Belfairs Wood
Belfairs Wood is part of the Hadleigh Great Wood complex, together with Belfairs Nature Reserve (also known as Hadleigh Great Wood). Earth embankments through the woodland were created as ownership boundaries, and some of them are believed to date from the Anglo-Saxon period. Belfairs Nature Reserve has been managed for a very long time through a coppicing system which has resulted in a very rich mixture of plants, birds, mammals and invertebrates. But the coppicing of Belfairs Wood has been neglected and too many timber tress planted, which has resulted in sparse undergrowth with virtually no young trees and greatly reduced diversity of plants and animals. Thankfully, where coppicing has been re-instated, many plants, birds and butterflies are now returning. Since 1997, Hadleigh Great Wood has been part of a national programme for the recovery of the heath fritillary, a nationally rare butterfly. Surveys are carried out regularly to monitor the butterflies, as well as recording plants and birds.
When we first came to this spot looking for its predecessor, we entered a maelstrom of acorns - it felt as if the squirrels were trying very hard to discourage us from being here - so a hard hat may be required. You are looking for a small tub, large enough for small trackables.
Many thanks to Tony Little of the Department for Place, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council for giving permission for the placing of this cache.