Plants and wildlife
The woods are home to a wide variety of plants and wildlife. Surveys are conducted through the year and the full list of flora, birds and butterlies spotted in the woods during 2023 is in this document:
The results of surveys from earlier years can be found at the bottom of this page.
Walks:
The
Friends of Littleheath Woods organise a number of guided walks
during the year to help people discover different species in the woods.
Details of upcoming walks are published on the Events page.
Timber:
The Friends of Littleheath Woods construct Habitat Piles using sawn and fallen trees to build homes for insects and other wildlife. Please do not disturb the piles of logs or take timber away from the woods for your wood burner.
Seasonal Sightings:
Examples of things you might spot in each season are:
Early
butterflies, particularly the Brimstone, can be seen taking advantage of the
spring sunshine. Mammal activity increases too. Badgers emerge from their
winter respite and observant visitors will spot their paw prints and fresh
material thrown out of their setts as the badgers do their own spring cleaning.
Seats made
from trees felled in the woods provide an ideal place to sit quietly and listen
for the song of the Chiffchaff or watch a Sparrowhawk circling above the canopy
of the trees. If you are lucky you may even spot one of the Foxes or Roe Deer
as they cross one of the paths.
Plants will be flowering. Use our 'I Spy' sheet from our 'Visiting The Woods' page to spot some favourites.
Fungi are
abundant in the autumn. The fairytale red toadstool with white spots, the Fly
Agaric, can be seen on Fallen Oak Field around the Birch trees. Sulphurtuft
fungus can also be seen growing in bright yellow clumps on rotting tree stumps.
Puffballs, Earthballs and tiny Bonnet Caps can also be seen by those who look
carefully.
We also have feathered visitors: Redwings and Fieldfares come over from Northern Europe and feast on the berries in the woodland. Amongst the bare trees you will also spot the five British evergreens – Holly, Yew, Scots Pine, Juniper and Box – all of which are present in Littleheath Woods.
Winter also provides an ideal time to spot the tracks, in snow or muddy areas, of those creatures that might be too shy for you to see. Deer, Foxes, Badgers and Squirrels will all leave their trails for you to spot – although the most common track you will spot is the paw print of one of the many local dogs being taken for a walk.
