Thanks for your interest in our Nature Hunt. Unfortunately this is a mobile only experience so please use your phone
Thanks for your interest in our Nature Hunt. Unfortunately this is a mobile only experience so please find us on your mobile device
This bit is for the adult explorers!
This a self guided trail so we’ll need your help to keep our adventurers on track and engaged!
Not everything that we point you to be will found today or easy to spot but encourage your young ones to take time to look around them and listen carefully!
They're going to need all of their senses and exploring should be 95% of the fun!
Tips for Explorers
Be careful! You'll be walking alongside rivers, near trees and through wet grasslands in places so watch your step
Always have the right equipment. If its wet, wear wellies. If its hot, bring water. If too much of either of things, maybe come another day!
Leave nothing but footprints! We hope you see and hear lots of wildlife today but leave nothing behind that could harm them once you're gone
Welcome to Field Centre!
The Rowhill Nature Reserve Society, a charity formed in 1968, conserve and protect the site and open the centre most Sundays 2-4.30pm!
We'll be following the Trail markers today so look for the first one!
Hey there, I am Connie the Coot!
I’m the mascot of the Blackwater Valley Countryside Trust and your guide for the day!
As we go round, I'll point out some of my friends around the site!
When you are ready, follow the markers up the hill
There is a mini ecosystem up here, with the sandy soil providing a perfect home for particular trees and plants
I'll introduce you as you walk!
You'll see Gorse and Heather on the slopes as you walk.
The yellow flowers are the Gorse bushes and the purple ones will be on the Heather
The open areas here attract lots of insects. Can you spot any whizzing about?
Pine trees love the sandy soil too. You'll see their distinctive needles that keep the trees "Evergreen"
Can you find any pine cones laying around?
And Squirrels love the Pine trees!
Keep your eyes peeled, Squirrels run up and down the trunks and across the tree branches so there might be one following you!
Now, can you find a Pine Cone that has been nibbled?
You'll have to look really carefully to spot the UK's smallest bird, the Goldcrest!
They have a yellow stripe on the head and you might see them picking insects from between the pine needles
Can you hear one instead?
Keep following the path down the hill
Can you spot this odd box fixed to the tree high above you?
Who do you think might live there?
Those boxes provide a home for Bats!
There are two species of Bat here: Long-Eared and Soprano Pipistrelles. Say it with me, PIP - E - STRELLS
You're unlikely to see them during the day but you'll have to join us on a Bat walk! Swipe on to see videos we've recorded!
Those boxes provide a home for Bats!
There are two species of Bat here: Long-Eared and Soprano Pipistrelles. Say it with me, PIP - E - STRELLS
You're unlikely to see them during the day but you'll have to join us on a Bat walk! Swipe on to see videos we've recorded!
While we have your attention, we have to thank those helped to make our Hunt today
The Drone footage at the start of our trail was filmed and produced by Rob Follett Creative
Much of the photography was taken by Colin Varndell
Wildlife expertise was provided by Steve Bailey and Bernard Baverstock
Now, keep going, turn left and make your way into the main section of Rowhill
Can you find the exposed tree roots on the right of the path as you walk?
The trees are clinging on tp the hill side, creating these shelters for small mammals
Now, look for a sign telling you about "the source of the River Blackwater"
Water seeping from the sandy hill behind you creates this wet patch, which becomes the River Blackwater then runs all the way to the River Loddon, 22 miles away in Swallowfield!
Continue on down the hill, past the small pond on your right until you reach a fenced area
Parts of Rowhill are cut (coppiced) on a rotation to create a open areas that are good for woodland plants and insects
As you walk through Rowhill, you'll see lots of trees that look like this!
The wood that is cut from Rowhill is sold and the money put towards maintaining and improving the reserve.
Look at many of the trees and you'll see that they are similar in height and width. This makes the cut wood good for garden stakes!
But not all trees at Rowhill are cut like this. Can you spot the three different species of tree as you swipe on?
