Up yer
Hertzog
Park at N52°18.820 W000°15.838
Do Not leave valubles on view in the car as thieves have been
in this area!!
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guidelines!
The cache is a regular ammo box
located just outside Brampton Wood beside a bridleway, regular
shooting parties are held at the farm behind the wood so don't be
tempted to run across the fields in a fur coat and antler hat as
you may end up as a trophy!
Look out for the display of Bluebells early
spring, at time of re-positioning the cache a sea of green shoots
was springing up near the cache site which should result in a huge
blue carpet very soon.
Remember each stone or log moved is a whole
universe to the creatures living on and under so make sure they go
back where they came from, bushwhacking is not needed to find the
cache.
If you walk quietly you stand a chance off
seeing a wide variety of wildlife in this wood, see the information
boards in the barn on the way in to learn more, on previous visits
we have seen foxes, muntjac and fallow deer, grass snake, great
crested newts, squirrels, rabbits, and signs of badgers.
Brampton Wood is the
second largest wood in Cambridgeshire. Its 327 acres of ancient,
semi-natural woodland was purchased by The Wildlife Trust in 1995
with help from National Heritage Memorial Fund, English Nature,
Huntingdonshire District Council and local people. Its history
dates back to the Doomsday Book, and it is thought parts of the
wood could have been remnants of the 'wild wood'.
The wood was
designated a SSSI in 1992, partly due to its sheer size, as well as
its wealth of species. Oak, ash and maple trees predominate with a
significant amount of hazel in the understorey, some more unusual
trees can be found growing wild, including the native wayfaring
tree. Sixty-two acres of the wood is composed of stands of
conifers, providing a habitat for a totally different set of
species. As well as trees, there are several ponds throughout the
wood, some supporting populations of great crested newts
(Triturus cristatus). A specie that has suffered a
considerable decline nationally in recent years is the dormouse
(Muscardinus avellanarius). This has been re-established
into Brampton Wood as part of English Natures Species Recovery
Programme, and is now being carefully monitored annually by English
Nature and The Wildlife Trust. The wood is also very special as it
supports one of the few populations of black hairstreak butterfly
(Strymonidia pruni), which is in danger of becoming extinct
in Britain. In order to preserve these populations the canopy cover
is also being monitored.
Careful monitoring
ties in closely with careful management. The rides that have
existed for hundreds of years are maintained by mowing, paying
special attention to the needs of invertebrates and sun-loving
plants. New rides have been opened up, providing further access for
visitors to enjoy the wood. The ancient practice of coppicing has
been reinstated, so trees are cut down in a rotation, producing a
mosaic of different aged stands of trees.
A voluntary warden
and a team of volunteers successfully manage Brampton Wood for
public enjoyment as well as for the great variety of wildlife that
is to be found here.
At time of placing
the cache contained 2 bags of coloured glass gems, schweppes
swizzle stick, pewter angel, lizzard puzzle, pepsi fan, 3 micro
containers with logbooks, penguin stuffed toy, and a £1 lucky dip
lottery ticket, and of course logbook and writing implements and a
few spare zip-up bags.
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 Not a Lunchtime Cache
 Thorns
 Cache In - Trash Out!
 Dogs Allowed
 Mud!
 Beware of
Muggles with Doggles!
Bring a pen or pencil |
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