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OS 50K Sheet 196, SU 3916.
Introduction
Since February 1983 Southampton City Council has
been working to establish a network of Greenways in the city. Several
have now been set up as ribbons of open space, normally following
stream valleys, within built-up areas. I am going to concentrate on
the one near my home in Rownhams, called the Lord's Wood Greenway,
which follows pail of Tanner's Brook, a stream that rises near North
Baddesley and outputs into the River Test at Millbrook and derives its
name from a 19th century tannery, which once stood near its southern
end. It extends for around 4 Kms and is host to a great variety of
flora and fauna.
Habitat
The main habitat is dry deciduous woodland,
dominated in the main by Pedunculate Oak, although it Is also bordered
by the many conifer plantations of Lordswood and Chilworth. There are
also small pockets of grassland and many areas of scrub present
throughout its length. Water is featured (as previously mentioned) by
Tanner's Brook, which is flanked by many areas of Alder. There are
also a couple of small ponds, these being fed by underground springs
and seepage channels. A large boggy area to the west of the Greenway
hosts 9 species of sedge and rush and adds a further area of interest.
Flora and Fauna
I'll begin with the mammals, of which Red Fox,
Badger and Roe Deer can all be seen with patience, whilst Grey
Squirrels and Water Voles are often encountered. It is said that four
species of bat can be found, of which the Whiskered Bat appears to be
the most interesting. Many of our native reptiles and amphibians can
be seen and I once saw a Red-necked Turtle, sunning itself on a rock!
Sticklebacks can be seen in the stream itself, whilst the usual
woodland insects can be watched in summer. Many species of plant can
be found in the area including (amongst a host of others) Bluebells,
Wood Spurge, Bog Pimpernel and Water Avens; whilst in Autumn it offers
you a great opportunity to try out your fungi identification skills,
with the Fly Agaric being one of my favourites. Finally, as this is
supposed to be about the birdlife, I'll just run through some of the
species likely to be seen, where my own personal list approaches five
score. All 3 species of woodpecker are present, although Green and
Great Spotted are easiest to locate. Jays are particularly plentiful
during the later months of the year, whilst the winter thrushes,
Redwing and Fieldfare are often encountered. Most of the common
finches can be seen, although sadly, the Bullfinch has declined around
here in recent years. Siskins and Redpolls can often be found in
Autumn feeding in the Alders that flank the stream. Nuthatch,
Treecreeper, Coal Tit and Goldcrest are all common, whilst Sparrowhawk
is the predominant raptor and puts the fear of God into many a small
passerine. Spring is the best time to visit when the woods reverberate
with a cacophony of song, pride of place however must go to the Wood
Warbler with its trilling descant. Nightjars formerly bred but no
longer do so unfortunately. Pied Wagtails are a common sight, although
its rarer cousin the Grey Wagtail is often also seen on the faster
flowing reaches and once, not long ago, a Dipper took up residence for
a few days] In short then, a host of woodland birds, a fine supporting
cast to interest one when things are quiet and the added thrill of
maybe an unusual occurrence once in a while.
Access
This is the difficult bit as there are no official
car parks anywhere. My advice Is to park in some of the quieter
residential areas, such as those off Sandpiper Road or in Rownhams
itself and walk in from there. The Greenway is clearly signposted so
you shouldn't get lost. Many parts of the trail are metalled giving
access to the disabled, although not all of it is, in dry weather
however you should be able to get a fair way round even with a
wheelchair. Southampton City Council produce a free leaflet on this
and all the other Greenways, obtainable through most information
outlets (e.g. Libraries) or by post from the Civic Centre,
Southampton, S09 4WY.
Alan Snook |
