ISSUE 94 WINTER UPSTREAM 2021 Inside this issue © Tim © Tim Johns

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5 Autumn Railway Walk A Winterbourne 7 Discovering Moths 8 Antisocial Behaviour in Lockdown 1 – a tale of two Plus lots more...

West is home to months when groundwater is highest. phenomenon was not lost on our The stark contrast between flowing ancient ancestors, with many springs some of the country’s best waters and a dry , and winterbournes thought to have known and well-studied typically through the summer and a spiritual significance in pre-history. chalk . Rivers, such autumn months, has resulted in these In the summer, groundwater levels intermittent reaches developing their naturally recede as drier conditions as the Kennet, Lambourn own peculiar ecology that responds prevail. Consequently, springs near the and Pang, together with to the different conditions throughout head of the river, at higher elevations, the year. stop flowing, the becomes the Dun, Shalbourne and ponded and then dries, initiating One of the defining characteristics of Winterbourne make up ecological transformations. the lower reaches of chalk streams is the county’s contribution their steady flow of clear, cool water that The wet and dry states of the ephemeral to this globally rare is derived from the constant supply of reaches of chalk streams create a mosaic groundwater from the underlying chalk of flowing, ponded and dry habitats as habitat, supporting a rich . The aquifer acts like a sponge water either recedes or starts to flow. In array of wildlife of high soaking up rainfall that percolates turn these conditions support different biological communities, including both conservation value. into the rock. There it is held in pores and fissures as groundwater. In winter terrestrial and aquatic species that The headwaters of these streams to early spring, when groundwater “time-share” the habitats, adding to the are naturally ephemeral (flowing levels are at their maximum, water overall biodiversity of the environment. intermittently) and are often named gushes from springs along the length ‘winterbournes’, flowing in the winter of the river supplying ‘base-flow’. This Continued on page 4 > Countryside Society Caring for our Countryside – Join Us and Help Make a Difference. West Berkshire Countryside Society The aim of the West Berkshire Countryside Society is to promote the understanding, appreciation and conservation of the West Berkshire countryside… furthering these objectives through practical conservation work and guided walks and talks from local experts. It was formed in 2012 by amalgamating the Friends of the Pang, Kennet & Lambourn Valleys; the Heathland Conservation Group; the Pang Conservation Volunteers & the Barn Owl Group. Upstream is our quarterly publication designed to highlight conservation matters in West Berkshire and beyond and to publicise the activities of the Society.

Chair, Webmaster & Enquiries: Tony McDonald Membership Secretary: Jathan Rayner ([email protected]) Upstream Editor: John Salmon ([email protected]) Hon President: Dick Greenaway MBE RD

Initial contact for all above and for the Barn Owl Group, Bucklebury Heathland Conservation Group and West Berks Conservation Volunteers should, unless otherwise stated, be made via [email protected] Future Events As a consequence of Covid 19 restrictions, this issue of Upstream does not include any diary dates for walks, talks or tasks. If some restrictions are lifted which then enable us to arrange such events before the next issue of Upstream is distributed during March then the events will be publicised on the diary page of our website. So please check the website if there is some easing in the guidance.

Society Publications The Society has a number of excellent publications available for sale. Most notably, Dick Greenaway’s latest book, ‘What’s in a Berkshire Wood? And how did it get there?’ Full details can be found on WBCS website. All publications can be obtained from [email protected]

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Conservation Volunteers Round Up Paths & rides cleared at Grove Pit, Leckhampstead Leckhampstead Pit, at Grove & rides cleared Paths

