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Doddington Churchyard and its Surroundings
From the 1997 Village Appraisal - Report by H.A. Sipsma-Memelink, 1996

The Churchyard:
There is an excellent list of the flora and fauna found here in 1993 in the Church's "Nature Corner" (a feature of the conservation project). Not much has changed since, except for the newly-introduced pro-nature arrangement of grass-cutting. We hope that this will enhance the fauna and not diminish the flora.

Some years ago, the old churchyard wall was host to a great variety of plants including Maidenhair Spleenwort, Ivy-leafed Toadflax, Barren Strawberry and Sweet Violet. However, after some restoration of the wall and several dry years many plants have disappeared. We hope they will return in the future.

Last year, for the first time, I saw glow worms on the wall and a lizard on the building itself. Inside the church, at certain times of the year, bats make their home. I see owls, woodpeckers, pied flycatchers and many other birds in the churchyard - making it a very valuable "God's Acre".

The Church and Churchyard.

Church Hill and Church Lane

One of the loveliest features of the flora on Church Hill some years ago were the Violets in springtime. They would cover large patches along its steep sides. Now, there are only a few spots left. But other plants have taken their place; last year I found two young Spurge Laurels (Wild Daphne) - a woodland shrub which is becoming very rare. Taking the whole of the hill and the lane into consideration, I recorded (apart from the grasses) fifty different flowering plants during last spring - and that just by walking it a few times.

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SHARSTED WOOD

When we came to live in Doddington - almost thirty years ago - Sharsted Wood was about ten years old. The trees were just a few metres high and the sunlight could reach the ground. My first walk was full of happy reminders of my youth when I lived opposite a similar wood of low-growing trees. Chiff-chaffs and willow warblers were singing in large numbers; whitethroats, tits of all kinds and many other birds occupied the wood. Of the larger species, owls (even the long-eared), woodcock and wild partridges were present.

When the trees had matured, the bird-life in the darker wood was changed - and indeed partially disappearing. However, long-tailed tits and goldcrests had taken over in the conifers and, along the borders, some of the former birds might still be seen.

With the plants it was different; I was amazed when I discovered the flora of Sharsted Wood. Near my childhood home, the soil was sandy and acid - no flower would grow in the wood. Imagine my delight when I saw the sea of Bluebells, the white, starry flowers of the Anemones and the bright yellow faces of the Primroses! With a friend, I started weekly walks; in our copy of "The Flora of The British Isles", we marked all the flowers that we could recognise. They were many, from the humble "Clocktower" (Moschatel), the orchids - White and Violet Helleborine, Birdsnest, Butterfly, Twayblade and Early Purple, to the rare Salvia Glutinosa.

But in the last few years a lot has changed. A hurricane uprooted many trees and the rest of the wood was thinned by woodcutters. The soil was alarmingly disturbed - but with more light penetrating, the bird-life improved once again and the many branches and dead trees attracted woodpeckers. Voles and mice were given the chance to multiply and so encouraged owls and kestrels to visit for a meal. I also heard the willow warbler once again. In the chaos of dead branches and with more light, the bramble grew rapidly and crowded out many other plants. Along the footpaths, on the other hand, was an increase in variety. Some flowers had clearly benefited from the changes whilst others had not - as can be seen from the following list:

DECREASED

Wood Anemone    Dog Violet    Wood Sorrel    Barren Strawberry    Orchids    Vervain    Ramsons    
Spiked Spear of Bethlehem    Centaury

INCREASED

Monk's Hood    Willow Herb    Spear Thistle    Weld    Yellow Archangel    Bugle    Red Campian    Figwort Cut-leafed Cranesbill    Bracken    Wood Woundwort    Nipplewort    Foxglove    Hemlock    Wild Strawberry    Marjoram

Ramsons.

ALPHA MASON

It shows that, overall, the flora of the wood is not disappointing. Now that the soil is settling down, we hope that many of the flowers will return - but the brambles will keep many plants out of some parts.

After many of the beautiful wild cherry trees along the main path were cut down, these fast-growing trees are regenerating. This year, I have picked some ripe cherries from the young trees. There is also an increase in spindle, oak, bird privet and broom.

H.A. Sipsma-Memelink, 1996

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