Page 6 - August 2016 WN complete final version

Wwailldk onstihde e

Three BBOWT supporters share their favourite Day dreaming atop Chinnor Hill. (Sue Croxford)
nature reserves for a wildlife-themed walk

On top of the world

The Ridgeway is an ancient of their amazing seasonal autumn berries and the site Saffrondrop bonnets. (Sue Croxford)
trackway that runs, in part, treasures. is full of the whirrs and chirps
along the spine of the Chilterns, of crickets and grasshoppers. fantastic fungi, including
linking some of our region’s Fabulous fungi of all Spiky juniper bushes cling to majestic magpie inkcaps and,
most magical nature reserves. shapes, sizes and colours pop the slopes and a careful look my favourite, the out-of-this-
Perched high up in the hills, from up in the woods on Chinnor through the prickly needles world collared earthstar.
Oakley Hill and Chinnor Hill Hill. Delicate saffrondrop may reveal some rare juniper
in Oxfordshire, then on to bonnet mushrooms grow out shieldbugs. Stroll along this stretch of
Grangelands and The Rifle of fallen beech masts and huge the Ridgeway, pop into one of
Range, Bacombe Hill and dinner plate-sized funnelcap Grangelands and The these wonderful reserves and
Dancersend in Bucks, you mushrooms troop between Rifle Range lies a few miles you’re sure to leave feeling on
can gaze out over simply the trees. Violet helleborines further along the Ridgeway. top of the world.
breathtaking views and enjoy can be found flowering in the After a rain shower you’ll
the sight of majestic red kites dense shade and the twinkling find huge Roman snails, with Sue Croxford, nature
as they soar effortlessly over purple stars of Chiltern gentian their golf ball-sized shells enthusiast and blogger. Visit:
the hillside. Autumn is the put on a dazzling display and chalky bodies. When the bugmadgirl.blogspot.co.uk
perfect time to explore these out on the peaceful chalk sun’s shining, look out for
reserves and discover some grassland. Butterflies feast on the smoky wings of chalkhill
the profusion of flowers and blue butterflies and pretty
little silver-spotted skippers
Get out there! enjoying this flower-rich
herb garden. Listen out for
n Make a day of it on one of our Wild Walks. Each walk incorporates the laughing yaffle of green
at least one nature reserve as well as the surrounding countryside. woodpeckers and, if you’re
Visit: bbowt.org.uk/nature-reserves/wild-walks very lucky, the gurgling croak
of a raven. The woods and
n Seeking further inspiration? Then check out some of the best reserves for grassland are full of more
a summer stroll or autumn amble at: bbowt.org.uk/nature-reserves/
seasonal-spectacles

6 Wildlife news