To Radstock To Radstock

Edford Harridge 1 1 Harridge Woods Woods N 5 East South Woods Harridge 2 2 Woods 4 West To Oakhill Key Keepers Key 3 3 Coage Long Route Red (2km+) 6

10 Short Route Green (Under 2km) Limekiln What to see at Harridge Woods 7 Wood Roadside Verge Parking Home Trees and fungi Public Footpath 9 8 Wood Pedunculate Oak Quercus robur 0 300m All year Deer Fencing Permissive Path Hazel Corylus avellana All year Information Board Norway Spruce Picea abies Grass Edford 1 1 Harridge All year Woodland Stoggle - various species Woods Rock Faces Woods All year 5 Stream South East Silver Birch Betula pendula Glade All year Steep Drop Ash Fraxinus excelsior Keepers Cottage 2 2 All year

Harridge Wych Elm Ulmus glabra Photos ©Neil other side: Bridge Watson, thrush ©Steve Song Waterhouse, and Bluebell ©Elliott Neep, Deer Roe Peaster, Nuthatch ©Matthew ©Phil Bishop, Cottage ©Adel Keepers Phipps, Silver Avery, ©Brian washed fritillary Edmonds, ©Jamie Fly Kingfisher Dormouse ©Elliott Neep agaric Phipps, ©Brian ©Phil Brimstone Otter Bishop, thrush ©Steve Song Waterhouse, Phipps, ©Brian Edmonds, ©Jamie Comma ©Richard Burkmarr Kingfisher Dormouse Green Simmonds | bensimmondsphotography.co.uk, ©Ben woodpecker ©Phil Bishop, Badger ©Elliott Neep, Silver washed fritillary Brown long eared bat ©Bat Conservation Trust, Greater horseshoe bat and Lesser horseshoe bat ©Adel Avery, Wood mouse ©Margaret Holland, Dipper ©Elliott Neep, Commons,spruce ©Wikimedia Stoggle ©Adel Avery, Silver birch ©Philip Precey, Commons, Ash ©Wikimedia Wych elm ©Philip Precey, Fly Commons, Agaric Alfred’s Hancock, Spindle ©Christopher ©Elliott Neep, elf cup ©Wikimedia King Scarlet ©Phil Bishop, cakes deer ©Elliott Neep, Roe Bullfinch and Commons, saffronMeadow ©Wikimedia Nettle leaved bellflower ©Adel Avery, Lesser celandine ©Richard Burkmarr, Solomon’s seal ©Phil Bishop, Enchanter’s Commons, nightshade ©Wikimedia Hart’s tongue fern ©Adel Avery, Pedunculate Commons, oak ©Wikimedia Hazel ©Phil Bishop, Norway Photos Phipps, this side: Horseshoe bats ©Brian Wild ©Phil garlic Bishop, Clare’s at Home Rock Wood ©Neil Watson, Bluebell ©Elliott Neep, Wild ©Paul garlic Lane, Wood | http://mendipwildlifephotography.co.uk, anemone ©HeathMcDonald Toothwort ©Bruce Shortland, Yellow archangel ©Paul Lane, Woods All year Spindle Euonymous europaea 4 West All year (Berries September to January) Fly Agaric Amanita muscaria To Oakhill August to November Keepers Scarlet Elf Cup Sarcoscypha coccinea 3 3 Coage November to March King Alfred’s Cakes Daldinia Concentrica All year 6

Animals Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus 10 All year Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula Limekiln All year 7 Wood Green Woodpecker Picus viridis April to May

Silver-washed Fritillary Argynnis paphia June to August

Home What to see at Harridge Woods Badger Meles meles All year 9 8 Wood Plants Bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta Brown Long Eared Bat Plecotus auritus April to June All year

Wild Garlic Allium ursinum Greater Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum April to June All year

Wood Anemone Anemone nemorosa Lesser Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus hipposideros March to May All year

Toothwort Lathraea squamaria Wood Mouse Apodemus sylvaticus March to May All year

Yellow Archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon Dipper Cinclus cinclus May to June All year

Meadow Saffron Colchicum autumnale Otter Lutra lutra August to October All year

Nettle-leaved bellflower Campanula trachelium Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni July to September March to September

Lesser Celandine Ranunculus ficaria Song Thrush Turdus philomelos February to May All year

Wild Garlic Solomon’s-seal Polygonatum multiflorum Dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius April to August All year

