Facts and Figures about WIldlife Reserves at Hook
North Warnborough
Lawn Camomile is one of many varieties of Camomile. It does not flower but forms thick springy mats and gives off a strong scent of apples.
The Southern Marsh orchid may grow to 70 cm tall or more. The flower spike can bear more than 100 flowers. They may vary in colour from lilac to deep magenta. The seeds can be remarkably persistent, erupting into growth after remaining dormant in the soil for 10 years or more.
A snipe is a bird which searches for invertebrates such as snails in soft mud, using their dagger-like bills to probe the ground like the needle of a sewing machine. Their diminutive size led to the term ‘sniper’ being coined, as they were such difficult targets to hit in the air.
Male Banded Demoiselles engage in aerial battles over rivers and streams in the summertime, which sometimes last for hours. These are trials of stamina rather than strength and the male with the most fat reserves usually triumphs.
The New Forest Ponies which graze North Warnborough Greens are an ancient breed which can trace their lineage back many centuries. They are noted for their strength, intelligence, even temperament and speed over rough ground.
Bartley Heath
The Common Lizard is often found on boggy heaths. It feeds on insects such as spiders and woodlice. It does not lay eggs but gives birth to live young, which are jet-black, in August. It can tolerate the cold fairly well and is even found in the Arctic Circle. Common Lizards are good swimmers, and may sometimes submerge to escape predators.
Grass Snakes are sun-loving and spend long periods basking, but have also been seen hunting in ponds at night. They have no special adaptations for subduing their prey. They are neither venomous, nor constrictors, and the unfortunate frog or toad is swallowed whole, sometimes still alive.
In Springtime, Great Spotted Woodpeckers will drum on trees to announce their presence to other birds. With practice, the sound can be mimmicked by tapping a stone against a tree limb, which may even bring a Woodpecker to your area!
White Admiral butterflies are associated with woodland rides and can be seen amongst the trees at Bartley Heath. The females lay their eggs among clumps of shaded honeysuckle, and gather nectar from brambles.
The Purple Emperor butterfly found on Bartley Heath lays its eggs amongst the leaves of Sallows. It is rarely seen, but spends much of its time amongst the treetops feeding on aphid honeydew. Adults may occasionally drink from pools of rainwater. The wings of the male flare deep purple when they catch the sunlight.
Starfruit, an extremely rare aquatic herb with delicate white flowers, was previously recorded at Bartley Heath. It grows best at the margins of shallow ponds, where the mud is regularly disturbed by visiting cattle or ponies. The seed can survive dormant in the soil for fifty years, so it is hoped that, with careful management, this plant may return to the Heath once again.
The Highland Cattle which graze Bartley Heath are one of our oldest and most distinguished breeds, able to survive on poor forage in harsh conditions. They may be found foraging 10,000 feet up in the Andes range. They are also noted for their longevity; a Highland cow may produce calves for eighteen years or more.
The woodland at Bartley Heath is the remnant of a traditional wood pasture system. This was a form of management in which animals were grazed among mature trees which provided shelter and forage, whilst the understorey growth was harvested for coppicing or charcoal-making. Such a system supported many livelihoods and was greatly beneficial to wildlife too.
Hook
Adders can be identified by their bold black zig-zag markings, and are the only British snake to have vertical pupils. All-black (melanistic) individuals frequently occur.
Adders are our only venomous snake. They use their venom to strike at small mammals and reptiles, and will then follow the scent trail of their victim, before swallowing it whole. They will tolerate the cold well, and have even been seen basking on snow-covered ground.
The striking red and white-spotted Fly Agaric toadstool is found at Hook Common. It is highly poisonous; its common name may refer to its traditional use as an insecticide, administered in milk.
The beefsteak fungus can also be found on Hook Common. It grows on oaks and chestnuts, and resembles a side of raw beef. It has even been used as a meat substitute in the past. When cut, it bleeds a red liquid.
The Speckled Wood butterfly will survive in woods far too shaded for many other species, and finds abandoned coppices and semi-mature conifer plantations to its liking. Its white-speckled wings mimic the dappled shade of its habitat.
The Holly Blue found on Hook Common is the most wide-ranging of our small blue butterflies. Its caterpillars feed on the berries of holly, ivy or gorse. Look for it in late April and May; a second brood emerges in August.
Look for the striking, orange and black-spotted, Silver-washed fritillary butterfly among the woodland rides at Hook Common. It survives best in fresh clearances, where its caterpillars feed on violets. The cleared areas of woodland surrounding pylons and telegraph poles provide ideal habitat.
