top.

There was a grassy clearing at the top, where log piles were stored, which provided a suitable resting place before the final descent. The clearing also appeared to be a tractor graveyard. Several old tractors were parked there including this rather sporty number.

Be assured, we did not just rest at the top but did investigate the vegetation in the area!

Like a big dipper taking us over the final hump we descended from the hill and glided slowly to a halt just by our cars.

How convenient!

My thanks to the owners and land manager of the site for granting us permission to do what we enjoy doing, to Caroline for making all the arrangements and guiding us around the site, and to the photographers for their excellent images and allowing me to use them in this report.