Wildlife haven set to grow

Devon Wildlife Trust has announced that one of its most popular and beautiful nature reserves is about to grow. An extra 3 hectares of land have been bought by the charity to add to its existing 33 hectare nature reserve of Andrew's Wood, near Loddiswell, in South Devon. The purchase was made possible after the Devon Wildlife Trust secured generous support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and donations from DWT supporters. The new land is known locally as Wizaller Wood and is a charming mix of silver birch, oak, ash, hazel and willow. Along with hundreds of plants and animals the wood is home to bats, wildflowers and woodpeckers. The new wildlife haven will be looked after by Devon Wildlife Trust's Jackie Gage. Jackie said: 'Along with local volunteers I've helped look after Andrew's Wood for the past 7 years and in that time it's become one of my favourite of all the 49 Devon Wildlife Trust nature reserves. So I was thrilled when the news came that Wizaller Wood was coming our way. It will make a wonderful new extension to what is already a haven for local wildlife.' The woodland is thought to be especially rich in rare lichens, mosses and fungi. Alongside these local dormice are another species that stand to benefit from the news. Andrew's Wood is already something of a 'dormouse hotspot' with a well-established colony. Jackie said: 'Dormice are animals which have struggled in many parts of the country during recent decades. But here at Andrew's Wood we have a good population. The funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund is allowing us to put up a further 30 dormouse nest boxes in the new Wizaller Wood part of the reserve. These should ensure that the dormice can thrive and spread.' Visitors to Wizaller Wood are being welcomed by the Trust. Like all of its nature reserves it is free to enter and has a network of marked trails, which although muddy, make good winter walks. Jackie added: 'Visitors to Wizaller Wood will see that we've already been busy managing the place for wildlife. We've cleared invasive species such as rhododendron, created wildflower glades and coppiced some trees to encourage new tree growth. A new public path has also been cut to join the reserve with the local network of public footpaths, ensuring that it becomes more easily accessible to local people and visitors.' 

Andrew's Wood and its new extension Wizaller Wood can be reached from the A38. Take the Ugborough-Yealmpton turn off. Turn left on to the A3121, and at Kitterford Cross go straight across towards Loddiswell on the B3196. At California Crosstake the left-hand fork just past a petrol station (signed Loddiswell). The entrance and car park at Andrew's Wood lie 250m beyond Coldharbour Cross. A track leads down into the nature reserve.  

More details on this and DWT's 48 other nature reserves from www.devonwildlifetrust.org

 Devon Wildlife Trust Andrew's Wood nature reserve is growing. Photo copyright Simon Williams. (All rights reserved)

Fantastic fungi finds on Devon nature reserves

Two rare and distinctive fungi species have been spotted on Devon Wildlife Trust nature reserves in one week. Hazel gloves (Hypocreopsis Rhododendri) fungus can be found in hazel woodland in western Britain. It was recorded for the first time at Devon Wildlife Trust's Vealand Farm nature reserve, near Holsworthy, this week. Likened in appearance to miniature rubber gloves, this fungus sometimes grows on blackthorn, but is primarily found on hazel. Hence the name 'hazel gloves', though in Sweden it is known as 'Trollhand.' The fungus was found by DWT reserves assistant Adam Rhodes, who said: "We were delighted to spot Hazel Gloves on a hedgerow at Vealand Farm as it's really rare - it's classified as 'Near Threatened' by the IUCN." Devon and Cornwall are the most important areas in England for this fungus as it specialises in Atlantic hazel woods. Hazel Gloves was considered by Natural England ten years ago to be possibly on the verge of extinction in the UK, as there had been no records for more than 35 years. It's not the easiest fungus to see, as Adam explained: "Hazel Gloves might be under-recorded as it's usually found up in the tree canopy - so to see it on a hedgerow was a double surprise." The other fungi find was a true exotic, as its original home is on the other side of the world. Clathrus Archeri rejoices in two striking common names: 'Devil's Fingers' and 'Octopus Stinkhorn.' Its vivid colours and tentacle-like shape make it unmistakeable to the eye - while its distinctive rotting odour makes it even more memorable. Like the native common Stinkhorn, this fungus emits a foul scent to attract flies to help spread its spores. Native to Australia and New Zealand, devil's fingers was first recorded in England in Cornwall a century ago. How does a fungus travel round the world? In boxes of military equipment shipped to the south-west from the Antipodes early in the First Word War is one theory. Already recorded once this autumn at DWT Dart Valley nature reserve on Dartmoor, it was seen again by journalist Lucy Purdy at the weekend on a walk from Poundsgate. Lucy described her find: "I spotted this amazing, sea-creature like fungus on Dartmoor, so I read up about it and found the name 'Devil's Fingers'." Also known as 'Octopus Stinkhorn', as the fungus grows it can assume a shape that's even more like a starfish than an octopus. But how prominent was the 'stink' of this stinkhorn? "I can confirm the rotting flesh stench" said Lucy. Mid-December is fairly late in the year for fungi forays but the mild autumn has led to later sightings of some species in 2014. DWT's nature reserves at Vealand Farm and Dart Valley are both open to the public, free of charge, every day of the year.

