Nature Trail - Board 4
Around the car park are hedges containing hawthorn, holly & rose species. Every few years this is ‘layered’ – which means the trunks are broken and laid across each other to make the hedge thicker. This will provide more shelter for wildlife. Please be careful around the car park!
Hawthorn
A symbol of spring, is the Hawthorn bursting into bloom across hedgerows. Its creamy-white flowers give way to bright red berries called “haws”, a vital food source for birds during lean winter months (but toxic to humans – so never eat them!). Hawthorns are steeped in folklore, believed to protect against misfortune. Look for its thorny branches and deeply lobed leaves as you wander through the beautiful Lancashire countryside. Its presence is a vital part of our local ecosystem as it is a home for many species – including to over 150 different types of insect!
Spider
From the vibrant and distinctive Wasp Spider to the common Garden Spider, Moss Wood is home to a fascinating array of eight-legged creatures. Look closely in grasslands for the Wasp Spider’s bold stripes and its web with a zigzag pattern. You might also spot the Garden Spider patiently waiting in the center of its beautiful orb web. Remember, spiders play an important role in our ecosystem, helping to control insect populations. Did you know – all spiders are venomous! But don’t worry, there are no spiders found this far north that are dangerous to humans as neither their venom nor their teeth are powerful enough to hurt us. They are very dangerous to flies though!
House Sparrow
Chirpy and cheerful, the House Sparrow is a familiar sight in Lancashire gardens. This small brown bird is a social creature, often seen in flocks. Despite an estimated decline of 71% since 1977, House Sparrows remain the most spotted bird in the county. They love nesting in buildings as well as trees and bird boxes, and enjoy a diet of seeds and insects. But they’re often not very fussy and can eat all sorts of scraps! To help these charming birds thrive, offer them bird feeders and create nesting spots in your hedges and eaves. Listen for their distinctive chattering and watch for their lively antics!
Rosa Rugosa
The Rosa Rugosa, also known as the Japanese Rose, thrives along Lancashire’s coastlines. This hardy shrub boasts vibrant pink or white blooms contrasting with its wrinkled, dark green foliage. Its resilience against salty sea spray and sandy soils makes it a natural fit for our wild shores. As you walk, look for its distinctive red hips (fruits) in autumn, a favourite of birds. It is not a native plant, coming from Asia and escaping from gardens into the wild sometime in the late 1800s, but nonetheless provides pollen and fruit which helps to feed our local wildlife.