GeoGraph - photograph every grid square

Grendon Wood 3

This is the middle of Grendon Wood, see SP6921 : Grendon Wood, and here the two rides in the wood cross at right angles. One ride runs between the north-east and south-west edges - the one crossing the picture - and the other runs from north-west edge to the south-east edge - the ride that comes from behind the camera.

Rides are flower-rich tracks which allow access to woodland and provide a grassland habitat for a variety of wildlife. To stop rides becoming overgrown, they are either cut once or twice a year, or if fenced, grazed by sheep or cattle. Ride edges can also be valuable for wildlife. At intervals, bordering trees have their branches cut or are felled, leaving spaces where sunlight can penetrate, the remaining trees acting as windbreaks. This creates sunny, but sheltered conditions much favoured by butterflies and other insects. This has to be repeated regularly as the trees re-grow. As a result, many butterflies, such as the comma and speckled wood, use the rides during the summer months. These details are taken from an information board in nearby Finemere Wood, SP7121 : Information board , Finemere Wood 2.