Enchanter’s Nightshade Circaea lutetiana Kingfisher Alcedo atthis June to August All year

Horseshoe Bats Clare’s Rock at Home Wood Hart’s Tongue Fern Asplenium scolopendrium Comma Polygonia c-album All year March to August

Love Somerset, Love Nature Love Somerset, Love Love Somerset, Love Nature Love Somerset, Love

Keepers Cottage Keepers

Kingfisher Butterflies over winter, braving the bats territory. bats the braving winter, over Butterflies

Spiders and their distinctive egg sacs and hibernating Peacock Peacock hibernating and sacs egg distinctive their and Spiders

Carry on to stop 5. Look out for Roe Deer as you go. you as Deer Roe for out Look 5. stop to on Carry

Other species which you commonly find in the roosts are Cave Cave are roosts the in find commonly you which species Other

Fly Agaric Fly

you think might live here? live might think you

eating Cockchafers and Dung Beetles, which it forages for nearby. for forages it which Beetles, Dung and Cockchafers eating

Company no: 818162 no: Company

Hedgehog Award Hedgehog – Have a look at a stoggle, what do do what stoggle, a at look a Have – ecreational activities permitted. activities ecreational r craneflies, whilst the larger Greater Horseshoe Bat specialises in in specialises Bat Horseshoe Greater larger the whilst craneflies,

Registered charity no: 238372 no: charity Registered

other or games organised fires, camping, No The preferred diet of the Lesser Horseshoe is small moths and and moths small is Horseshoe Lesser the of diet preferred The l

E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: regrowth, keeping the ancient trees alive. trees ancient the keeping regrowth,

and cattle grazed pasture provide ideal insect rich feeding habitat. habitat. feeding rich insect ideal provide pasture grazed cattle and

enough light to grow whilst fencing keeps the deer out to protect the the protect to out deer the keeps fencing whilst grow to light enough Tel: 01823 652400 652400 01823 Tel:

de or cycle. or de ri not do

the Lesser and Greater Horseshoe, as the surrounding woodland woodland surrounding the as Horseshoe, Greater and Lesser the

here are coppiced on an 18 year rotation to ensure the stoggles have have stoggles the ensure to rotation year 18 an on coppiced are here

TA1 5AW TA1

please but round year welcome are foot on Visitors l by Mendip Hills Fund Hills Mendip by

The most common bats using the roost during the summer are are summer the during roost the using bats common most The can see has a high number of stoggles within it. The other trees in in trees other The it. within stoggles of number high a has see can

Taunton

Nature trail funded funded trail Nature

see lots of mosses, lichens, ferns and insects. The fenced off area you you area off fenced The insects. and ferns lichens, mosses, of lots see

34 Wellington Road, Wellington 34

cave like cellar in the winter. the in cellar like cave

reserve. reserve.

is a fantastic and rare habitat, if you look closely at one, you should should you one, at closely look you if habitat, rare and fantastic a is

Somerset Wildlife Trust, Wildlife Somerset

spring. A colony of Natterer’s Bats also hibernate in the damp damp the in hibernate also Bats Natterer’s of colony A spring.

the on driven are vehicles and felled are trees e, sit growth from deer browsing. However whatever the reason the result result the reason the whatever However browsing. deer from growth

Bats will call female partners here for mating, and again in early early in again and mating, for here partners female call will Bats

on used being be may chinery ma other and flails reason is unknown. It is thought that a higher cut protected the re- the protected cut higher a that thought is It unknown. is reason

calling 01823 652400 01823 calling

out again to feed. During the autumn months, male Horseshoe Horseshoe male months, autumn the During feed. to again out

Tractors, woodland. managed a is Woods Harridge

l down like coppice, nor are they cut high up as pollarded trees are; the the are; trees pollarded as up high cut they are nor coppice, like down

www.somersetwildlife.org/membership or by by or www.somersetwildlife.org/membership

they can groom their fur and digest their insect prey before going going before prey insect their digest and fur their groom can they

The Woods The

remnant of ancient woodland management. These are not cut low low cut not are These management. woodland ancient of remnant

Become a member today by visiting by today member a Become

place for bats to use at night in between feeding sessions, where where sessions, feeding between in night at use to bats for place

y in landscape-scale conservation landscape-scale in y industr

section) which are a a are which section) see’ to ‘What in (photo stoggles called trees

Please pay attention to all safety signs. safety all to attention pay Please l

Join us Join

from spring through to autumn. It is also an important resting resting important an also is It autumn. to through spring from

Working with local quarry companies to maximise the role of of role the maximise to companies quarry local with Working •

Here, and as you continue to walk, you will see some unusual looking looking unusual some see will you walk, to continue you as and Here,

in winter, and the lofts, warm, dry roosting places for bats to use use to bats for places roosting dry warm, lofts, the and winter, in

4.

