LAG VISIT TO GOSLINGS CORNER WOOD 22 JUNE 2018

A GENTLE STROLL AMONG THE ORCHIDS ON A BEAUTIFUL SUMMER’S EVENING

A dozen cars managed to squeeze in to the car park at the edge of Goslings Corner Wood and 23 of us sprayed ourselves with insect repellent whilst we listened to an initial briefing from LWT Warden Damien Carter. We learnt that this wood is one of the smaller Lincolnshire oak/lime woods. The variety of soils in the reserve - ranging from neutral to acidic - produce the variety of flora. (See species list below.)

As we strolled around identifying the wild flowers Damien told us how the site was being managed. A series of coppice plots have been created off the main rides. The oldest plot at the southern end of the main ride was cut in the winter of 1989/90 and the last one in this present series is due to be completed in about 2045. In some areas new tree growth is being encouraged to restrict light reaching the ground to reduce the amount of grass growth. In another area the grass is left to enable the natural development of saplings which in turn will create fresh woodland. In a further area some larger trees are to be felled and coppiced. This work will be carried out by a contractor who also processes the timber for use as firewood and charcoal. A large meadow in the centre is harvested for hay twice a year. Sadly for us, it had just been cut so the wonderful field that had recently been full of yellow Meadow buttercups looked very bare.

The sunshine disappeared as we left the grassy paths and entered the woodland. Consequently, there was an abrupt change in the ground flora. Dog’s mercury was in profusion and we saw many Common spotted orchids. Wetter ground was indicated by Marsh thistles and Water avens.

The only birds that we saw were a couple of Wood pigeons and a Magpie although some people heard a Blackcap, a Chiffchaff and Peacocks!

Many thanks to Damien for his guidance and to Volunteer Reserve Warden Eric Sergeant who manages the site on a day to day basis.RW

PLANT LIST

GOSLINGS CORNER WOOD 22 JUNE 2018	LAG 1800-2000hrs
Small leaved lime	Cocksfoot grass
Oak	Foxtail grass
Birch	Rough meadow grass
Field maple	Timothy grass
Hawthorn	Crested dog's tail
Elder	Meadow foxtail
Crab apple	Yorkshire fog
White beam	Rough meadow grass
Hogweed	Wood melick grass
Alder	Rye grass
Meadow buttercup	Red fescue grass
Creeping buttercup	Pendulous sedge
Common vetch	Speedwell
Marsh thistle	Dandelion
Spear thistle	Ribwort plantain
Curled dock	Ramsons
Common sedge	Common spotted orchid
Lesser stitchwort	Water avens
White clover	Broad leaved willow herb
Pignut	Heath spotted orchid
Bramble	Meadow cranesbill
Stinging nettle	Hedge woundwort
Dog's mercury	Bugle
Cleavers	Ragged robin
Common sedge	Creeping-Jenny
Compact rush	Tormentil
Lady's smock	Great tussock sedge
Prickly ox-tongue	Remote sedge
Yellow rattle	Fen bedstraw
Figwort	Hemp agrimony
Nipplewort	Marsh stitchwort
Marsh thistle	Spear thistle
Yellow vetchling	Ragged robin
Tufted vetch	Bush vetch