With renewed enthusiasm and pent-up allotments aims to maintain a strong ground level to produce new shoots energy, we resumed our environmental relationship between the wildlife areas or layering them to produce new trees. tasks in mid-August, when the rules and allotment holders, recognising the (Layering is when a long stem is laid on concerning voluntary and charitable differing, but aligned, needs of each. We the ground and pegged down until it services allowed us to do so – but not thinned over-hanging vegetation from roots.) We also cut down self-seeded before much time and effort had been the allotments to aid their productivity birch trees to allow in more light to the devoted to ensuring safe working. and their holders will use residue from woodland floor and protected hazel the fires to fertilise their plots. stools from deer with wire fencing. On Thorough Covid Risk assessments the second visit the larger of two teams revised many of our working practices We had two wet visits to Bucklebury continued the coppicing, the other to ensure the safety of volunteers and Common, the first one weekend to cut resuming laying a tall hedge along a any members of the public whom we down silver birch, gathering the risings field boundary nearby. might encounter. Measures included: to await later disposal. The second only undertaking tasks at sites that coincided with more rain, despite which At Redhill Wood we removed plastic were suited to social distancing, no we started a small fire and nurtured it guards placed around trees planted car sharing from different households, using standing deadwood, consuming several years ago to prevent damage by sanitising tools, no sharing of tools or practically all the birch and scots pine deer, stacking them along the path for protective equipment, no provision we had cut from a long bund. later removal. We also cut down invasive birch trees that had grown tall and were of refreshments & temporarily not At Grove Pit Common we cut back shading the planted trees and then accepting new members into activities. growth along the main right-of-way and placed them alongside the path to act its side spurs and removing a tree that A welcome new site was the Wildlife as a hedge. Allotment Gardens in had fallen onto the path. This will enable Our clearing rhododendron at that is a haven for wildlife and rich in the public, including horse-riders, to Grimsbury Castle enhanced a large wildlife biodiversity. We cleared and enjoy easy access. We also cleaned the fallen Scots Pine as a feature and burnt wood debris from previous bench and information boards and exposed fungus identified as either tree-felling, forming the larger logs repaired and re-erected a footpath Death Cap or Destroying Angel – both into eco-piles, and cleared brambles to signpost that had rotted at the base. as dangerous to eat as their names produce two sites in which some 100 Two visits saw us continuing hazel suggest. trees will be planted. Work around the coppicing along the eastern edge of Winterbourne Wood, work that started We resumed clearing rides at Rushall some 10 years ago. Impressive regrowth Farm to let in sunshine, thus reducing on stools coppiced in the past showed the tracks’ muddiness and encouraging that our hard work does pay off. Other wildflowers and plants to grow along stools, untouched for decades, had the verges. grown to an impressive size, proving Unfortunately, towards the end of challenging to those working on them. October, the arrival of Lockdown II On two visits to Malt House Farm brought about a new suspension of our our main task was to renovate a hazel Conservation work. Coppicing at The Malt House © Tony McDonald coppice, cutting tall stems to near Terry Crawford

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As drier conditions prevail, terrestrial exploit this habitat. The hyporheic zone plants and invertebrates encroach upon is also home to a host of permanent the as water-loving species residents, most are worm like in shape, are lost. The plant community tends pale in colour and blind. The well shrimp to move to one dominated by more is a good example and is common in the marginal herbs and grasses, brooklime subsurface of chalk stream being characteristic of this community. winterbournes. Specialist species such Similarly, terrestrial beetles, other insects as the mayfly, use an alternative strategy and spiders start to occupy the stream by laying desiccation-tolerant eggs bed, although some aquatic species which lie dormant in the dry conditions, persist, especially when the river gravels only hatching when flow returns. remain wet. Similarly, personal observation has witnessed the sudden proliferation in The number of truly aquatic invertebrate the abundance of the stonefly, following species declines with stream bed drying. Lambourn Flowing at Maidencourt in February the recommencement of flowing waters. Species that cannot tolerate the loss of © Tim Johns flow are simply lost, move downstream The ephemeral winterbourne stretches conditions as well as periods of heavy or fly away until the flow returns. Some of many chalk streams as well as other more intense rainfall. The protection and are adapted to persist in patches of intermittent rivers globally are under careful management of chalk streams pooled water where they must endure considerable pressure from human and their winterbourne stretches is higher water temperatures and reduced activities. Threats include: alterations to critical to their continued existence. oxygen levels. These pools may also be the natural flow regime through water We need to improve our knowledge colonised by other species who prefer abstractions, habitat damage, nutrient of the patterns of flow intermittence these conditions and can exploit the enrichment and the spread of invasive to understand the ecological response concentration of prey. Other species non-native species. But perhaps the better. We also need to reconsider the have special adaptions or behaviours biggest threat of all is neglect and lack way we perceive these streams, revering that help them avoid desiccation and of understanding that a river without them again as our ancient ancestors predation. water is still a river! once did. The area immediately below the These dangers are set against the Tim Johns & Meadows riverbed, where groundwater and background of climate change where Freshwater Ecologists at the meet, is termed the we can expect longer periods of drier Environment Agency, Wallingford hyporheic zone. It provides a refuge for some creatures that can burrow into the subsurface sediments. The freshwater shrimp, some caddis fly larvae water beetles, water snails and dipteran fly larvae (e.g. Chironomids) commonly