4

Running fun learning activities for children and their families their and children for activities learning fun Running •

de of the path. the of de si the by creating living landscapes for wildlife and people. and wildlife for landscapes living creating by The cellars provide damp, stable temperatures for hibernation hibernation for temperatures stable damp, provide cellars The Dormouse

at drops are there where and steps slopes, on hen w

We are dedicated to restoring our battered eco-systems eco-systems battered our restoring to dedicated are We vironmental education projects education vironmental en on schools how many can you find? find? you can many how

rare Barbastelle, when we have had extremely cold winters. winters. cold extremely had have we when Barbastelle, rare

especially care take Please slippery. be an c and

local with working and opportunities volunteering Organising •

Hedgehog Award Hedgehog – Look for different shaped leaves, leaves, shaped different for Look –

Brown Long Eared, Natterer’s, Daubenton, Pipistrelle, and the very very the and Pipistrelle, Daubenton, Natterer’s, Eared, Long Brown

every year to support our work. our support to year every The nature trails and paths have uneven surfaces surfaces uneven have paths and trails nature The

l

of bats throughout the year; Greater Horseshoe, Lesser Horseshoe, Horseshoe, Lesser Horseshoe, Greater year; the throughout bats of

Running reserve open days, and organising walks and talks and walks organising and days, open reserve Running • and the general public to help us raise over £2 million million £2 over raise us help to public general the and stop 4. In spring this area is carpeted in Wild Garlic or Ramsons. or Garlic Wild in carpeted is area this spring In 4. stop

Overall the cottage supports the roosting of at least seven species species seven least at of roosting the supports cottage the Overall

on the hard topped path, on a circular route. Walk until you reach reach you until Walk route. circular a on path, topped hard the on

a charity we rely on the generosity of our members members our of generosity the on rely we charity a

ick up after them. after up ick p and Surveying key species such as dormice and bats and dormice as such species key Surveying •

down the steps to the left or up the hill on the muddy track but stay stay but track muddy the on hill the up or left the to steps the down

members we manage over 1,700 hectares of land. As As land. of hectares 1,700 over manage we members greater Horseshoe Bat. Horseshoe greater

times all at control close under dogs keep Please l

Providing practical help to restore wildflower grasslands wildflower restore to help practical Providing •

The short trail follows the path to the right of the post. Do not turn turn not Do post. the of right the to path the follows trail short The for roosting, as they don’t require as much space to fly as the the as fly to space much as require don’t they as roosting, for environmental charity, supported by over 18,000 18,000 over by supported charity, environmental

cellar area. This smaller loft is favoured by Lesser Horseshoe Bats Bats Horseshoe Lesser by favoured is loft smaller This area. cellar

Somerset Wildlife Trust is the county’s leading leading county’s the is Trust Wildlife Somerset

or agri-environment schemes agri-environment or f

ortance on the long route. long the on ortance imp of 6 For the long trail see point see trail long the For .

enabling a second loft room to be created above the remaining remaining the above created be to room loft second a enabling

e and assisting them with grant applications applications grant with them assisting and e wildlif benefits

Take care near to any unprotected drops, especially especially drops, unprotected any to near care Take

l markers) or the long trail (red markers). (red trail long the or markers)

Due to the early success of the project, Biffa awarded a grant grant a awarded Biffa project, the of success early the to Due

Providing advice to landowners on land management that management land on landowners to advice Providing •

From this point you can choose to complete the short trail (green (green trail short the complete to choose can you point this From

space and the bat roosts and still maintain and monitor it now. it monitor and maintain still and roosts bat the and space

oodlands w and adwood or trees and stay on the paths. the on stay and trees or adwood de busy feeding on bramble flowers. bramble on feeding busy

construction. Volunteers had a large input into creating the loft loft the creating into input large a had Volunteers construction.

