20/05/2026
Although only four acres or so in extent, Prestwood Local Nature Reserve has a variety of habitats within its boundaries.
There is a band of mixed species and mixed aged trees forming a dense and tangled area on the northern perimeter. Some small clearings amongst the trees provide habitat for plants and animals that prefer neither dense woodland nor open grassland. Within the grassland, there is an area where the chalk bedrock is only just below the surface, where some of the less robust plants grow, such as Gentians, Milkworts, Orchids and Quaking-grass, and where the Mining Bees mine; creating small mounds of soil. Elsewhere, where the soil is deeper and damper, we have the more vigorous grasses and other herbaceous plants, such as Oxeye daisy, Knapweed, Scabious and Wild Carrot. Then there are the shrubs that provide nectar, pollen, berries, shelter and leaves to eat â Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Buckthorn, Spindle, Privet, Roses, Dogwood, Guelder-rose and Wayfaring-tree. Scrambling around are Brambles, Ivy, Honeysuckle, Black Bryony, and the unrelated White Bryony. Even the car park has mosses on the tarmac and lichens on the posts.
We try and maintain some sort of balance between the shrubs on the one hand, and the grasses and herbaceous plants on the other. If we did not do this, then shrubs and eventually trees would cover the whole site. We hope that suitable conditions will develop for a variety of birds, mammals, and invertebrates. It is often said that the âedgesâ where different habitats meet are important, so we try and avoid straight lines, preferring curves and scallops. If the scallops can face in different directions, facing the morning, midday or evening sun, or into or away from the prevailing wind, then so much the better.
Prestwood Natureâs butterfly transect will cover more of the reserve from this year, giving a better idea of the numbers of species and individual butterflies to be found on the reserve. For some species we rely on âevidence of presenceâ as the creatures themselves are very unlikely to be seen. This includes galls and leaf mines. Galls are produced by plants in response to insects laying eggs on the plant. The larvae of the insect feed inside the gall. Sometimes, other insects are present within the gall, either as harmless co-occupants taking advantage of the feeding opportunity, or as parasites on the original insect. Some of the more noticeable galls are Robinâs Pincushion on roses (see image), Oak Apple (also pictured) and Oak Marble. There is also a gall that looks like a nail driven through a leaf of Dogwood.
Leaf mines are formed by insect larvae eating out a passageway or blotch within the thickness of a leaf. These can be seen on Hogweed (pictured), Oak and Bramble, among others. The presence of the fungus that weakens and often kills Ash trees is all too evident. Infected Ash trees can become brittle, so that branches are shed. Where possible, we leave dead trees standing, as they form habitat for beetles and other invertebrates. Only if the tree poses a safety hazard will it be felled, when the logs will be stacked to create a habitat for mammals and invertebrates.
Please contact me if you would like to know more about Prestwood Local Nature Reserve (via Prestwood Nature). I am forever grateful to those visitors and local residents who help clear up litter left by others. (Words and images by Philip Pratt)
