A Vision for the Future

We are now well underway with our public consultation period for our new 5 year heathland restoration programme that is beginning this Winter. Funded by WREN it will be going hand in hand with taking the reserve into Higher Level Stewardship through Natural England. This exciting project aims to gradually develop our long term vision to maintain and restore Breckland habitats, thus improving the reserve for both people and wildlife.

For a more detailed view of the project and the practicalities of how this will be achieved, please follow the link below:

Autumn and Fungi!

Autumn has announced it's arrival this week with a bonanza of fungi on our reserves across the county. Warm weather with spells of rain were perfect to instigate a wealth of species, great timing for our fungi foray at Knettishall Heath on Sunday 6th October.

The morning was kicked off with our Junior Rangers hunting for different species on the reserve along with other signs of Autumn. We then had great fun making autumn decorations and Halloween creatures for the trail on the 31st.

The Junior Rangers Autumn boggarts!

Fungi!

From 2pm Jonathan Revett, an expert in fungi identification, lead a large group of enthusiastic visitors around the site. We covered various habitats including the acid heath, grassland and the yellow woodland trail. It has been the best year for fungi at Knettishall for many years, along with some species that haven't been recorded on the site before! The list below shows the full 68 species found:

Agaricus silvaticus	Blushing Wood Mushroom
Amanita citrina var. citrina	False Deathcap
Amanita muscaria var. muscaria	Fly Agaric (pictured below left)
Amanita rubescens	Blusher
Auricularia auricula-judae	Jelly Ear
Baeospora myosura	Conifer Conecap
Boletus badius	Bay Boletus
Boletus edulis	Cep
Boletus luridiformis	Scarletina Bolete
Chroogomphus rutilus	Pine Spike Cap
Clavulinopsis fusiformis	Golden Spindles
Clitocybe candicans	Funnel Cap
Clitocybe clavipes	Club Foot
Clitocybe nebularis	Clouded Agaric
Clitocybe odora	Aniseed Funnel Cap
Collybia dryophila	Russet Toughshank
Collybia maculata	Spotted Toughshank
Coprinus comatus	Shaggy Inkcap
Cyathus striatus	Fluted Bird's Nest
Cystoderma amianthinum	Saffron Powder Cap
Daedaleopsis confragosa	Blushing Bracket
Entoloma serrulatum	Rose Gill
Ganoderma applanatum	Artists Fungus
Gymnoplius penetrans	Flame Cap
Hebeloma crustulinifome	Poison Pie
Helvella lacunosa	Black Saddle
Hygrocybe psittacina	Parrot Waxcap
Hygrocybe reae	Waxcap
Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca	False Chanterelle
Hypholoma fasciculare	Sulphur Tuft
Hypoxylon fragiforme	Beech Woodwart
Hyrocybe ceracea	Waxcap
Laccaria amethystina	Amethyst Deceiver
Lactarius blennius	Slimy Milkcap
Lactarius quietus	Oakbug Milkcap
Lactarius rufus	Rufous Milkcap
Lactarius turpis	Ugly Milkcap
Leccinum scabrum	Brown Birch Bolete
Leucocoprinus brebissonii	Skullcap Dapperling
Lycoperdon perlatum	Common Puffball
Macrolepiota procera	Parasol Mushroom
Macrolepiota rhacodes	Shaggy Parasol
Meripilus giganteus	Giant Polypore
Mycena galericulata	Angels Bonnets
Mycena pelianthina
Mycena pura	Radish Bonnet
Oudemansiella mucida	Porcelain Mushroom
Paxillus involutus	Brown Rollrim
Phallus impudicus	Stinkhorn
Pholiota aurivella	Golden Scaly Cap
Piptoporus betulinus	Birch Polypore / Razorstrop Fungus
Pleurotus ostreatus	Oyster Mushroom
Pluteus cervinus	Deer Shield
Rhytisma acerinum	Sycamore Tarspot
Russula amoenolens
Russula fragilis
Russula heterophylla
Russula nobils	Beechwood Sickener
Russula ochroleuca	Yellow Brittlegill
Scleroderma citrinum	Common Earthball
Stropharia aeruginascens	Blue Green Slimehead
Stropharia semiglobata	Dung roundhead
Suillus granulatus	Dotted Stalk Bolete
Suillus luteus	Slippery Jack
Taphrinia betularum	Witches Broom
Xerocomus chrysenteron	Red Cracking Boletus
Xerocomus porosporus	Yellow Cracking Boletus
Xerula radicata	Rooting Shank

Fly Agaric

 

 

The photo above shows a Parasol serving as a basket for other species including the Amethyst Deceiver

 



Summer of wildlife!

