Lightwater Country Park Walk Sunday 29 May 2005

This was a public walk, led by Head Ranger GORDON VOLLER, who gave us a talk last December. Four ENHS members attended this very successful event. The sheer variety of habitat within such a small area must be unique. It is obviously very popular and well-used, but manages to preserve an amazing variety of wildlife, quite a lot of which we saw on the day.

The three ponds are the centre of attraction. The smallest caters for the duck-feeding public, and the largest for anglers, but they attract a great variety of wildfowl, and the Bog myrtle on the large pond is a special feature.

An adjacent stretch of marshland has a rich array of wetland wildlife. The heathland area justifies the SSSI status; we were lucky enough to see some of its inhabitants, including a Woodlark at very close range, an Adder and a Slow worm, but the Sand lizards hid away, despite a search. Common lizards were not so shy. The little Smooth snake colony is said to be troubled, possibly through inbreeding. Gordon had heard Nightjars on the previous night.

At the woodland edge was a Wood ant nest, and also that of the similar-sized but rare Slave-making ant. Willow warbler, Chiff-chaff and Cuckoo were calling, and a Great-spotted woodpecker was seen.

Two small meadow areas, which were created from M3 spoil, now provide a completely different flora with many orchids in flower and a fine selection of butterflies, moths and beetles flying.

High Curly Hill is the woodland peak of the park, with fine views in most directions, taking in central London, Guildford Cathedral and the forests around Windsor.

As a finale, Gordon had set three mammal traps overnight, in the hedgerow by the visitor centre. He opened them to reveal a Field mouse in each. This was a thoroughly entertaining walk, and we expect contact between Gordon and the ENHS to be maintained.

Dick Alder