Upper Reach of Pang in Autumn © Tim Johns Lambourn Dry at Maidencourt in Autumn © Tim Johns

For more information on ephemeral streams and ways to get involved in recording patterns in their flow please visit the website: https://nrfa.ceh.ac.uk/news-and-media/news/citizen-science-initiative-intermittent-rivers-and-ephemeral-streams 4 © Anne Sayer © Anne Fungi amongst leaf litter amongst leaf litter Fungi Autumn Railway Path Walk

The stark differences between this day bushes (Euonymus europaeaus), privet deal of harm to the natural history and my walk in August is that the chalk and dogwood (Cornus sanguinea). of the area and, in particular, to the grassland flowers are now over apart Dogwood is interesting because, in common dormouse and glow worms from a few remnant heads of scabious common with dog rose, it derives its living there. However, not only was the that provide any late insects with name from ‘Dag’ – a dagger – rather work carried out with great sensitivity, nectar. The frosts, when they come, than Dog. This is because its hard wood but measures were also taken to will finish the flowers. Even ivy, a great was used for making spindles, skewers, provide nest boxes for the dormice. source of nectar for insects, is over and needles and other sharp objects. The The result of the project means that the berries are starting to colour up to ripe fruit, which turns black in autumn, the track is in popular use for walkers, give birds some winter food. The crab is rich in oils and was once used for joggers and cyclists with the margins apples, which were starting to colour lighting lamps. Dogwood is common performing as a nature reserve, thus up in August, now lie on the ground on chalk but is seldom found north of being a strong defence against losing the midlands. potentially giving food for many birds, any part of the line to development. animals and insects over the winter. As Fungi were prolific along the track. An Charles Gilchrist it was a cloudy day, I saw very few birds excellent opportunity for mycologists or insects. but less so for gatherers as few of them This concludes our series on the Since there is now no trace of either are edible, apart from the wood blewit transformation of the disused railway blackberries or elderberries, other fruit and wood mushroom. Most of the line between Hermitage & Hampstead for the next few months includes haws, remaining fungi were specialists in Norreys. Thank you to Charles for 5 most rotting the stumps and fallen timber; sloes, rosehips, snowberry (not native, interesting & informative articles, and to fungi are key to the cycle of converting but is planted beside the village hall Anne for her great photographs – Editor. wood into nutrients for plant growth. A next to the track), Woody nightshade tree stump is now being decomposed by (deadly poisonous for humans), spindle a Dryads Saddle (Polyporus squamosus). The importance of a railway line as a green corridor for linking both flora and fauna to nearby habitats cannot be overstated. Most birds and mammals have difficulty even crossing fields or roads without being killed by either cars or predators. The Didcot- Southampton line has been redundant for 50 years and has become a vital ecosystem with varying habitats along its route. The recent clearance and installation of a multi-use track connecting and Hermitage Rosehips © Anne Sayer Snowberries © Anne Sayer could potentially have caused a great 5 Conservation Volunteers Historical Round Up The first part of this article, looking at the in West Berkshire, the infrastructure standings and roads have been broken military history of some