Identifying land that can be restored to species-rich meadows meadows species-rich to restored be can that land Identifying • Please be aware of the potential for falling falling for potential the of aware be Please

l summer search for the Silver-washed Fritillary Butterflies often often Butterflies Fritillary Silver-washed the for search summer

the cellars with nearby larch being felled and used in the the in used and felled being larch nearby with cellars the

look out for Comma Butterflies feeding on woodland plants or in in or plants woodland on feeding Butterflies Comma for out look

oodlands w and

were carried out, including a new loft and roof works to protect protect to works roof and loft new a including out, carried were

good hawking habitat for damselflies and dragonflies. In spring spring In dragonflies. and damselflies for habitat hawking good

e aware of the potential for falling rocks. falling for potential the of aware e b

Identifying the best areas of species-rich grasslands species-rich of areas best the Identifying •

building was secured and works to prevent further dilapidation dilapidation further prevent to works and secured was building Keep walking along the track to stop 8. stop to track the along walking Keep

such as Bullfinch and Speckled Wood Butterflies, whilst providing providing whilst Butterflies, Wood Speckled and Bullfinch as such

and footpaths the to keep Please paths. the bove a

In Mendip we are: we Mendip In

was already a bat roost, and desperately needed protection. The The protection. needed desperately and roost, bat a already was

valuable habitat for other plants, insects, birds and mammals mammals and birds insects, plants, other for habitat valuable and alongside face rock natural of areas are There think ate them? ate think l

purchase Keepers Cottage, the old estate workers’ dwelling. It It dwelling. workers’ estate old the Cottage, Keepers purchase

Creating a Living Landscape Living a Creating edges of the woodland along the rides and glades also provide provide also glades and rides the along woodland the of edges

for some chewed hazel nut shells, what animal do you you do animal what shells, nut hazel chewed some for

In 2006 funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund allowed us to to us allowed Fund Lottery Heritage the from funding 2006 In

species to feed on and a wide range of wildlife will thrive here. The The here. thrive will wildlife of range wide a and on feed to species ! Award Hedgehog – Look along the edges of the path path the of edges the along Look –

grow here. This provides nectar, fruit and seed for many different different many for seed and fruit nectar, provides This here. grow Harridge Woods Wildlife. Woods Harridge this area is very important for conservation of horseshoe species. horseshoe of conservation for important very is area this

They hibernate through the winter at ground level. ground at winter the through hibernate They warmth reaching the ground allows different species of flowers to to flowers of species different allows ground the reaching warmth and their families explore, understand and get to love our our love to get and understand explore, families their and

Conservation. Improving habitat and roosts for these species in in species these for roosts and habitat Improving Conservation. Information

flowers and small insects in order to fatten up ready to hibernate. hibernate. to ready up fatten to order in insects small and flowers Open spaces in woodlands are very important, the sunlight and and sunlight the important, very are woodlands in spaces Open wonderful landscapes. In Mendip this includes helping children children helping includes this Mendip In landscapes. wonderful and is that significant that it is designated as a Special Area of of Area Special a as designated is it that significant that is and

bark in the trees eating a variety of foods including nuts, fruit, buds, buds, fruit, nuts, including foods of variety a eating trees the in bark also inspire people to understand and appreciate Somerset’s Somerset’s appreciate and understand to people inspire also

It has 12% of the national population of Greater Horseshoe Bats Bats Horseshoe Greater of population national the of 12% has It

Health & Safety & Health

3 3 3.

Hazel Dormouse. They make a summer nest of woven Honeysuckle Honeysuckle woven of nest summer a make They Dormouse. Hazel alone. To secure the future of our natural environment we must must we environment natural our of future the secure To alone. Greater Horseshoe Bat roosts being very close to Harridge Woods. Woods. Harridge to close very being roosts Bat Horseshoe Greater

once you have finished. have you once

The Hazel Coppice to the left of the path is good habitat for the scarce scarce the for habitat good is path the of left the to Coppice Hazel The We cannot create a living landscape by working with wildlife wildlife with working by landscape living a create cannot We important area for the Horseshoe Bats, with one of the protected protected the of one with Bats, Horseshoe the for area important

Remember to replace the branch or stone carefully carefully stone or branch the replace to Remember

Horseshoe Bats. The Mendip Hills and the Mells Valley are a very very a are Valley Mells the and Hills Mendip The Bats. Horseshoe biodiversity.

rural communities that enjoy a healthy natural environment. natural healthy a enjoy that communities rural

a small branch or stone and see what you can find. find. can you what see and stone or branch small a

number around 20 for Greater Horseshoe Bats and 230 for Lesser Lesser for 230 and Bats Horseshoe Greater for 20 around number from the woods due to their invasive and undesirable effects on on effects undesirable and invasive their to due woods the from

to create a landscape where wildlife flourishes, alongside thriving thriving alongside flourishes, wildlife where landscape a create to

