Nature Trail - Board 9

Welcome to the Moss Wood Woodland Walk! Recently the existing trees – including sycamore, elm, ash and oak – have been thinned to create room for an ‘under canopy’ which has been planted. Look out for the bird boxes and evidence of badgers here.

Sycamore

The Sycamore tree is a familiar sight in Lancashire and around most the UK. This large, fast-growing tree wasn’t always native to Britain but arrived around the 15th or 16th Century – so it has been here a long time! Look for its broad, five-lobed leaves and distinctive ‘helicopter’ seeds in autumn. Sycamores thrive in many habitats, from parks to woods, such as around the park at Moss Wood. They are very important for nature, forming a habitat for many species. Their wood was once used for kitchenware and toys, including traditional Welsh love spoons!

Under Canopy

Beneath the upper canopy of this deciduous woodland, a lower layer of holly and hazel has been planted and is thriving. Holly’s glossy, evergreen leaves provide year-round shelter for birds and small creatures. Hazel’s flexible branches bend with the seasons, their springtime catkins offering an early food source for wildlife. This under canopy adds diversity to the woodland, creating different habitats and food sources. Remember, woodlands are like layer cakes, with life buzzing at every level! What birds can you see flitting between the branches and making use of the trees in this under canopy?

Badger

Badgers are fascinating creatures found in woodlands and countryside around Lancashire. These nocturnal mammals have distinctive black and white stripes and live in underground networks called ‘setts’. Look for large, D-shaped holes with piles of fresh soil nearby – a sign of a busy sett! In fact there is a sett here along the Moss Wood woodland walk. It is not used by the badgers every year – so take a careful look and see if you can tell whether it is occupied this year by seeing if you can see fresh soil around it. Badgers eat earthworms, insects, and small mammals. They are protected by law, so please observe them quietly from a distance. Remember, badgers are wild animals; admire them respectfully and never disturb their homes.

Bird Nests

The diverse habitats around Moss Wood support a rich variety of birds! Walk with your eyes open, and you might spot cleverly created nests. High in trees, look for the woven nests of songbirds like robins or chaffinches. On the ground, hidden in grasses, birds like lapwings and skylarks create simple nests. You might spot other nests such as for ducks or terns around the lakes.

Remember: Bird nests are fragile nurseries! Observe from a distance, avoid disturbing nests, and please keep dogs on a leash in sensitive areas where birds may be nesting.