Clathrus Archeri (Devil's Fingers' and Octopus Stinkhorn.) 

Photo copyright Lucy Purdy (All rights reserved) -  

Hypocreopsis Rhododendri (Hazel Gloves)

Photo copyright Adam Rhodes (All rights reserved)

Charity wants us all to have a 'wild Christmas'

A local charity is offering people ideas for a wild Christmas with a difference. Leading conservation charity Devon Wildlife Trust has developed a series of ideas for 'wild Christmas escapes' and is urging people to spend just a small part of the festive season and get away from the excesses and stresses of this time of year. Devon Wildlife Trust's Steve Hussey explained the idea: 'Despite all the merry making Christmas can bring with it a series of challenges to our health and well-being. And if this seems a bit Scrooge-like then which of us can really say that we haven't had a Christmas past in which we've felt trapped by the combination of too much food, too many relatives and too many repeats on the telly?' Steve added: 'We wanted to offer people a chance to escape some of the stresses of Christmas by re-connecting with local nature. It's important not to forget your wild side and this needn't mean consuming more food and drink or spending hours looking at a screen. Instead it means taking a bit of time to get outdoors with the wonderful wildlife and wild places which are local to you. Exploring your wild side provides a great way of re-charging your Christmas spirit.' Devon Wildlife Trust looks after 49 nature reserves around the county including some of Devon's most beautiful landscapes and most wonderful nature, and the charity believes that a visit to anyone of them this Christmas will be time well-spent. Steve Hussey added: 'Wherever you are you in Devon you can feel the positive impact of wildlife. In Exeter you can experience one of nature's great winter spectacles with a visit to the Old Sludge Beds nature reserve to see the huge starling murmurations as birds congregate in their thousands each evening. In Plymouth you can enjoy a walk through woods at Warleigh Point nature reserve to the edge of the Tamar and the estuary's stunning winter wading birds. In North Devon you take a stroll beside the white water of the River Torridge at Halsdon nature reserve near Great Torrington or if feeling more energetic climb the wildest sections of the Coast Path in to Marsland nature reserve near Hartland.' For those looking for Christmas escape ideas Devon Wildlife Trust has set up a series of 5 'Wild Walks' through its nature reserves. Ranging from 3 to 6 miles the walks are another way to escape the sometimes overwhelming world of Christmas. The walks provide a perfect way for families to get out of the house and burn off a few of the Christmas calories. Details of the Trust's Wild Walks can be found at www.devonwildilfetrust.org And if you can't get out to the great outdoors this Christmas period, then the Trust's message is make sure you get nature to visit you. Your garden's birds will welcome the opportunity for an energy boost provided by some of your Christmas leftovers - a bit of crumbled Christmas cake, some bacon fat, an end of cheese left on the bird table will be much appreciated. Steve continued: 'In return for feeding them garden birds will put on a Christmas show the likes of which you won't get from repeats on the telly. Putting just half an hour aside to watch their comings and goings can re-connect you with the wild world outside your kitchen window. Seeing who arrives, watching their behaviour, their squabbles, the jostling for food, the different table manners and eating techniques - it can be just like what goes on around many human Christmas dinner tables, but without the emotional baggage!' To plan your wild Christmas escape visit the charity's website www.devonwildlifetrust.org 

 'Tree hugger: the Devon Wildlife Trust is giving people ideas to re-connect with nature this Christmas. Photo copyright Tom Marshall (All rights reserved)