Peacock butterfly on a leaf
©️Ian Rickards

March on Hothfield: Spring is in the air

It’s all happening, and unlike February, this month you can see and hear the signs, including the welcome trickling of water thanks to leaky dams and, yes, an awful lot of rain, so the squelch of mud on paths as well. Birds are calling, to defend territory, attract a mate, claim their space in roosts or just celebrate the dawn. The yaffle of the green woodpecker carries right across the reserve. Weather permitting, butterflies will be emerging from hibernation, peacocks and small tortoiseshell from late February, brimstone, comma and red admiral through March. 

I spied the first dandelion in mid-February; the gorse, Ulex europaeus, is of course still flowering, and celandine and sallow catkins are appearing. The heather or ling, Calluna vulgaris, still looks dark and lifeless but looking closely there are new shoots of tiny overlapping scale-like leaves, soft and bright green, clustered below the upper woody stems still holding last year’s papery flowers. The new shoots will bear this year’s flowers at their tips. It’s the upper surfaces of the older leaves that are very dark green, a protection against the elements through winter. Turn these older sprigs over and even the backs of these leaves are now fresh green. The leaf margins on mature leaves are rolled back (revolute) which protects the underside in tough weather conditions. Ling is intolerant of nutrient-rich soil, so the thin layer of sandy soil here is ideal, there is little humus to hold nutrients so they drain away quickly. The challenge now is that in recent summers the soil has dried out badly, shortening the flowering period, reducing the nectar flow for insects with plants at risk of dying. Ling is an evergreen subshrub, the leaves persisting several years before dropping and adding to the thin leaf litter below. It is the only heather with the leaves arranged oppositely rather than in whorls (eg Erica tetralix in the damper ground) or alternately, so it is not classified in the Erica genus.

Dandelion. ©️Richard Burkmar

The volunteers work on the reserve regularly, as well as on various sites across Ashford.  Areas that they have cleared of trees and shrubs close to existing ling colonies are showing very positive results, with ling seedlings developing well, for example on the slope north of the main bog and on the side of the ‘new’ wooden boardwalk. Ling spreads vegetatively, stems lying on the ground growing adventitious roots. The miniscule seed is dispersed further afield by the wind. With trees no longer sucking up the water, it’s very pleasing to see the boggy puddles and pools that have formed in these cleared areas, increasing the habitat of one of the key plants that makes this reserve so significant.

May the sun shine on walkers, volunteers and early butterflies this month.

Margery Thomas 

Like the Heather soon to be emerging at Hothfield. ©️Ross Hoddinott/2020VISION

Dogs on leads

Dear neighbours. From the beginning of March until the end of August, we will be asking again for owners to keep dogs on leads across all the open areas of Hothfield Heathlands (grassland, heather, scrub).  This is a legal requirement for anyone visiting Open Access land such as this reserve.   

Dogs off leads are one of the biggest causes of wildlife disturbance. Ground nesting birds are particularly at risk, with 66% of these species in decline in the UK. Keeping dogs on short leads will benefit other wildlife that can be harmed or disturbed by enthusiastic canines – from snakes to mammals to amphibians. It also prevents problems with dogs chasing grazing livestock. Dogs can remain off lead (under control) through mature wooded areas, around the perimeter of the reserve. Birds nesting in wooded areas are less sensitive to dog disturbance.

The decline in wildlife across our country is reaching catastrophic levels. With increased numbers of visitors to the reserve, we need to ensure there is still space for our wildlife to survive alongside us. With your help we can make a difference to wildlife on our doorstep. Thank-you to everyone for helping us to protect and support our wildlife.

See more information on our dogs policy here.

Ian Rickards, Area Manager, Kent Wildlife Trust

Dog walking on a lead

Heather at Hothfield
©️ Ian Rickards

Visit Hothfield Heathlands

A visit to Hothfield Heathlands is a visit to one of the last remaining heathlands in Kent. After walking through a narrow canopy of broadleaved trees, you break through to reveal the wide-open landscape of Hothfield Heathlands. The spring will bring with it the fresh green growth of Heather, gorse and a myriad of tiny plants.

more info