A small group of 6 met at Eastridge Wood car park to explore the woodland and hopefully find some interesting wildlife along the way. Eastridge Wood itself is a Forestry England site on a hill-top with some stunning views across the surrounding landscape. The Shropshire way passes through, and the tracks include well used bridle ways and a network of cycling tracks that range in difficulties.
In the end, the predicted heavy rainfall didn’t manifest, and we were left with a light drizzle and an atmospheric mist that created a blanket of serene calm over the woodland.
Mosses, liverworts, and fungi were the most popular finds, including scarlet elf cup, Dicranum majus (Greater fork-moss), Rhytidiadelphus loreus (Little shaggy-moss) and Lepidozia reptans (Creeping fingerwort).
Small mixed flocks of birds were found throughout, comprised of bluetit, nuthatch, tree creeper, chaffinch, and marsh tit. A muntjac deer was also spotted.
Off one of the main tracks, we stumbled across a spectacular yew tree (taxis baccata l.) with easily over a 4-meter girth. Subsequent research has found that the tree has been mapped by the Ancient Yew Group and is registered as ‘ancient 4-5m’) and potentially aged between 300 and 500 years.
A great way to spend a morning together exploring what’s on our doorstep.
