Spinney Woods Nature Notes

By the White Cliffs Countryside Partnership

Thursday 28 November 2024

[Received via email from Dover District Council and shared for your information. Wingham PC]

Winter thrush in the woods

As we head into winter, we start to witness the arrival of many winter thrush from Scandinavia and Eastern Europe, these birds come to enjoy the UK’s milder climate during this time of year and can be distributed across the country in their hundreds and thousands. 

Groups of Fieldfare and Redwing can often be seen gathering in large feeding flocks during the winter months, along with large groups of blackbirds and Song Thrush. You may find these birds regularly congregating in areas of hedgerows, parks, gardens and woodlands, feeding on berries which are some of their most favoured foods. 

The Fieldfare produces a distinct and rapid chattering “Schack, Schack, Schack” sound with a squeakier “gih” call which is given frequently when in flight. The key identification features of a Fieldfare include its notably stocky size, long tail with a grey rump, crown and nape. Also heavily spotted on the throat, underparts and displaying a rusty-yellow colour on its chest. 

Redwings produce a more subtle indrawn “Tseeer” call, mainly when in flight and occasionally when stationary. The Redwing is the smallest out of the two winter thrush, with an appearance similar to a that of a Song Thrush but showing a rusty-red flank under each wing and a distinct pale stripe above the eye and another arching down from the bill to the cheek.  

Spinney can be an ideal location to come and watch these charismatic birds, but remember it’s always best to get out early, bring a pair of binoculars with you and listen out for their distinctive calls. 

Woodland Works 

If you’re visiting the woods this winter, you may notice certain areas where work is being carried out, such as tree felling and dead hedging. 

The trees that you may have seen taken down are nothing to be concerned about, these are trees which have been felled many times before in the past, and this process is called coppicing.   

Coppicing is a traditional woodland management practice that’s been carried out since the stone age. This involves cutting trees down to ground level, which leaves you with something that’s referred to as a “Coppice stool “. As spring returns and the sap starts to rise again, new growth will start to shoot out from the stool, starting another cycle of regeneration.  

There are many reasons why areas of woodland were coppiced in the past, but mainly the practice was carried out as a way of securing a local sustainable timber resource. Uses would range from ensuring a supply of firewood, charcoal making, materials for fencing and uses for tradition crafts such as thatching, hurdle and basket making.  

Coppicing is still carried out today for some of these reasons, however these coppice practices have more recently been adopted for the benefits of nature, adding to the complexity of a woodland structure and creating a variety of habitats which have a multitude of benefits for different species. 

One simple benefit is light. By allowing a greater volume of light to penetrate through the canopy, this presents an opportunity for ground flora to have all year-round growth and creates a diverse environment for far more woodland species. 

Another feature you may notice in the woods are dead hedges, which the name contradicts, as they are full of life! These assemblies can be a real refuge for wildlife, adding to the structural diversity within the woodland, they can also act as corridors for certain species and provide good nesting opportunities for birds and small mammals.  If you would like to get involved with the work at Spinney Woods, please contact the site ranger Jason for more information Jason.moule@dover.gov.uk