A Morning Walk at Woolbeding (Reimagined)

Leader: Charlotte Eley (Area Ranger, National Trust

It was a glorious sunny morning when we met at the National Trust Offices at Woolbeding to be greeted by Ranger, Charlotte Eley, for a guided walk to learn about the ‘reimagining’ of former arable farm land on the southern slopes of the Rother Valley. The project was started in response to observations of the condition of the land and damage due to severe run-off over the years. It has been a constant struggle to remedy this and the National Trust decided that it was necessary to rethink – or ‘reimagine’ the land.

Charlotte told the group that a perimeter fence had been installed around the common, and also around an “in-by” – meaning a place to bring in the cattle and sheep for medical needs, calving etc. Wildlife corridors were set out where native trees and shrubs have been planted, reinstating native hedgerows. On this part of the walk Skylarks were heard and seen. The “mid-slopes” – ex-arable land – are being left to allow the grass to grow and wild flowers to become established, with the help of wildflower seed mixtures: Bugloss was found here, plus the attractive and unusual Crimson Clover and the increasingly uncommon Wild Pansy. We were shown the “Owl Manor” which the Society funded. There was evidence that the box has been/is being used in the form of owl pellets on the ground below.

The final part of the walk, climbing up from the river, took the group past a patch of the uncommon Solomons’s Seal along a rocky pathside, and then into a 10-hectare field which is the woodland creation part of the project. To date there are over 14,000 trees on this land, which has been split into 4 quarters, each with a different management being trialled. Many species of tree had already self-seeded.

Along the way there was good selection of butterflies, including, Holly Blue, Orange Tip, Green-veined White, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Small Copper and Brimstone. Birds seen or heard were Buzzard, Stonechat, Spotted Flycatcher, Common Redstart, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff. A Slow-worm was also seen.