I have been unable to go for walks lately, due to family circumstances. I am hoping in September that things will change and I can get back to regular walking, as I do miss getting amongst nature! Today, I had the chance of going to Harridge Woods with my friend Belinda. Last time we went there, the wild garlic was in full flower...
Today, everything was overgrown, green and luscious! Heavy rain yesterday meant that there was mud and plenty of rushing water in the Mells River, making a lovely sound at the bottom of the wooded valley.
Harridge Woods is a nature reserve that is owned and managed by Somerset Wildlife Trust. It has nature trails and is 136 acres in area, made up of different woodlands. It has an interesting history, including mining, forestry and ruins of man-made constructions, glimpses of which can still be seen. One example is Keepers Cottage (see above), which was an old estate worker's dwelling. Through the Wildlife Trust, it has become a managed bat roost of at least seven species throughout the year.
Everywhere there was evidence of the work of the Wildlife Trust to create habitats for wildlife and return the woods to native deciduous woodland. Without this work and the created pathways, it would not be possible to have such fantastic walks, and you would need a machete to hack your way through!
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