Bentley Priory Nature Trail
Post 6: The metal fence on the right encloses a private deer park with fallow deer. The deer are descendants of the herd introduced by the Marquis of Abercorn. They love to be fed carrots, apples and other vegetables - but please do not give them bread, which will make them ill.

On the left of the path a wooden fence encloses an area of mature hornbeam wood. Hornbeam produces a mass of winged seeds that form a carpet on the ground in autumn and are a welcome food source for migrating and overwintering finches, especially chaffinch and brambling. We have built the fence to keep out the cows and also to discourage dogs from running at the birds and scaring them. Visitors and dogs are not prevented from entering the area - a squeeze stile a little further up allows access.

The deer park is a favourite spot for the flock of up to fifty jackdaws that nest in the reserve. The “Jack” call of these small crows seems somehow friendlier than the harsh “Caw” of the carrion crow.

As you walk up the path, look out look along the left hand side of the path for sanicle Sanicula europaea, a member of the carrot family with palmate leaves rather like those of a sycamore tree. The white flowers (see illustration below) appear from May through August. The presence of sanicle is another sign that this is ancient woodland.


Image: Sanicle by Barry Cornelius. Creative Commons licence.

To description for post 7

Click here to learn more about the Harrow Nature Conservation Forum including guided walks and conservation workdays.