| Nearest
town: Fenniscliffe, Blackburn
Grid reference: SD 646270, Landranger
103, Explorer 287 Pleasington
Old Hall Wood is a narrow strip of mixed woodland through which a stream runs
from north to south. To the north there is a Victorian walled garden which has
been converted into a wildlife garden. The
woodland has a healthy structure of tree, scrub and herb layers. Dense rhododendron
and invasive Japanese knotweed have been removed and a variety of native trees
have been planted including rowan, hazel, ash, wild cherry and alder. These will
grow to support the present mixed deciduous canopy and supplement natural regeneration. Lemon-scented,
broad buckler and lady fern are all found in the woodland. Snowdrop, bluebell,
wood-sorrel and pink purslane (introduced from North America) can be seen flowering
in spring and the locally rare touch-me-not balsam occurs here in one of its two
localities in Lancashire south of the Ribble. The
variety and varied structure of trees and shrubs provide nesting cover, and the
large pond provides open water, for many species of bird. Look out for nuthatches,
garden and willow warblers, thrushes, mallards and moorhens. Hawfinches are usually
present in spring, although they can be difficult to see! The
walled garden, which had previously fallen into ruin, was restored and redesigned
in the late 1980s to demonstrate wildlife gardening techniques. Its sheltered
aspect and high temperature ensures that the garden is attractive to insects,
especially butterflies and dragonflies. Successful management encouraged up to
twelve species of butterfly and seven species of dragonfly. Three
of the four central meadow beds were seeded and subjected to different mowing
regimes to produce differing grassland wildflower communities and attract a cross-section
of grassland insects. The fourth was "ploughed" and sown with "cornfield weeds":
cornflower, corn marigold, corncockle and corn poppy. Further habitat diversity
was provided by a creating a pond, and establishing tall herb (nettles, rosebay
willowherb, etc.) and hedgebank communities alongside the more traditional ornamental
garden areas. Flowering plants were introduced into the walled garden specifically
to encourage wildlife. Greater spearwort, water soldier and fringed water-lily,
have been planted in the pond to create a desirable habitat for aquatic insects
and amphibians to breed in. Buddleia and nettles are ideal plants for peacocks,
small tortoiseshell and red admiral butterflies, while creeping thistle was retained
for painted lady butterflies. Jack-by-the-hedge and cuckooflower have been planted
in the eastern part of the garden to attract breeding orange tip butterflies,
whose caterpillars feed on these plants. Management
Wildlife gardening requires quite a high level of commitment and, because of its
location, this nature reserve has not yet been able to attract a team of volunteers
to help with fundraising and management. The advent of "New Deal", the governmental
training scheme for the long-term unemployed, has produced a source of labour
to undertake minimum maintenance on this site, but it desperately needs more long-term
involvement from volunteers with an interest in gardening for wildlife and fundraising.
|