Hedgehog Award Hedgehog – Go on a minibeast hunt, turn over over turn hunt, minibeast a on Go –

their range has contracted and the summer maternity roosts now now roosts maternity summer the and contracted has range their part of the landscape gardens but have now been largely removed removed largely been now have but gardens landscape the of part of our most vulnerable and best-loved species. We are working working are We species. best-loved and vulnerable most our of

endangered Greater and Lesser Horseshoe Bats. In recent years years recent In Bats. Horseshoe Lesser and Greater endangered remnants of Laurel, Rhododendron and Box which would have been been have would which Box and Rhododendron Laurel, of remnants movement that connect wildlife populations, we risk losing some some losing risk we populations, wildlife connect that movement

reach stop 3. 3. stop reach

There are 17 breeding species of bats in the UK which include the the include which UK the in bats of species breeding 17 are There walked past was believed to be a watercress bed. Look out for the the for out Look bed. watercress a be to believed was past walked If we don’t link up these islands of habitat by creating corridors for for corridors creating by habitat of islands these up link don’t we If

Take the path to the right of the sign and keep going until you you until going keep and sign the of right the to path the Take

constructed to create trout pools for fishing. The pond you have have you pond The fishing. for pools trout create to constructed

management and climate change. climate and management

Bats in Harridge Woods Harridge in Bats

John Billingsley lived. You can see weirs in the stream that were were that stream the in weirs see can You lived. Billingsley John

which in turn will feed numerous different species of birds and bats. bats. and birds of species different numerous feed will turn in which vulnerable to changing conditions such as intensification of land land of intensification as such conditions changing to vulnerable

of an estate for the nearby Ashwick Grove where the aforementioned aforementioned the where Grove Ashwick nearby the for estate an of

bark and bits of deadwood provide habitat for many species of insect insect of species many for habitat provide deadwood of bits and bark fragmented, leaving stranded pockets of wildlife which are are which wildlife of pockets stranded leaving fragmented,

This part of Harridge Woods is called Home Wood and it was once part part once was it and Wood Home called is Woods Harridge of part This

tree and this beautiful old oak with its gnarled branches, fissured fissured branches, gnarled its with oak old beautiful this and tree this because the habitat our wildlife depends upon has become become has upon depends wildlife our habitat the because this

English or Pedunculate Oak supports more species than any other other any than species more supports Oak Pedunculate or English 7

7.

wildlife habitats across this beautiful landscape. We need to do do to need We landscape. beautiful this across habitats wildlife

4 Go to to Go

to continue on the trail. the on continue to Somerset Wildlife Trust’s

the Mendip Hills by working to restore, recreate and reconnect reconnect and recreate restore, to working by Hills Mendip the the separate section. separate the

along the path, with leat and stream to the right. the to stream and leat with path, the along

Somerset Wildlife Trust is aiming to create a Living Landscape for for Landscape Living a create to aiming is Trust Wildlife Somerset which you pass on the long trail. For more information on bats see see bats on information more For trail. long the on pass you which short trail just past where you left it. left you where past just trail short

When facing the sign turn right to head towards stop 7 walking walking 7 stop towards head to right turn sign the facing When Respect, Protect & Enjoy & Protect Respect,

and young trees. There is also a large bat roost in Keepers Cottage Cottage Keepers in roost bat large a also is There trees. young and When you descend down to a T junction turn left and rejoin the the rejoin and left turn junction T a to down descend you When

Mendip Hills Living Landscape Living Hills Mendip

do not have natural niches for roosting, such as amongst the conifers conifers the amongst as such roosting, for niches natural have not do Harridge

flowers you can spot. can you flowers always follow the countryside code. countryside the follow always

spiders.

these woods we have bat boxes to provide habitat where the trees trees the where habitat provide to boxes bat have we woods these

When you are out exploring nature please make sure you you sure make please nature exploring out are you When Hedgehog Award Hedgehog – See how many different coloured coloured different many how See –

a little shelter for small animals like beetles and and beetles like animals small for shelter little a

paths called rides, and feed on insects whilst still in flight. Within Within flight. in still whilst insects on feed and rides, called paths

