Botany, Bees and Butterflies

Since the early days of the Fingle restoration project the ever-changing plant life has been recorded; monitoring progress towards the conservation goal of bringing life back to the woods. The variety and abundance of plants around the site are used as an indicator of the health of the habitats and, as the conservation management progresses, the vegetation responds. When the conifers are thinned out, more light creeps in and more ancient woodland plants make a return. At least, that’s the theory and, in the search for proof, a more scientific approach is used. Over the last five years of restoration work at Fingle Woods, a series of professional ecological surveys have recorded plant life along the Teign valley. In their recent ‘Review of Reports’ Devon Wildlife Consultants have looked back at the initial Conservation Plan alongside the subsequent annual botanical surveys and compiled an overview of the changing plant life and what this means to Fingle’s wild places.Use this link to see the named areas of woodland at FingleHore WoodIf you were to take a walk through the whole site, starting at Fingle Bridge in the west, you would see a mix of woodland habitats, each with their own interesting features. Some are already homes and havens for many species while others are habitats in waiting. As you enter the woods, a tumbling stream emerges from the woods above. Here are fragments of ancient oakwood, much changed through human activity over the centuries but considered a priority as Upland Oakwood.Higher up the slope there are larger areas of this oakwood, multi-stemmed trees of a similar age stand as a reminder of the bygone charcoal industry over a carpet of bilberry. This is the habitat frequented by many woodland birds from the migrant warblers and flycatchers to the resident woodpeckers and nuthatches. Further up the hill you might find a small fenced area. These deer ‘exclosures’ are strategically placed around the wood to demonstrate what would happen to the regeneration of plants if the herds of deer had no access. In the last two years, the vegetation surveys have reported, “an increase in species diversity within the exclosure” and, “continuing evidence of deer browsing outside the exclosure” indicating the pressure applied by many large herbivores roaming the valley.

It’s difficult to get a general picture of the vegetation across the whole of Fingle Woods, particularly when there is so much activity and transitional habitat, but it does look promising. There are some clear successes and other areas where we will continue to wait for the positive signs of restoration.The ecologist’s report makes a number of recommendations for further management work that will favour certain species and areas where more targeted monitoring could reveal some further botanical interest followed by the birds, bees and butterflies that will find a home in Fingle.by Matt ParkinsThe Woodland Trust and National Trust have now owned and managed Fingle Woods for nearly 5 years. June's Fingle Lecture (on Thursday 6th of June) will focus on what restoration work we've undertaken in this time. The walk and talk will be led by Dave Rickwood (Fingle Project Manager). Whilst walking through the woods, Dave will describe our approach to Ancient Woodland Restoration, pointing out some of the key changes that have occurred and explaining what they have meant for Fingle's wildlife. He will focus in particular, on areas of open ground (a very rare habitat prior to our acquisition) and what ground flora have begun to re-establish. If you would like to join us for the walk meet us outside the Fingle Bridge Inn (EX6 6PW) at 7pm on Thursday 6th of June.