Lexden Springs and Gathering Grounds Cache 4 Traditional Cache
Lexden Springs and Gathering Grounds Cache 4
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To get here from Cache 2 just carefully cross the road and walk up to cook lane the entrance is at the end of the lane barely a 5 min walk from cache 2 to 3 or u can go back to car n drive round to cook lane and park in cook lane This was formerly a 'gathering ground' for water from constantly flowing springs and used as a water source from the turn of the century until the mid-1970s. It is owned by Anglian Water, who operate the covered reservoir and treatment works nearby, and managed by Essex Wildlife Trust. In the 1960s parts of the site were planted with scots pine and with beech and oak. Between the woodlands lies a valley with semi-natural woodland of birch and ash on the steep slopes and a partially wooded marsh at the bottom, with a meadow beyond it. The valley has bluebell and climbing corydalis, an uncommon plant typical of old woodland on sandy soils. The marsh has moschatel and old hazel and alder coppice. The meadow grassland is acidic with sheep's sorrel dominant over large areas. Great spotted woodpeckers, sparrowhawks and many other woodland birds are present. Fox and badger forage on the site. In the meadow in summer you will see the commoner brown butterflies and small copper, whose caterpillars feed on sheep's sorrel. The plantation is being thinned to improve the mix of trees and the ground flora. Rides have been widened and are kept open to help butterflies and other invertebrates. Water levels have been raised in the marsh and a pond has been dug, fed by the original springs. Shading is kept down by clearing surrounding trees and scrub. once you have found this one go to the right n follow footpath round
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Znva tngr zntargvp