Woodland wildlife

Bluebells form stunning carpets of blue in ancient woods, where the soil is deep and moist. Despite growing in large patches, they spread relatively slowly, with seeds taking several years to develop into flowering plants. Native English bluebells are bright blue, have bell-like flowers on one side of the stem and a strong scent. Non-native Spanish bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica) are paler, have flowers on both sides of the stem, and have less scent. The two species can hybridise.

The great spotted woodpecker is the most common woodpecker in Chilterns’ woodlands. It is around 22 cm long, black and white, with a bright red patch under the tail. Males also have a red patch at the back of the head. Listen out for these woodpeckers ‘drumming’ away at tree trunks during spring breeding displays. They probe tree bark for insects to eat and nest in tree holes. Two other species of woodpecker can be found in the Chilterns: the green woodpecker (Picus viridis), which feeds on ants on the ground; and the lesser spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos minor), which is a rare, small, black-and-white bird.

Tawny owls are the largest common owl in the UK, with a wingspan of around 1 m. Their plumage is chestnut-brown, with grey and brown streaks, and they have round faces with black eyes. Tawny owls are mainly nocturnal. Listen out for them calling with a shrill ‘kewick’, or a distinctively owlish ‘twit-twoo’ – which is actually a duet between a male and female, who will bond for life. They nest in tree holes, laying two to four eggs in late March or early April. They feed on small birds and mammals, such as voles and mice, which they locate using their excellent hearing.

Cherry trees blossom in April and the cherries ripen in summer. Look out for piles of cherry stones around the base of cherry trees – leftovers from mice and voles enjoying the delicious fruit. Cherry trees are easy to recognise by their red-brown bark, which peels in horizontal bands. In the Chilterns, the wood of the cherry was once used to make fine furniture: find out more about furniture-making in the Chilterns.

Closely related to the goldcrest (Regulus regulus), the firecrest is a tiny kinglet bird. First recorded as breeding here in the 1960s, it can now be found in many coniferous woods of southern England. In winter, these residents are joined by migrant birds. Firecrests have olive-green backs and white bellies, and black-and-white eye-stripes. Males have an orange crown edged with black, while females have a yellow-and-black crown. Spot them flitting about between the trees in search of insect-prey.

Noctule bats are one of the UK’s largest bats, with a body length of around 8 cm and a wingspan up to 45 cm. On summer evenings, they emerge early from their roosts in tree holes, ready to feed on moths, beetles and other flying insects. They fly fast and high above the ground, hunting using echolocation (the bouncing echoes of their own calls give them information about their surroundings). They mate between August and October, then hibernate over winter. Females move to nursery roosts the following May and give birth to a single pup in July.

Woodland butterflies, such as the speckled wood, thrive in sunny glades and along woodland rides. They can often be seen competing for patches of sunlight where wildflowers and grasses grow, taking advantage of the break in the canopy. Their caterpillars feed on grasses, but the adults feed on honeydew produced by aphids. Many moth species are also found in woodlands, some feeding on trees, such as oaks, when in their caterpillar stages.

Shiny black stag beetles can be found in Chilterns’ woodlands, but they are quite rare. The males use their 5-cm long, antler-like jaws to fight rivals. Males can be up to 7.5 cm long and can be seen flying at dusk as they search for mates. Females have smaller mandibles and are often spotted on the ground, looking for somewhere to lay their eggs. Stag beetles are one of many invertebrate species that feed on soil and rotting vegetation. They are an important part of the food chain, helping to break down dead wood detritus, while, in turn, providing food for badgers and other animals.

Beech trees produce seeds in autumn, held inside small, woody, bristled husks – this is known as mast. In October, the husks split apart and peel back to reveal a pair of three-sided nuts. Seeds are produced in large quantities only every five or six years; during these ‘mast years’, each tree will produce thousands of nuts. Woodpigeons, mice and voles all like to eat the mast, so, a bumper crop increases the chance of germination.

Familiar as the iconic ‘fairy toadstool’, the fly agaric is easily identified with its bright red, white-spotted cap and bright-white stem. It is typically found growing beneath birch trees or pines. Like most fungi, the parts above ground are just the fruiting bodies. These grow from an unseen network of tiny filaments and produce spores for reproduction. Fungi help to decompose rotting wood and recycle its nutrients back into the soil. Many fungi also help trees to feed on nutrients in the soil, their filaments forming a beneficial relationship with the tree’s roots. Do remember that fly agarics and many other fungi are poisonous and should not be picked or eaten.

Jays are colourful members of the crow family: mostly light brown, with a black-and-white tail and a brilliant blue flash on their wings. They help spread oak trees by collecting acorns and burying them in the grass. They retrieve some for food later, but many start to grow. Some jays fly here from Scandinavia in autumn, adding to our native population.

There are six species of deer in the UK, but only two are truly native: roe deer and red deer (Cervus elaphus). The other species were introduced by humans in the past. Roe deer are small, red-brown deer, with distinctive buff-coloured rumps and short antlers. They frequent woodlands in the Chilterns and can be easily spotted in autumn as the trees become bare. Males grow antlers in November, shedding the velvet from them in spring, ready for the summer rutting season. Roe deer eat leaves, grasses and ferns.

There are six species of deer in the UK, but only two are truly native. It is thought that fallow deer were first introduced by the Normans, and have since become naturalised. Look out for medium-sized herds of pretty, white-spotted deer. Fallow deer stand about 95 cm at the shoulder and only the bucks (males) have antlers, which have broad, flattened tips. The bucks and does (females) with young tend to stay apart, except during the rutting season in October. They like to eat the shoots of young trees, which can cause the trees to die.

Holly is increasing in many woodlands in the Chilterns, probably due to the warming climate as holly is sensitive to frosts. This evergreen is easy to recognise with its tough, glossy, spiky leaves. In winter, the familiar red berries appear, providing a feast for birds who help to spread the plant in return. Holly has separate sexes, and berries only occur on female bushes. Holly wood is used to make inlays for fine furniture: find out more about furniture-making in the Chilterns. 

Although robins are generally associated with winter and Christmas, they can be seen in Chilterns’ woods all year-round. They are about 14 cm long and adults sport the famous red breast. They feed on insects, snails and worms, and breed in hollow stumps or crevices, which they defend fiercely. The robin’s slightly mournful song is a distinctive sound of winter.

This attractive yellow-and-green striped finch is a common sight in coniferous and mixed woods, but also visits bird tables and gardens. Males have a bright yellow chest and face, and a black cap, whereas females are a duller grey-green and don’t sport the cap. Females build their nests high up in the trees, using twigs, lichen and feathers, and incubate the eggs alone; however, males will help to feed the chicks when they hatch. Breeding residents are joined by European birds in winter.