Devichoys Wood: Trees Galore!

One of the modules I'm taking for my second year of my Zoology undergrad is 'Introduction to Ecological Consultancy'. It's been a really interesting module to take, focusing on interactions between species, legislation and the relationship between development and conservation. A huge part of this module has been increasing personal ID skills, particularly in the realm of trees, plants in general and protected species, so that we can complete Phase 1 habitat surveys.

With this in mind, we were taken to Devichoys Wood (between Penryn and Truro), a Cornwall Wildlife Trust nature reserve, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and County Wildlife Site. We were split into two groups on this dull and drizzly morning, with one group going off to start on plants, and the other looking for mammal signs. I started off in the plant group, and so we started by looking into the soggy canopy.

The first tree we identified was Beech (Fagus sylvatica), easily distinguished by it's waxy, shiny leaf top and extra long buds:

Beech leaves with that characteristic long bud

The next thing to catch our attention was Hard Fern (Blechnum spicant):

Hard Fern

Hard Fern is an interesting species; unlike most ferns which are soft and delicate to the touch, Hard Fern, as the name suggests, feels strong and thick. Next we came across some Holly (Ilex aquifolium) and Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum):

Later on during our little trip around the woods, we learnt that Honeysuckle is of ecological importance to Dormice, a European Protected Species. They tear strips off of the plant and use these to help build their neat, oblong nests.

Next we came to another patch of trees and another new species for the list, Downy Birch (Betula pubescens):

Downy Birch

Downy Birch, as the name suggests, has a slight hairy, soft feel to it's leaves.

Another species found was Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa). Similar looking to the Horse Chestnut in some ways (a seasonal favourite at the moment for it's conkers), Sweet Chestnut is distinguished by its nut case holding 3-4 chestnuts that are smaller and not round, and by it's leaves. Horse Chestnuts have 5-7 leaflets on their stems which fan out from each other in a palmate fashion (like fingers on a hand). Sweet Chestnuts have separate leaves, which are arranged alternately from one another. Although Sweet Chestnut is an introduced species, I'm going to make an exception and put it on my list as it has been in Britain for over 2000 years and is often regarded as an 'honorary native' (according to The Woodland Trust)!

Sweet Chestnut leaves

A young tree

Our next tree was Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia). Also known as Mountain Ash, this is a distinctive tree with jagged-edged leaflets arranged in opposite pairs, and one leaflet at the direct tip of the leaf stem:

Slightly blurry Rowan leaves!

Away from the trees, we found a couple of other interesting species. Firstly, Soft Rush (Juncus effusus), and secondly, Ling Heather (Calluna vulgaris):

Ling, still pretty even after it's bright lilac flowers have disappeared

It was a really interesting day at Devichoys! We also talked about looking for Otter signs, Dormouse boxes and then we went and looked at an old Badger sett in the mammal portion of our trip. However, a certain species eluded me; whatever bit my head many times over!

Mammal Trapping and Surveying

Sorry for the length between this and my last post! I've been a bit hectic with uni work and society stuff to sit down and update properly, and I hadn't got some of the photos I wanted! But, nevertheless, here it is!

We held another great EcoSoc event, where we brought freshers along to learn how to survey the small mammals in the fields and banks around campus. As a committee member for EcoSoc, I got to go along and set up the Longworth traps we used 2 days before with the society president Roz. The process begins with 'pre-baiting'. Pre-baiting starts by setting up the traps with hay in the box and maybe a little food, attaching the tunnel and then placing them out in the field to be surveyed. We then left the traps locked open, so the small mammals could get accustomed to the boxes without being trapped.

Whilst putting the traps out, we were accosted by a gentleman who thought we were foraging for blackberrys from the Bramble bushes (Rubus fruticosa)! He proceeded to talk to us about foraging and wildlife for a good 45 minutes, maybe an hour! As a result, I'm now intimately familiar with Elder (Sambucus nigra) and it's berries :

Elder

Elder Leafs

Elderberry

Other species I learned or had confirmed by the forager were "Aazel!" - Hazel (Corylus avellana), and "Awwthorrrn!" - Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna):

Hazel Tree

A Hazel leaf - furry to the touch

Hazel leaf and catkins

Hawthorn branch

Hawthorn berries - edible, but not tasty! Ask Roz!

The distinctive Hawthorn leaf

The night following our strange encounter, we went back out to set the traps for the next morning's session. We had a little trouble with some as a few slugs had made their homes for the night on the trip in the Longworth! Once that was all sorted, we went back home and got ready for an early start.

Saturday morning came around, and I was up by 6:45!!! Up to campus we went, met the other students, and then we trundled off into the fields. We were quite lucky with our mornings session as nearly half of the traps we put out had been set off. The first mammal to be released was a Common Shrew (Sorex araneus). Shrews have very high metabolisms, and they need a high protein food source, so we baited the traps with casters (Blow fly pupae) in case we did catch any. All Shrew species are protected under the law in the UK, and so you must have a license to handle them, which luckily Roz had. However, as we didn't want to disturb the Shrew too much and prevent it from eating (which it needs to do lots of!) we let it go quite quickly.

We only found one Shrew, and the only other small mammal found in the traps that morning were Wood Mice (Apodemus sylvaticus), but they were found in abundance!

Lots and lots of Wood Mice!

Unfortunately we didn't find any Bank or Field Voles which are quite common on campus, or even the less common Water Shrew which is sometimes found up at Tremough, but there is always next time! Thanks to everyone that came along and for letting me take photos of you!