Tree of The Week

SWEET CHESTNUT - Castanea Sativa

It was thought that the Sweet Chestnut was first introduced into Britain by the Romans, but today it can be found in large areas of woodland and coppicing plantations which the timber is used for fencing.

• Look out for the purple-grey bark which develops deep ridges with age. They can grow up to 35m tall and 700 years old.

• The leaves are glossy green and grown up to 25cm long. They are toothed around the edge, with a center line and finish with a tipped point at the bottom of the leaf. Green spiky shells also appear on the branches, these are the fruits which have been pollinated. 

Moth Recording

Moth Recording 
Here are some of our recent findings at Rufford. Poplar Hawk Moth, Bordered Beauty, Yellow-barred Brindle, Coxcomb Prominent, Angle Shades, Canary-shouldered Thorn and a cheeky Bush Cricket.

From setting up a basic moth trap (seen in the picture below) with a light fixed in the centre and empty egg cartons (where the moths shelter) in the wooden box, we can draw in the moths over night and record our findings in the morning. During this process no moths come to any harm and are all let free. 

Friends of Bestwood Country Park

Here is a link to a great website by the Friends of Bestwood Country Park.


They were formed in late 2007 and focus on activities in Bestwood Country Park.
"The group’s aim overall is to promote the interests of our big beautiful park, its habitats and flora and fauna as well as its many human visitors and its historic buildings, and to serve as an active means of communication and co-operation between all users."

Friends of Bestwood Country Park