East Penrest Woodland Survey
9th April 2005

Moss fruiting bodies
by Alison Jewell

Vertical surfaces created by paths were made in the East Penrest Wood, are a great source of ferns and lichens. These mosses were showing dramatic fruiting bodies.

The edges of the wood, where there are a larger number of shrubs growing, provide a greater biodiversity than the wood itself.  We saw fox droppings and also heard many birds including nuthatches and great tits.  Towards the hedge boundaries within the wood we began to see the lessening of the effects of cattle grazing.  Primroses, bluebell leaves and ivy began to appear on the ground, giving an indication of what we were likely to see in the 2^nd wood.