What you can hope to see...
The Fox
Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) have successfully adapted to semi-rural and urban environments despite being a creature of the open countryside. This is due to their sharp intelligence, acute hearing and keen sense of smell. Their diet can include household food scraps.
As winter passes the mating season begins - the males ('dog foxes') give short triple barks through the night and the females ('vixens') respond with eerie screams.
Cubs are born around mid-March.
Roe Deer
Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) were widespread in the Middle Ages but gradually disappeared until being re-introduced back into England around 100 years ago. They are not much bigger than a large dog and are considered to be the only really native deer in the UK and are relatively common in woodland areas in the the South-East. They are shy creatures and are most active at dawn and dusk. They have a reddish coat in summer which becomes grey-brown in autumn and through the winter.
Wood mouse
The Wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) is difficult to spot despite being the most abundant mouse of the countryside. Normally active only at night, you may be lucky to spot this small creature during the day whenever food is short and the weather is particularly harsh. They feed on seeds and new shoots as well as a variety of insects and even snails. They live mostly in woodlands, hedgerows and fields. They nurture their young in underground nest chambers where the female may have up to four litters in a single year.
Blackthorn
Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) is a dense and thorny multi-branched shrub.
In spring, the brilliant white flowers adorn the whole plant which help it stand out in the landscape. The delicate flowers grow on the thorny twigs so be careful.
The fruit is the blue-black bitter tasting sloe which can be used to flavour gin.
The black hairstreak butterfly lays its eggs on blackthorn so that the caterpillars can feed on its leaves.
In spring, the brilliant white flowers adorn the whole plant which help it stand out in the landscape. The delicate flowers grow on the thorny twigs so be careful.
The fruit is the blue-black bitter tasting sloe which can be used to flavour gin.
The black hairstreak butterfly lays its eggs on blackthorn so that the caterpillars can feed on its leaves.