This is a Hazel tree and its dense stems are ideal for Coppicing!
In the Spring you'll be able to see their fluffy "lambs tail" flowers, or Catkins and in the autumn they produce nuts that the birds and us humans eat!
Chesnut trees are the other type that get cut for wood
Look for their tooth edged leaves and thin flowers. These trees also produce nuts, but be careful, some types aren't good for humans!
The grand Oaks though, we leave those alone!
They can live for a thousand years and support more wildlife than any other tree in the UK
They produce Acorns, which the Squirrels "Squirrel away"
Walk on a bit further and stop when you see this tree stump on the right
You've probably already heard lots of birds as you've walked, the trees in Rowhill provide both a home and source of food
Let me help you work out who is here! Swipe on and listen carefully!
The bird sat on a fence post or at the top of the trees is a Magpie
You'll spot the white belly first, but then look for blue wings and long tail
They are one of the UKs most easy to spot birds!
This bird might be hard to spot because it is so tiny! But Wrens are VERY loud!
They are round in shape and like to hide so listen to their song and follow your ears!
This a Woodpecker. Their strong bills allow them to peck holes in trees that they then nest in!
You might know their distinctive drumming noise already but listen below and then turn your ears upwards!
Nuthatches are unlike most birds, they can climb down trees head first! Feels a bit risky if you ask me!
They also crack open nuts by jamming them into crevices in trees and then using their beaks to hammer at them!
These Songthrush are tuneful birds, listen to their various songs below
But they are also resourceful and a bit mean... They like to eat snails and will break open the shells using a rock!
Now turn your attention back to the tree stump. This is left here for the caterpillars of Stag Beetles and other insects as they live in the rotting wood
In the early Summer evenings, you will see the adult Beetles flying about
Just after the Stumpery, turn right. You should be stood looking at "Rhododendron avenue"
What can you see growing underneath the plants?
That's right, nothing! The Rhododendron is so thick is blocks the light for other plants to grow
Keep following the path through the Rhodedendron bushes, keeping left at each fork.
When the woodland opens out again, stop and look at the ground. What can you see?
In the autumn, many of the trees drop their leaves, covering the ground. The leaves rot away and provide a food source for millions of insects and bacteria that help to keep the woods healthy!
It also provides the conditions for pretty Bluebells to grow!
Explorers, are you enjoying yourselves?
What have you spotted today?
Rowhill changes with the seasons so why not come back another time and see how different it looks?
Keep walking, crossing over the River Blackwater (its just a trickle here) and up to the edge of the Meadow.
If you'd prefer to do a short route, head across the path into the meadow and click the button below
If you want to explore where Badgers live and hunt for a wet woodland, turn right and look for the next marker!
You'll come back to the meadow later!
You may have noticed these odd looking fences as you've walked...
They are "Dead hedges"
They are created from various dead bits of tree that are left behind from our maintenance work
It provides an excellent habitat for the insects and birds we've met so far
Can you see the houses beyond the meadow from here?
Rowhill Nature Reserve sits between housing, roads and industrial buildings, providing a constant backdrop of noise.
But open spaces like these continue to provide a safe haven for our wildlife so its important that people like you protect them for years to come!
As you reach the bottom of the hill, you'll see an old pond with trees growing from them
To become a wood is the dream for all ponds!
This is another example of an eco system so I'll introduce you to its inhabitants
Willow trees also have fluffy flowers, or Catkins, in Spring. Can you see the long, thin leaves?
A number of insects feed on the leaves and you might see birds nests if you look towards the tree tops!
The Alder tree has rounder leaves than the Willow and are most happy when in water
This makes them a good home for various Mosses and Lichen
They are also different to the Willow because they produce cones in the Autumn...
And the seeds in the Alder cones are eaten by Siskins!
You'll see flashes of yellow as they move around this area so look carefully through the trees!
Follow the path until you see a clearing on the left. Can you see the holes in the ground? How many can you count?
