Cleanhill - What to look for

Cleanhill

Bushes and Shrubs

In some of the open areas of the Hill you will find a variety of bushes and shrubs which add to the pleasure of a walk at different times of the year.

In spring, first Gorse and then Broom provide a brilliant display of different shades of yellow. In summer, look for Blaeberries, and in autumn wild Raspberries, both of which can be picked to provide a tasty treat. In some years, the local climate prevents Brambles from ripening but when they do, they are also worth picking. Wild roses provide colourful flowers in summer, followed by red rosehips in autumn.

Flowers

As you walk round Cleanhill you may think there are few flowers to be seen, apart from the brilliant pink Rosebay Willowherb in autumn. However if you examine the woodland floor carefully you will find plenty of interest.

In spring you can see a white carpet of Wood Sorrel in many areas of the wood, and Snowdrops, Bluebells and Wood Anenome are also in flower at that time. In autumn the southern slope of the Hill is home to Devil's-bit Scabious.

Some years ago local schoolchildren planted seeds of a range of wild flowers which bloom in summer, including Ox-eye Daisy, Ragged Robin and Red Campion, at the Old Well, which is now a picnic area. Unfortunately, wild flowers are notoriously difficult to grow from seed and there was little success.

However the management plan includes the creation of a wild flower meadow at one of the clearings near the reservoir, using plants rather than seeds. This meadow, which will be cut only once or twice a year, will provide a new habitat and attract a further range of insects including butterflies and moths and this in turn will attract more birds.

Animals

If you are very quiet – and lucky! – during your walk, you may spot one or more of the animals which live in, or visit, Cleanhill.

These include Foxes and Roe Deer, which have been sighted occasionally, and smaller animals such as Rabbits, Red Squirrel and Woodmice.

Animals you are unlikely to see are moles and badgers – but if you study the edges of paths carefully you will see molehills and badger scratchings!

A good time to look for signs of animals and birds is in winter when there is snow on the ground. You will see many tracks crossing the paths and among the trees.

Our thanks go to Mike Stevens for advice on some of the Cleanhill content.

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