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The Grayling in the UTB area continues to be widely reported from heathland and
forestry plantations across the southern part of Berkshire, in all cases on well drained
sandy or gravelly soils. Reports from most sites were of low numbers - often only ones or
twos but the species seems to be fairly stable both in distribution and abundance.
Some Sites
It is fairly widespread and abundant in the extensive areas between Ascot, Bracknell
and Sandhurst. There are former and potential sites nearby (such as Gorrick wood,
Finchampstead Ridges and California CP) that have not reported any recent records.
Mid Berks has current sites near to Aldermaston and Padworth (Paices, Decoy Heath)
and in West Berkshire most records come from the Greenham/Baynes-Bowdown sites, but
there are other potential sites that merit further targeted survey effort where access
is available - conifer woods near to Mortimer, or restored heathland at Bucklebury,
Snelsmore and Inkpen commons.
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Sites vary greatly in the amount of the fine grasses that the species requires for
caterpillar food - some seemingly good heathlands have very little foodplant. Where
the grasses are plentiful and there are sunny open conditions the species does thrive -
including along wide sunny forest rides and clearings (such as in parts of Swinley Forest).
The mobility of the species is important as patches of good habitat can change in
character (becoming shaded or overgrown) as trees mature. This has happened at the
South end of Caesars Camp in Bracknell where a sunny heathland verge has become more
enclosed and shaded. The upside is that improved forestry policies by some landowners
is resulting in wide heathy rides being maintained to link permanent areas of open
heathland such as between Caesars Camp and Wickham Bushes.
Right: Grayling egg (centre of picture) on some dead bracken
at Caesars Camp, Bracknell, close to but not on, the fine grasses
that the caterpillar eats (click photo for larger image).
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Photo © Des Sussex
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Habitat Management
The main habitat management that is routinely undertaken (that benefits the Grayling) is
scrub management, grazing (cattle, goats etc), mowing (e.g. forest track verges and
firebreaks) and physical ground disturbance which can provide the bare or sparsely
vegetated sandy areas so favoured by the adults. Heathland fires can keep areas clear of
scrub (for a few years) but in Berkshire most fires are accidents or the result of arson and
are usually very damaging to much wildlife as they tend to occur in the Spring or Summer.
The open habitats at Swinley Brick Pits (restricted access) have plenty of sparse heathy
vegetation and bare sandy banks. This site supports good numbers of Grayling - it links
with an extensive area of forestry and also golf courses which have heathland habitat patches
of value to the species.
A Lost Population?
Other habitat opportunities that the Grayling has exploited in Berkshire are the gravel
workings in the Blackwater Valley between Sandhurst and Eversley. This area had a number of
records in the 1990's but no recent ones, possibly due to changes as the habitats matured
post restoration - perhaps this was just a temporary opportunistic population. However areas
of gravel extraction are ongoing and worth surveying where access is permitted.
Des Sussex
December 2010
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