This is a Badger home, or Sett, a network of underground tunnels and burrows
Badgers only come out at night so this is all you are likely to spot today!
Can you see any dead Bracken or grass outside the Sett?
The Badgers are using this for their beds! Well, why wouldn't they want a comfy mattress and duvet too!
Badgers live in family groups and will eat most things! They love Earthworms and Slugs that live amongst the leaves on the woodland floor
When you're done searching, follow the path and at the next fork, turn left up the hill
Keep your eyes peeled here, you'll see lots of different colourful plants here through the seasons
Standing in the meadow, you'll see a cut section and a "wild" section, which in the Summer the will be full of colourful wild flowers.
If you are visiting between June & September, swipe on and I'll introduce to some of the Insects you might see
Outside of this, click below to move on
There are over 20 thousand species of Bee in the world!! Bees are one of our most important insects as they pollinate the plants we eat and many of the wildflowers you'll see here
Planting just a small strip of wildflowers in your garden will help many Bees to survive who then help us thrive!
Can you see any whizzing about?
Peacock butterflies have a very jazzy pattern, which helps to confuse any predators, or those that want to eat them...
When they're threatened they "hiss" by rubbing their wings together!
These are Marbled White butterflies but look carefully because they only have a 5cm wingspan!
You'll find them interested in the purple plants dotted across the Meadow, such as the Knapweed and Tufted Vetch
Can you spot these Meadow Brown butterflies?
They also love the purple flowers and will be out in abundance during the Summer months!
You'll might see the Gatekeeper butterfly feeding on the bramble and other hedgerow wildflowers
Can you tell the difference between a Gatekeeper and a Meadow Brown?
You'll spot flashes of the Red Admiral before you get a chance to look closely!
The Brambles also attract these colourful insects so keep your eyes peeled
The hedges and trees around this area also provide a home and food for lots more animals. Make your way to the hedge line and I'll introduce you!
There is probably a Robin watching you...
It is really easy to spot their red breasts and one will probably be following you about to see if you turf up any worms with your feet!
Listen to their song and see if you can hear them too!
This chunky guy is a Blue Tit
They fly around your garden and local park too and can be spotted by their blue heads and yellow bellies!
In Winter, you'll see them in mixed flocks as they hunt for food with other birds!
This is a ChiffChaff
If there is one about, you'll hear them calling their own name!
Listen below and then turn your ears to the Meadow!
You'll have to be very quiet to see the Dunnock in the hedge row
These shy birds are often seen on their own, shuffling along nervously and flicking their wings
Their call sounds a bit like your teacher writing on the whiteboard with a squeaky pen!
Now look up over the open grass and you might see a Red Kite!
They are known for their distinctive "Kite" shaped tails and red brown bodies and are common across this type of landscape!
If you made the effort to come early, you might have heard the "Dawn Chorus", with all the birds singing together. If not, recreate it by pressing all the play buttons!
Magpie
SongThrush
Blue Tit
Robin
Kite
Woodpecker
Chiffchaff
Goldcrest
Dunnock
Wren
Explorers, its time for us to end our hunt
Make your way back to the car park, following the main path, keeping your eyes peeled and your ears open! You never know what you'll see and hear so be alert!
We hope you've enjoyed yourselves today!
Adults, there are a couple more things just for you before you go!
Nature Hunt is a new initiative to get young people out into our natural spaces and build their curiosity about the wildlife they can find
We want our hunts to be engaging for our Explorers but also easy for you to lead so if you have feedback on the hunt, here at Hawley Meadows or any other site, please let us know by emailing dan.lemarquand@bvct.org.uk
And last thing! If your young explorer enjoyed our Nature Hunt, please consider becoming a member of the Blackwater Valley Countryside Trust for just £5 a year!
We're a charitable organisation who protect & enhance the valley and your membership fees help us to continue to this
It also means we’ll put together more of these Nature Hunts in future to entertain your little ones!