This summer has been, and still is, in full swing at the heath with wildlife and visitors both enjoying the site, and throughout the summer holidays the pool in the main car park has been attractive in this hot weather!

Visitors can enjoy a paddle and an ice cream a seconds walk from their car, or explore the reserve further on its waymarked trails. Many visitors have been attending the free, lottery funded, summer holiday family activity days, tailored to help children and adults alike explore the wildlife and habitats of the reserve in an organised session. These have included:
River dipping: Species found included great diving beetles, caddis fly larvae and crayfish

 Minibeast discovery and woodland discovery:

Despite all these visitors, the site is plenty large enough to accommodate all, and the wildlife has been buzzing, hopping and singing all over the sites variety of habitats. Joint events have also been organised and run at Knettishall with Butterfly Conservation, Suffolk Naturalists, Suffolk Ornithologists Group and Suffolk Bat Group getting involved in surveying days and night walks, along with the reserves fantastic team of volunteers.

Some of the summers more memorable wildlife experiences:

• The night walk where Suffolk Bat Group and 30 visitors were rewarded with good views of Woodcock, Glow worms and Barbastelle bats!

• Regular visitor sightings have included Kingfisher, Dipper and Yellow Wagtail on the Little Ouse

•  Joint taster day: the public joined the experts to survey the reserves wildlife in one day

- Over 20 species of terrestrial invertebrates
- Over 35 bird species seen or heard
- Over 130 species of flowering plants including many Breckland speciality species
- 6 species of damselfly or dragonfly
- 38 aquatic invertebrate species
- Geo Suffolk excavation of periglacial stripes - see photo below showing chalk soils on the left dipping down into the acid soils

•  Butterfly day with butterfly conservation recorded 20 species of butterfly including white admiral, purple hairstreak and white-letter hairstreak. The conservation charity also confirmed that this year has been a bumper year for white admirals.
  
   

A fantastic summer of wildlife that is still on going, so do come and explore it!

Spring Species Recordings

Spring seems to be finally well underway now Summer has arrived!

Some of the key bird species for May at Knettishall have included:
Curlew (pair of)
Cuckoo (singing)
Turtle Dove (pictured below: http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/turtle-dove)

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (singing and drumming)
Garden Warbler (singing)
Reed Buntings on the Little Ouse (pair of)
Barn Owl (hunting)
Shelduck
Woodcock (almost certainly roding males)
Skylark (singing and breeding)
Tree Creeper

Butterflies:
Small Heath
Meadow Brown
Brimstone
Large and Small Whites
Red Admiral
Peacock
Orange Tip

Reptiles:
Slow Worm
Common Lizard (pictured below emerging from leaves on site)

A fantastic find!

A couple of weeks ago a walker found this rodent on the edge of grassland and woodland habitat near to the Little Ouse at Knettishall. We have identified this as a Water Shrew, Neomys fodiens.
The Water Shrew lives in grass or woodland and scrubby habitat near to, and in, wetland and river sytems, and is our largest shrew.They hunt terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates and live in small burrows near to water. They are identified by the distinctive difference between their dark upperside and white underside, as well as the fringe of stiff hairs on their back feet and underside of the tail to aid with swimming.


Visible fringe of stiff hairs on tail

Unfortunately this individual was dead, it had possibly been preyed upon, but it is indicative of a possible local population of the species. This is a fantastic species for the reserve and one we haven't had a record for in the past.
Along with recent signs of Water Vole and sightings of Otter along the same stretch of the Little Ouse at Knettishall, these species are good indicators of the improving ecosystem of the river system here.