Hedgehog Award Hedgehog – Using twigs and leaves build build leaves and twigs Using –

w to join Somerset Wildlife Trust. Wildlife Somerset join to w ho

Enchanters Nightshade. Enchanters Woods box is in a good position for bats as they like to fly along the open open the along fly to like they as bats for position good a in is box

about information me send Please member. a not am I

o

Saxifrage. In the summer look out for Yellow Archangel or or Archangel Yellow for out look summer the In Saxifrage.

rare Greater Horseshoe, Brown Long-eared and Natterer’s Bat. This This Bat. Natterer’s and Long-eared Brown Horseshoe, Greater rare

towards the end of this trail when you head down hill on the steps. the on hill down head you when trail this of end the towards estrel Award estrel K

and Solomon’s Seal drooping over Alternate Leaved Golden Golden Leaved Alternate over drooping Seal Solomon’s and

special place for bats with 11 species recorded here including the the including here recorded species 11 with bats for place special

the about information me send Please Trust. dlife Wil

Hazel, Alder, Elm and Willow. A good place to find Toothwort is is Toothwort find to place good A Willow. and Elm Alder, Hazel, Discover the wonder of Harridge Woods; with

broadleaf woodland. broadleaf

best in springtime with the stunning sight of Lesser Celendine, Celendine, Lesser of sight stunning the with springtime in best

tree. This is a hibernation box for bats. Harridge Woods is a very very a is Woods Harridge bats. for box hibernation a is This tree.

Somerset of member a and eight of age the over am I o

look like dirty stained molars. It grows on the roots of trees, especially especially trees, of roots the on grows It molars. stained dirty like look

native deciduous deciduous native its meandering streams, secret cottage, diverse

the cottage garden of the house. Further on the flora is at its its at is flora the on Further house. the of garden cottage the

If you look at the large oak behind you there is a black box on the the on box black a is there you behind oak large the at look you If

to find out more. out find to

through the dead leaves in late March and display tiers of flowers that that flowers of tiers display and March late in leaves dead the through

the woodland to to woodland the woodlands and a wealth of wildlife to spot.

You will see some garden species here which are remnants from from remnants are which here species garden some see will You

Wildlife Trust try our Kestrel award. Just tick the boxes below below boxes the tick Just award. Kestrel our try Trust Wildlife

a parasitic plant with no leaves and odd looking flowers that push push that flowers looking odd and leaves no with plant parasitic a

2 2 2.

future, as we return return we as future,

If you are aged eight and above and a member of Somerset Somerset of member a and above and eight aged are you If

through this system. this through

occasionally the strange looking flower of Toothwort. Toothwort is is Toothwort Toothwort. of flower looking strange the occasionally

and hopefully see the the see hopefully and

Your next challenge next Your

Carry straight on to stop 2 ignoring the right turning. turning. right the ignoring 2 stop to on straight Carry

seen in the meadows though they are no longer fed with water water with fed longer no are they though meadows the in seen display with smaller patches of Wood Anemone, Wood Sorrel and and Sorrel Wood Anemone, Wood of patches smaller with display

glimpses of the past past the of glimpses

his stock. Remnants of the underground culverts can still be be still can culverts underground the of Remnants stock. his

In spring the Wild Garlic and Bluebells create a beautiful and fragrant fragrant and beautiful a create Bluebells and Garlic Wild the spring In

A1 5AW A1 T

through you can catch catch can you through seeds and hang from a tree or bird table. bird or tree a from hang and seeds

the cottage in order to encourage early grass growth for feeding feeding for growth grass early encourage to order in cottage the

omerset S

10

wildlife. As you walk walk you As wildlife. top of the cone and squish in a mixture of fat and and fat of mixture a in squish and cone the of top

the 18th century. They were used to flood the meadows next to to next meadows the flood to used were They century. 18th the aunton T

nature reserve rich in in rich reserve nature create a bird feeder at home. Tie a string around the the around string a Tie home. at feeder bird a create

The leats by the cottage were the innovation of John Billingsley in in Billingsley John of innovation the were cottage the by leats The 4 Wellington Road Wellington 4 3

before you. before

grounds and is now a a now is and grounds Hedgehog Award Hedgehog – Collect a cone on your walk to to walk your on cone a Collect –

