37th: Cabilla and Redrice Woods – Cornwall

Our first reserve in Cornwall and it felt a little like a trip down memory lane as I used to come to Cornwall on a pretty regular basis as a child. My Aunt and Uncle lived down here , so we would visit at least trice a year. We explored lots of the county, but I’m pretty certain we never made it to Cabilla and Redrice Woods.

The feel of these woods, which have been used as a source of timber for centuries, was all about peace and tranquillity today. The sun was turning it into a patchwork of light and green shadows.

There were clearings with butterflies lazily dancing in the light and the song of birds could be heard virtually all the time as insect hunters wheeled overhead calling to each other.

There are 7 species of bat in the woodland and there were signs of the Wildlife Trusts efforts to support them in the bat boxes positioned strategically throughout the place and the barred gate into the old mine, that disappeared into darkness no phone torch could penetrate, that allowed free passage for roosting bats.