KRAG Field Day Weardale/Chartwell 28/4/07


On a warm and breezy morning of 28 April, a truly international group of fifteen, with representatives from Spain, France, Greece and New Zealand, toured Weardale (on the green sands ridge overlooking the Weald). Then, after a pub lunch, a rather smaller group toured Chartwell. We were led by the National Trust warden Paul Naden and KRAG member Nick Johnson.



Paul Naden in Toy’s Hill car park briefing the Group about Weardale and Chartwell (R. Hodges)



Weardale

We split into two groups to survey refugia that had been laid two months previously. After passing various points of interest including a disused water tower, which has been developed as a bat hibernaculum, we came across swarms of curious small moths with very long antennae, these were lekking Bright Moths.



Metallic hued Bright Moths with enormous antennae (R. Hodges)

As we walked around Weardale we checked pairs of tin and felt refugia but these didn’t reveal anything; perhaps they had been placed too recently. However, there were excellent sightings of several viviparous lizards basking on the low walls of the ruined Weardale Manor.



Male viviparous lizard on the wall of the Weardale Manor (A. Milopoulos)

From Weardale we crossed the road into Scords Wood and in a patch of heathland we saw another viviparous lizard and an obliging slow worm. Continuing into the woodland, there was an abundance of bluebells and other wild flowers. These were particularly evident as we entered a clearing in the woodland created by the National Trust to encourage wider biodiversity.



Wild flowers in a clearing in Scords Wood (A. Milopoulos)

After walking deeper into Scords Wood we arrived at a large pond, used to supply water to Emmetts Garden in times of drought, surrounded by a cleared hillside. The area is well known for grass snakes, but despite our checking none were seen.


KRAG members checking for grass snakes in a cleared area of Scords Wood (A. Milopoulos)

Finally, continuing round the last stretch of woodland there were excellent views of another very photogenic viviparous lizard.



A female viviparous lizard basking on the base of a tree (G. Marchais)


Chartwell

Six people toured Chartwell in the afternoon. At Toy’s Hill they all piled in to Paul’s Land Rover and took the roller coaster ride to Chartwell. Although we didn’t find much under the refuges laid around the estate, due at least in part to the rather warm weather, we did see a couple of young grass snakes, a slow worm and an adder.



One of two young grass snakes at Chartwell (G. Marchais)

We also had a great view of the house and a walk round the old swimming pool which has been largely reclaimed by nature, including great crested newts.



Some of the afternoon Group with Chartwell House and lake in the background (R. Hodges)

Weardale and Chartwell provided a great day’s walking, beautiful scenic views and sitings of all our widespread reptile species. Roll on 2008 when we can do it all over again!


Alex Molouplos and Rick Hodges

Posted: Mon - May 7, 2007 at 05:43 pm        

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