Trust, Wildlife omerset S to: Return

the tracks to see who or what has passed this way way this passed has what or who see to tracks the

information. mining, forestry, house house forestry, mining,

Hedgehog Award Hedgehog – Find a muddy spot and look at at look and spot muddy a Find –

a rare habitat of European importance. European of habitat rare a

the very rare Barbastelle. See the section on bats for more more for bats on section the See Barbastelle. rare very the

incorporating coal coal incorporating

...... Postcode:

Chrysalis Snail thrive in the conditions found around the tufa stream, stream, tufa the around found conditions the in thrive Snail Chrysalis

Greater Horseshoe and Lesser Horseshoe Bat and occasionally occasionally and Bat Horseshoe Lesser and Horseshoe Greater

an interesting history, history, interesting an

there is a steep drop next to the path on this stretch of footpath. footpath. of stretch this on path the to next drop steep a is there

alkaline environment but the rare Mountain Bulin Snail and the Large Large the and Snail Bulin Mountain rare the but environment alkaline

it provides roosting habitat for 7 species of bat including the rare rare the including bat of species 7 for habitat roosting provides it

Harridge Woods has has Woods Harridge ......

that that beware but 10 stop to going Keep hill. the of top the at right damage to the stream bed. Not many species thrive in this strongly strongly this in thrive species many Not bed. stream the to damage roost, Keepers Cottage. It was the estate workers’ house but now now but house workers’ estate the was It Cottage. Keepers roost,

Don’t go over the stile, stay in the woods and take the path to the the to path the take and woods the in stay stile, the over go Don’t

woodlands. tufa is very soft so please don’t go into the water as it will cause cause will it as water the into go don’t please so soft very is tufa

This beautiful location by the Mells River is the setting for our bat bat our for setting the is River Mells the by location beautiful This

...... Address:

between the two two the between

few weeks, making them look like they are made of stone. However However stone. of made are they like look them making weeks, few

directions made by animals. by made directions

the stream. the

management management

of limestone which can coat objects in the water (such as sticks) in a a in sticks) as (such water the in objects coat can which limestone of

as you continue your walk you may see paths going off in different different in off going paths see may you walk your continue you as ...... Name:

cottage. Be sure to check for Otters playing or Dippers feeding in in feeding Dippers or playing Otters for check to sure Be cottage.

in species and and species in dissolved in the water precipitate out to create tufa. Tufa is a form form a is Tufa tufa. create to out precipitate water the in dissolved

the same routes to get around the woods and if you look carefully carefully look you if and woods the around get to routes same the Mells River Mells

the steps, over the bridge and up the other side to stop 6 by the the by 6 stop to side other the up and bridge the over steps, the

to see the difference difference the see to environmental conditions arise to make the calcium carbonate carbonate calcium the make to arise conditions environmental

Roe Deer and Badgers are often seen in the woods here. They use use They here. woods the in seen often are Badgers and Deer Roe ......

For the long trail (red route), turn left at stop 3 and head down down head and 3 stop at left turn route), (red trail long the For

- a great opportunity opportunity great a -

There is an interesting spring here, a petrifying spring. The precise precise The spring. petrifying a here, spring interesting an is There

9. 6.

9 6

takes in Home Wood Wood Home in takes

e-mail address below. address e-mail

1 1 1.

long trail. trail. long the long trail also also trail long the If you are happy for us to contact you by e-mail please add your your add please e-mail by you contact to us for happy are you If of the woods. the of

Take the right turn uphill alongside the wall to carry on with the the with on carry to wall the alongside uphill turn right the Take Wood West, whilst whilst West, Wood you reach stop 1. stop reach you a Hedgehog Award certificate. Award Hedgehog a with the main hard topped ride go left to return to the entrance entrance the to return to left go ride topped hard main the with

through Harridge Harridge through form below and send it to Somerset Wildlife Trust and you’ll get get you’ll and Trust Wildlife Somerset to it send and below form From the start post at the reserve entrance follow the path until until path the follow entrance reserve the at post start the From This is the last post for the trail, when you reach a T junction junction T a reach you when trail, the for post last the is This

hear? Would you hear these sounds in a town? a in sounds these hear you Would hear?

trail will take you you take will trail the nature trails; when you have completed them all fill out the the out fill all them completed have you when trails; nature the

light and flora and fauna in this part of the wood. the of part this in fauna and flora and light Hedgehog Award Hedgehog – Listen carefully, what can you you can what carefully, Listen –

if you can complete the eight wildlife activities whilst walking walking whilst activities wildlife eight the complete can you if The short nature nature short The

colourful or unusual things. unusual or colourful

few European Larch and Norway Spruce trees and there is plenty of of plenty is there and trees Spruce Norway and Larch European few

to earn an award while exploring nature in different ways. See See ways. different in nature exploring while award an earn to