Providing habitat for Breckland species

We are currently undertaking some noticable work on the reserve as part of our management programme to encourage Brecks wildlife. You may have noticed the digger and other vehicles on site who have been contracted in to create disturbed ground and make improvements to some of our car park areas.

Historically Knettishall Heath had a lot more open ground and disturbed areas through past aggregate pits and sandy tracks. Many of these areas have been allowed to vegetate over and become more mature habitats. Therefore after securing some funding we are currently trialing a process to gradually re create bare ground and disturbed areas in small, highly varied parts of the reserve to create a mosaic of micro habitats.

Bare, sandy patches surrounded by Brecks flora of a varied structure are essential for some pioneering plant species that are now in decline, and it is hoped this work will encourage them back. Reptiles, such as this Adder (right, http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/adder), and Breckland invertebrates, will benefit from warmer open patches and the associated diversity of flora.

The process is carried out by a digger skimming off the vegetation and top soil of a small area to expose the sandy soil underneath. Areas that have been chosen for the work include parts of the reserve on the heath that are most likely to support the targeted Breckland species, as well as several old pits where the natural slopes should encourage a variety of wildlife.

In particular a large pit near to Hut Hill was chosen that has a very old and hugely matted pile of barbed wire at the bottom, that was to entangled to move. The material that was scraped off the sides of the pit and nearby slope were then used to bury this hazard. The picture on the left shows this pit before it was re structured and covered up.

 

The pit after it has been filled in and bare gournd habitat cretaed around it

 The rest of the soil and vegetation material that has been scraped off in other areas has been transported to the car parks. Here it will be used to create low banks, or bunds, to define the car park edges, instead of the low wooden rails that are currently prone to accidental damage and vandalism. This should also leave the car parks with a more natural aesthetic appeal and further wildlife habitats.

Depositing the soil on top of the wooden car park fencing to create bunds

Timing: After securing funding we have waited as long as possible over winter until we started the work to prevent damaging the public footpaths too much during the muddy season, but have had to get the work done before ground nesting bird season in order to minimise disturbance to wildlife. Although skimming off the soil can at first appear damaging; this is essential habitat creation that has been carefully planned. It is a very exciting project, and for more information on it and the species it should benefit please don't heistate to contact the ranger.

Winter Wildlife at Knettishall

The wildlife has had it rather tough in the last month or so, with heavy rain and flooding in the New Year followed by freezing temperatures keeping the snow on the ground for up to 2 weeks in many places. Knettishall has been no exception, yet the many walkers this month have seen an array of exciting Winter wildlife to report. Between times of the high flood water levels the Little Ouse has proven it's worth since the river work in September (see blog dated 15th Sep 2012):

Signs of Otters Lutra lutra using the stretch of the river at Knettishall have been reported as walkers have found Otter spraint along the river path. Grey Wagtails Motacilla cinerea have been sighted fairly regularly particularly at times of lower water levels when the new riffles, where the water flows faster over the rocks, have created greater hunting opportunities for them as they look for invertebrates to feed on. Similarly Kingfishers Alcedo atthis have also benefited from the river work and were spotted hunting up the stretch bordered by the blue river trail (pictured right under flood water) at Knettishall before Christmas.

http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/grey-wagtail

Many local walkers have reported regular sightings of a hunting Barn Owl Tyto alba flying low over the meadows in this area, no doubt they are spending more time hunting during the tougher conditions. We hope to encourage this species to breed at Knettishall in the future and any reports are welcome; follow this link to find out more about the Trusts Barn Owl project: 

 http://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/species-and-habitats/species-projects/bringing-back-suffolks-barn-owl/

http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/fieldfare

Other species to look out for at Knettishall Heath over the rest of Winter include mixed flocks of Redwing Turdus iliacus and Fieldfare Turdus pilaris. Both members of the Thrush family they are a delight to watch as they move to various trees such as Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna looking for berries to feed on. They can be spotted moving across most areas of the reserve at the moment.

And lastly I believe one of the most rewarding birds when out on a Winter walk is the Goldcrest Regulus regulus. A delightful bird that frequents Coniferous woodland and scrub it is right at home on the reserve. Winter is a great time to look for it as it becomes easier to spot moving around amongst mixed tit flocks.

http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/goldcrest