of the sites where remained far longer than was welcome. up and heather and gorse has returned, volunteers work, appeared in the Autumn In March 1946 Newbury MP Anthony although controlling birch remains an edition of Upstream. Hurd asked the Secretary of State for ongoing task. One reminder are the War in the House of Commons what In October 1644 Parliamentary troops concrete reinforcements of some road progress had been made in clearing assembled on “Bucklebury Heath” verges and the “throats” of tracks where the site and when he expected to be the day before the Second Battle of they join the highway. (The photograph able to hand it back in good order Newbury, with dispatches addressed shows the most visible remains, a for public use. He was told that 3,000 from there being sent to the House concrete road leading off Pease Lane to vehicles awaiting repair were still at of Commons. There had been a local where the depot’s main buildings stood.) the depot and that “steps are being skirmish in the Spring of that year taken to dismantle and remove any Prior to the Second World War, Furze south of the Blade Bone Inn in Chapel hutting which is required by the Army Hill at Hermitage had been dominated Row, with Royalist soldiers and a elsewhere... The clearance of the site is by brickworks on the site where we Parliamentary officer being killed and a task of some magnitude and I cannot frequently work, one of our chores buried in the local churchyard. yet say when the land is likely to be being keeping clear the path along Three hundred years later, the Common handed back.” the former railway line south of the suffered a longer, damaging military Yet the structures remained for motorway bridge. During the Second presence when a large area was cleared some years and during the post-war World War the quiet rural line became for a vehicle repair depot, with the national housing crisis were taken a crucial transport link and in 1942-43 soil accumulated into three very large over by homeless people, with the the track was doubled and then carried mounds. As with other wartime sites first moving there in August 1946. large movements of troops and military Bradfield Rural District Council supplies in the run-up to D-Day. declared 63 huts fit for habitation There are several useful resources and charged the tenants rent. Some for those interested in finding created their own chicken runs on the more about their locality, not least Common to raise poultry. By 1948 the WBCS’s own archive, a catalogue of Council deemed that the huts were in which is available on our website. such poor condition that they should Historic maps of various sites can be demolished, but a Government be found on https://maps.nls.uk inspector ruled that they could be and http://www.geograph.org.uk made good to give another two years of life, with the Council permitted aims to offer photographs for every to spend £100 a hut on repair and square kilometre of the British Isles maintenance. In 1951 some huts were – including of the sites mentioned still occupied and a fire in one killed a in this article. Searching it will baby and injured his mother. certainly confirm the claim made at the beginning of the first part of this When the huts were finally removed, article: “Wherever one goes, it’s usually invasive vegetation took over. Much possible to find something historically work, not least by volunteers in recent interestingly about the place”! years, has been done to restore the Bucklebury Common Path © Terry Crawford Common. Nearly all the concrete hard- Terry Crawford Don’t forget our website! www.westberkscountryside.org.uk

