Information Board at Prestwood Local Nature Reserve

Image: © David Hillas Taken: 16 Jul 2020

This information board is located at the Prestwood picnic site in Hampden Road, HP16 0JA. It has the following wording: Welcome to Prestwood Local Nature Reserve Left Column Prestwood Picnic Site is set in a small nature reserve (4.5 acres in total) but its combination of chalk grassland and scrub areas make it abundant in wildlife with an incredible diversity of wild flowers. In recognition of this and its value to the local community for recreation and study, the site was officially designated a Local Nature Reserve in 1993. It is managed by the Chiltern Society, a local conservation charity, and cared for by local volunteers. Image of Cowslips (April) It is hard to believe that this peaceful nature reserve was used as a car dump in the 1970s! Thanks to the efforts of volunteers, it is now a great place to see wild flowers and butterflies in the summer months. We hope you enjoy your visit. The reserve is maintained and monitored by volunteers from the Chiltern Society, Prestwood Nature, Butterfly Conservation and local residents. Top Images a) Introduction to a new world b) of rich grassland and shrubs c) wildflowers d) and butterflies e) enclosed by trees The middle of the board shows a plan of the picnic site showing chalk grassland and scrub with the following wording: a) Chalk grassland Once a common part of the Chilterns landscape, flower rich chalk grassland is now restricted to small areas of land like this, which are unsuitable for modern agricultural methods. Low nutrient levels and the dry conditions of the chalk geology make ideal conditions for many wild flowers. b) Scrubland The term scrub describes the growth or regrowth of shrubs and trees. These include dogwood, hawthorn, hazel, privet, spindle and uncommon types of rose which seed into the grass and germinate. Left alone, the scrub would grow into full sized trees and would take over the grassland. However scrub is important for many insects: caterpillars of green hairstreak feed on dogwood and brimstones on buckthorn. A programme of scrub cutting by volunteers, combined with regular sheep grazing, ensures that we can maintain a balance of long and short grassland, scrub and taller trees-an ideal combination to ensure a diversity of wildlife and flora. c) Reserve boundaries The taller vegetation enclosing the reserve include trees such as maple, cherry, beech, walnut and even the rare wild pear. It provides nesting sites for birds and cover for mammals such as wood mice, voles and muntjac. Middle right Lifecycle of a Marbled White Butterfly i) Eggs dropped into tall grass (July-August) ii) Caterpillar hatches in Autumn and hibernates before emerging in Spring iii) Chrysalis (June-July) iv) Adult Butterfly (June-August) Lower Images what to look out for... flowers, birds, insects and butterflies a) Bee Orchid (June) b) Eyebright (June-August) c) Blackcap d) Sweetbriar (May) e) Chiltern Gentian (August) f) Green Hairstreak g) Long-winged Conehead Cricket h) Common Spotted Orchid i) Jay j) Grizzled Skipper k) Large Chrysalis Snail

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