Spectacular Spring: how to spot nature at Cirencester’s Amphitheatre

May 26, 2022

posted by joannatubbs

By Melanie Dodd

Spring time is a real treat for the eyes, ears and nose… Keep a look out for some of these beauties as your walk around the Amphitheatre, Querns Wood and Four Acre Field. You may be surprised by what you can find if you stop, look and listen closely…

Peacock butterfly

They seem to love the woodland edge in Four Acre Field, flying up and down and sunning themselves on the grass. Watch out for their black caterpillars on nettles later on.

If you’re extra lucky, you might also get to spot one of these too…

Comma butterfly

The cut-out edging to their wings is quite easy to see in the photo. These are not that common anymore, but they can be seen on a sunny day at the woodland edge with the other butterflies.

7- spot ladybird

Hiding in a nettle leaf on the edge of the woodland in the amphitheatre. These beetles are brilliant at controlling garden pests such as aphids.

Woodlouse

In Querns Wood itself, you might find one of these in amongst the leaf litter. They eat rotting plants and fungi. They basically deal with all the dead leaves and other vegetation. Apparently, they only poo and don’t wee; and in this area they can sometimes be called “Grandads” or “Chucky Pigs”!!!

Robin

Watch out for the classic flash of red/orange and the loud song of the robin as you wander round Querns Wood. Robins will aggressively defend their territory, singing and fending off other birds.

If you would like to encourage them into your garden, open-fronted nest boxes hidden away in a climbing plant such as ivy, are best. And they love worms!

Grey squirrels

They are often easy to hear and see in Querns Wood, but they are very quick to scamper up a tree and disappear. I was very lucky to get this photograph of this one recently! They are originally from North America and have out-competed our native species, the red squirrel. This is because greys eat a wider range of food and carry a disease that doesn’t affect them, but kills the reds.

Remember: to protect wildlife and look after our green spaces, please put your litter in a bin or take it home with you. Thank you!

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