Hedgehog Award Hedgehog – Take five photos of interesting, interesting, of photos five Take –

so don’t touch them. touch don’t so

Edford Wood South. Wood Edford found, whereas to your left there is a mixture of species with only a a only with species of mixture a is there left your to whereas found, The Wildlife Watch Hedgehog Award is a simple and fun way way fun and simple a is Award Hedgehog Watch Wildlife The

is a good time to look for fungi - just remember some are poisonous poisonous are some remember just - fungi for look to time good a is

Home Wood and and Wood Home is so dark that there is little ground flora or associated insects to be be to insects associated or flora ground little is there that dark so is

your nearest watch group, events and activity ideas. activity and events group, watch nearest your

releasing nutrients into the soil for living things to feed off. Autumn Autumn off. feed to things living for soil the into nutrients releasing

activities listed on the leaflet with your children? your with leaflet the on listed activities Limekiln Woods, Woods, Limekiln The stand of western red cedar to your right as you go down the hill hill the down go you as right your to cedar red western of stand The

Wildlife Trust. Visit www.somersetwildlife.org/education to find find to www.somersetwildlife.org/education Visit Trust. Wildlife

Fungi play a very important part in nature, breaking down matter and and matter down breaking nature, in part important very a play Fungi

If you are visiting as a family why not try the Hedgehog Award Award Hedgehog the try not why family a as visiting are you If Woods East and West, West, and East Woods on both sides relative to the broadleaf / conifer tree composition. composition. tree conifer / broadleaf the to relative sides both on

inspired by taking part in events and activities with Somerset Somerset with activities and events in part taking by inspired

round holes made by Woodpeckers. Woodpeckers. by made holes round woodlands: Harridge Harridge woodlands: surroundings and compare how much light there is in the woodland woodland the in is there light much how compare and surroundings

children and their families can explore, discover, learn and be be and learn discover, explore, can families their and children Both trails have numbered stops with points of interest. of points with stops numbered have trails Both

standing deadwood and see if there are any holes for bats or large large or bats for holes any are there if see and deadwood standing up of 5 different different 5 of up Hazel take place. As you walk back to the start of the trail, take in your your in take trail, the of start the to back walk you As place. take Hazel Wildlife Watch is a junior branch of the Wildlife Trusts where where Trusts Wildlife the of branch junior a is Watch Wildlife

from Harridge Wood West main entrance. main West Wood Harridge from the ground and see if there is any fungi on it. Look into the wood for for wood the into Look it. on fungi any is there if see and ground the (136 acres) is made made is acres) (136 conifers and letting natural regeneration of species like Ash, Oak and and Oak Ash, like species of regeneration natural letting and conifers

The long nature trail is 2.0km long – follow the red way-marked posts posts way-marked red the follow – long 2.0km is trail nature long The birds and bats. As you carry on with the walk look for deadwood on on deadwood for look walk the with on carry you As bats. and birds Trust. The 55 hectares hectares 55 The Trust. achieving this through a long term programme of thinning the the thinning of programme term long a through this achieving

lichens, mosses, ferns, wood utilising invertebrates and cavity nesting nesting cavity and invertebrates utilising wood ferns, mosses, lichens, by Somerset Wildlife Wildlife Somerset by back to native broadleaf which is far better for wildlife. We are are We wildlife. for better far is which broadleaf native to back

posts from Harridge Wood West main entrance. main West Wood Harridge from posts

depend on it for food, shelter or anchorage, particularly fungi, fungi, particularly anchorage, or shelter food, for it on depend managed and owned owned and managed in the 1950/60s. Somerset Wildlife Trust are returning the woodland woodland the returning are Trust Wildlife Somerset 1950/60s. the in

The short nature trail is 1.3km long – follow the green way-marked way-marked green the follow – long 1.3km is trail nature short The

Deadwood is important to support a wide range of species that that species of range wide a support to important is Deadwood nature reserve is is reserve nature This part of the wood was largely cleared and planted with conifers conifers with planted and cleared largely was wood the of part This

8. There are two way-marked trails to help you explore the woodland. the explore you help to trails way-marked two are There Harridge Woods Woods Harridge 5. 8 5

Woodland Nature Trails Nature Woodland Introduction Love Somerset, Love Nature