Nature Area
The nature area at Branstone farm is fairly new. It was developed over 30 years ago and planted with a variety of trees namely ash, oak, willow and beech. There is a nature trail which leads to a large pond full of interesting ‘mini beasts’. The nature area is also home to many birds in particular the green woodpecker which has, over the years enlarged the holes of the nesting boxes designed for blue tits and the like. Several years ago, an owl box was placed in a large oak tree in the hedgerow bordering the nature area. More recently it has been home to a family of kestrels!!
Click on images below to enlarge.
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PHANTOM
LARVA
Found amongst pond weed. Feeds on very small water fleas and algae. It
turns into a biting fly in early summer.
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MAYFLY
LARVA
Found in open water and attached to weed. Feeds mainly on water fleas.
It turns into a laced winged fly in early summer.
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DRAGONFLY
LARVA
Found in the mud and attached to weed. Feeds on leeches, flatworms and
water fleas and sometimes beetles. It turns into large ‘helicopter
like’ fly in mid summer.
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MIDGE
LARVA
Found in open water near the surface. Feeds on water fleas and small worms.
Larva pupates and turns into biting flies in early summer.
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GNAT
PUPA
Found in open water near the surface. Does not feed. Turns into a biting
fly in early summer.
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DAMSELFLY
LARVA
Found in open water and amongst pond weed. Feeds on water fleas and other
very small creatures. Larva turn into small, colourful (red, blue and
green) ‘helicopter like’ flies in mid summer.
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BRISTLEWORM
Live in the mud. Feeds on water fleas and dead material
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WATER
FLEA (DAPHNIA)
Found in open water. Feeds on algae. Lay eggs.
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WATER
FLEA (CYCLOPS)
Found in open water. Feeds on algae. Lay eggs.
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WATER
BEETLE
Found in open water near the surface. Feeds on water fleas, flatworms,
phantom larvae and leeches. Lay eggs. Larva pupates in the autumn.
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WATER
BOATMAN
Found in the mud and open water. Feeds on water fleas, flatworms, leeches
and water beetles. Lay eggs.
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WATER
LOUSE
Found in the mud. Feeds on dead material. Lay eggs.
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WATER
MITE
Found in open water. Feed on water fleas. Lay eggs.
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FRESHWATER
SHRIMP
Found in the mud. Feeds on dead material and flatworms. Lay eggs.
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FLATWORM
Found in the mud. Feeds on algae and water fleas. Lay eggs. Sensitive
to light.
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LEECH
Found in the mud or attached to plants. Can stretch to 60 mm. Suckers
at either end of the body. Mouth (front sucker end) sucks juices from
its prey.
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FROG
Yellow-brown colour with smooth skin. Eggs (spawn) laid in a clump in
spring and hatch into tadpoles. Tadpoles develop into frogs which leave
the pond and live in damp places on land. Frogs eat insects and spiders.
Tadpoles eat algae.
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TOAD
Brown, rough skin. Eggs (spawn) laid in a long line in spring and hatch
into tadpoles. Tadpoles develop into toads which leave the pond and live
in damp places on land. Toads eat flies and spiders. Tadpoles eat algae.
Information courtesy of 'PONDLIFE' by Penny Anderson