6 Discovering Moths For many years I have taken an interest But when it flies it reveals the yellowish in butterflies, but have not bothered wing tips which give it its name. much with moths. So when Lockdown Often moths are quite dopey in 1 came I thought that would be an the daytime and this makes them opportunity to look at moths and try to easier to look at, but sometimes they learn something about them. unexpectedly decide to fly off and that Everybody knows that moths are is why we find odd moths in different attracted to a light although nobody parts of the house. Box Moth © Roger Stace really understands why. They are even We had one unwelcome moth which more attracted to mercury vapour I could not easily identify as it was not smaller and usually more difficult to lamps and that is used in moth traps. in any of the books. It was white with identify. They indeed merit a whole We bought a simple moth trap which a dark brown surround to its wings. extra book and sometimes need a lens was really a big box with a mercury A friend helped me identify it and it to see their markings clearly. vapour lamp above it which plugs was a Box Tree Moth, which is a recent As we get nearer to winter there are into the mains. We put this outside the addition to our fauna from South East fewer moths, but there are some. I garage in the evening with three egg Asia and not welcome because the caught a November Moth, even though boxes for the moths to hide under, caterpillar eats the leaves of box. We it was the middle of October. More and then look at it in the morning. The decided to kill our specimens in an recently we have had one called the neighbours could not understand what effort to preserve our box bushes. Green Brindled Crescent which looks the light was and thought we might be Many of the moths have English names as if it has had some green powder growing cannabis! evocative of another era. One night we scattered on its wings. Many species are brown or grey and found a True Lover’s Knot and several I would never have known that there may be hard to identify, but some are times Hebrew Characters, besides were so many different species of more dramatic. The Poplar Hawk Moth several species of footmen. Most moth in the district if I had not started does not look like a moth at all when it names were invented in the Nineteenth trapping them. So far I have identified is settled but when it flies it suddenly Century; I cannot imagine modern 128 species, assuming that I got them shows its bright pink abdomen. Then zoologists inventing names like that. all right! This includes 29 micromoths. the Buff-tip looks just like a broken If identifying the larger moths is not Another surprise was that we caught birch twig. I would never know it was enough of a challenge then there are some fairly large beetles called an insect at all if I saw it on the ground. the micromoths which are generally Cockchafers, which some people call May-bugs. They are reputed to have declined in number recently so that is good news. Altogether the moths have made the Lockdown much more interesting; indeed I cannot imagine a Lockdown without them! Roger Frankum Thank you to Roger Stace of BBOWT for providing these photos to accompany Roger’s article.

Lime, Poplar & Privet Hawk Moths © Roger Stace Buff Tip © Roger Stace

7 © BBOWT Common Common Wokefield

Antisocial Visitors

The Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and In Berkshire we have lot of important Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) has heathland sites, and we had several seen a surge in visitors to their nature increased disturbances relating to the reserves over the lockdown period. ground nesting birds. It was difficult This has led to concerns over the to respond to all these issues and was welfare of the habitats on the sites, as a particularly challenging time for the BBQs & Litter © BBOWT well as other environmental concerns staff. I manage a team of people, and that come with more people in nature having to do that remotely, you have to all the animals breed in the summer, so reserves. It has been a challenging have confidence that you’re providing we must do work outside of that period. and difficult period. but our staff have the staff with the support they need, Our education and community team handled it well. as well as making sure their health and has been impacted because it has When the lockdown first started, we mental wellbeing is looked after. not been able to have events that were dealing with livestock as well It is depressing to see such a large bring in income. People also have less as health and safety management. amount of antisocial behaviour on disposable incomes and are then less A number of team members were our sites. You do a job like this to likely to support local charities. In the furloughed, so those essential give people the best benefit, but beginning of lockdown, we lost quite a responsibilities were shared across a people were either intentionally or lot of members and it really impacted smaller pool of people, which created unintentionally damaging the sites, our financial reserves. additional pressure. and the antisocial behaviour is not the If people do visit our sites, I would As the first lockdown in the summer nicest thing to have to deal with. The ask them to make sure they use them eased we saw a massive increase of organisation has coped with it well and responsibly. We manage our sites as people going to our sites, so all the we have been working hard to provide nature reserves, and one of the main people on furlough that were bored support, but it has been difficult. objectives is to enhance the sites and and stuck in the house were now We normally manage our sites by protect certain key species. If a path exploring their local area more and getting volunteers to come in and do is closed, it is for a good reason. As an more. BBOWT reserves were seeing work parties, but the tight restrictions individual you might think ‘I can just nip huge visitor numbers by people who have really hampered this. Our over here, it’s not that big a deal’, but if would not normally visit our sites. volunteers are a relatively small amount everyone thinks like that the footprint This brought a higher proportion of of people managing a large amount adds up. Maybe find out where you are visitor pressures, such as people having of land, and they are a key part of the going, and why it is an important place. picnics and leaving mess everywhere, workforce. When there are lockdowns There is plenty of information on our wild swimming, visitors coming to the it hits us hard because the volunteers website for that. site but parking wherever they wanted cannot work. Autumn and winter are Tom Hayward and not in the car parks. when we do the most site work because BBOWT Land Manager

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