Saturday, March 09, 2013

Aldouran Glen–9th March 2013

A cold, wet and windy day, so when there was a small window in the weather, we took the chance and opted for a local walk.
1-Mossy-ropes
Aldouran Glen, its name means Glen of the Otter, is the only Woodland Trust Walk in our area and although quite small it is a magical place and links to the Aldouran Wetland Garden
2-post-number-3
3-moss-and-post
There is a thick rope handrail down this steep path…
4-moss
…it is now covered in lush green moss…
5-mossy-hand-rail
…making it quite a feature!
6-snowdrops
Plenty of snowdrops
7-daffodil
A single Wild Daffodil
8-trees
Old trees cling to the steep banks of the glen
9-waterfall
Waterfall
10-waterfall

11-grey-wagtail
A Grey Wagtail to brighten up the gloom!
12-tree-garden
A tree garden growing on a broken branch
13-footpath
Walking through the glen
14-bridge
Bridge over the burn which leads to the Iron Age hill fort of Kemps Grave
15-bridge

16-ramsons
Lush new leaves of the Wild Garlic everywhere
17-red-squirrel
We caught a glimpse of 3 Red Squirrels
18-snowdrops
Tall Snowdrops
19-snowdrops
A Snowdrop carpet
20-snowdrops
Snowdrops and nestbox, lots of both of these!
21-woodland-trust-sign
We leave the wood to enter the Wetland Garden
22-boardwalk
Boardwalk
23-hide
Bird & Squirrel hide
24-wetland
Looking towards Leswalt
25-interpretation-board
Board
26-squirrel-assualt-course
Squirrel assault course and feeders
27-frogspawn
We heard frogs croaking and there was plenty of frogspawn, our first sighting this year!
28-pond-and-hide
Hide and wetland
29-wetland
Wetland
30-mallard-and-reeds
Mallard and reeds…
31-mallard
…and another one!
32-primroses
Primroses
33-frogspawn
Masses of frogspawn
34-rock-habitat
Rock habitat, a great idea for reptiles and amphibians, also small mammals and invertebrates
35-bug-hotel
There are also two bug hotels
36-Aldouren-glen-board
Aldouran Garden board
37-wild-daffodils
Daffodils
38-pink-flowers

39-daffodils

40-crocus
Crocus
41-daffodils

42-songthrush
Heading back through the woodland we saw a Songthrush, difficult to get a decent photo as now raining and pretty gloomy!
43-wagtail
Another glimpse of a Grey Wagtail, possibly the same one we saw earlier.
More information about Aldouran Glen can be found on the Woodland Trust website
More information on the Aldouran Wetland Garden can be found at http://www.leswaltwetlandgarden.org.uk/

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