Langham in Rutland
The Woodlands
This wildlife site is on the edge of the village on land owned
by the Parish Council. One area has been planted with a
selection of mainly native trees. Among these bluebells,
primroses and cowslips have been planted for a spring display.
On another section, twenty-one of our villagers planted
various shrubs whilst the rest of the site was divided into an
area sown to create a wild flower meadow, and an additional
grassed area for relaxation.
The majority of the trees and shrubs have flourished, so that
through the seasons there are wild roses, dogwood, guelder-
rose and wayfaring-tree in flower, followed by displays of
berries. The meadow has been slow to develop as yet, but
various plants have been added to increase the show of
flowers, so that there is a display of vetches, ox-eye daisy,
bugle and fox-and-cubs, cowslips, primrose and bluebells in
the spring. The site attracts numerous insects in the summer,
highlights being the small skipper, many gatekeeper, meadow
brown butterflies and grasshoppers. Small birds come to the
hedgerows around the site. It is always good to see
goldfinches feeding on the thistle seed heads. As the trees and
shrubs grow to be more mature it is hoped to see birds nesting in the Woodlands.