The day had been cold, breezy with some heavy downpours so it was nice to see 23 members turn up for the walk at our nearest BBOWT reserve.

Our walk leaders Joe Clinch and Phil Sarre gave an introductory talk on the history of the woods and an outline of what we were likely to see. You can find more details about the woods on our Little Linford Wood and Dormouse pages.

Phil explained that a timber contractor bought the wood and brought in heavy machinery to fell the old oak trees. “Luckily” the contractor felled a tree that was owned by a local farmer who went to court and gained an injunction to stop any more felling.

The farmer was a keen naturalist and suggested to Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Naturalists Trust (now called Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust) that they acquire the site. Money was raised to buy the wood and BBOWT set about the task of replanting.

It was also the **th birthday of our President, Roy Maycock and he was presented with a pile of birthday cards much to his surprise and delight.

There was a lot of Dog’s Mercury growing in the wood and Roy was able to point out the differences between the male and female flowers. This link will provide more detail. Roy has also provided a list of plants in flower at the time of our visit.

Simon Bunker managed to find first instars of Roesel’s bush-cricket (Metrioptera roeselii) and striped bush cricket (Leptophyes albovittata).

Towards the end of the walk, in the ploughed fields bordering the wood we were able to see a pair of hares.

If you would like to read more information about the wood, please visit our Little Linford Wood and Dormouse Project pages.

Click on any of the pictures for a larger image.

Pictures from top to bottom:
Little Linford Wood Nature Reserve map
The pre-walk briefing
Roy receiving his birthday cards
The group sets off down one of the rides
Female Dog’s Mercury
Herb Paris
Ragged Robin
Raindrops
Saint George’s mushroom>
First instar Roesel’s bush cricket
White Bugle
Our secretary on a Deer shooting platform (gamekeeper turner poacher??)

Photos by Peter Hassett