Dormice

Apart from the substantial commons and some lovely woodlands most of inland Gower is more or less an agricultural desert, however it’s not as bad as other parts of the UK. Ignoring the vast fields near Pitton, thankfully we don’t have anything that resembles a prairie. But not all of inland Gower is devoid of wildlife, and there are some places that I’m drawn back to.

I cross the style by the side of the road, and head for Berry Wood, just south of Stouthall. The Lucas family probably farmed here when the hall was built in the mid-eighteenth century, and the land feels old, and I can sense the history of the place. Dutch Elm Disease killed most Gower elms years ago, and an earth bank is all that’s left of a line of them, which resisted for several years. It’s the spot where I could usually count on finding a little owl perched on an old elm. Hedges are few, and field boundaries are indistinct, and continued grazing has ensured that the land has remained rough, in contrast to the surrounding arable fields.

From the bank I look towards Berry Wood, an ancient, coppiced, mixed woodland, owned by the Wildlife Trust. it’s rich and dense, with leaves starting to change to an autumnal green colour. In the canopy, some brownish tints remind me that winter won’t be long now. No car park, and difficulty of access, makes the wood a specially secluded place. There is a path through, but it’s wet underfoot in places, and leads only to the village of Scurlage. The wood is one of the very few places around here where dormice might be seen.  They’ve recently been found again on Gower, and may still be in the wood, and boxes have been put up for them - we keep our fingers crossed.