Six-mile nature walk around Hatfield Forest starting at Thremhall Park

Nature Notes columnist Jono Forgham covers your fortnightly look at nature around Bishop’s Stortford

Having been inside for several days over Christmas, I needed a long wander. Consequently, last Monday I set off for a mooch around Hatfield Forest. I parked at Thremhall Park, registered the car on the tablet in the café and enjoyed a breakfast and coffee before setting off.

I crossed the road at the traffic lights adjacent to Kearsley Airways and turned left onto the Flitch Way. After about 600 yards there is a path down from the embankment which leads to Gate 17 and the entrance to the forest. I frequently use this gate as it accesses parts of the forest not regularly visited by other walkers and therefore there is more chance of encountering bird species and fallow deer.

A jay flew for the ground in front of me and a party of raucous jackdaws called from a nearby ash tree. I headed towards a white sign that was visible in a small copse. This is the site of the huge doodle oak that is thought to have been over 900 years old. The sign gives plenty of information and it is possible that the nearby oak tree, perhaps 100 years old, may be from the same root stock.

My next destination was the lake, about half a mile away. The ground was exceptionally wet and very muddy as I passed the rare breed sheep. Some of these boasted two sets of horns and would not be out of place in a Dennis Wheatley occult novel - think that may age me! They eyed me suspiciously as I sank ankle-deep into the mud.

A friendly robin popped up onto a fence post, permitting some photos in good light. It is thought robins first learnt this behaviour when pigs were first domesticated. The pigs are likely to disturb insects and invertebrates and perhaps humans passing by do the same. Certainly in winter they can be very confiding.

I crossed over the road that leads to the car park and was soon at the lake, the far end away from the Shell House. Through binoculars I spotted two drake goosanders in the reeds and low-level trees, but too far away and too well hidden for a worthwhile photo. These birds may spend the winter on the lake but also may head off to other waters before returning, so always worth looking out for them.

I clocked a group of black-headed gulls and a solitary cormorant on one of the floating tern rafts whilst further away, nearer the café, plenty of tufted ducks, mallards, a great crested grebe and a pair of mute swans.

I headed towards the smaller lake, the Decoy Lake, where several coots were arguing. A green woodpecker called and flew to a dead tree and a common buzzard rose from an oak. As I was setting off, a kingfisher darted by. I retraced my steps, hoping for a photo, but I couldn’t find him again.

Once I had completed the circuit around this lake, I picked up a track into the forest, away from the rides. As is often the case when birding in deciduous woodland, it pays to find a quiet spot and just wait for the birds to come along.

I didn’t have to wait long before a mixed flock of tits came by. In this group were long-tailed tits, great tits and blue tits as well as a single treecreeper and a lone wren. I fired off several photos before I headed off to see if I could find the calling nuthatch. After a few minutes of searching the oaks, I found it on a moss-covered branch.

I sat on a fallen tree trunk for my picnic. Overhead, several red kites passed by and, in the distance, the distinctive “cronk cronk” call of a raven. This is now a regular bird to hear and see in the forest and I suspect it is now a breeding resident.

I set off and just followed my nose. The good thing about parking at Thremhall Park is that it is easy to get back to from any point within the forest. I just aim for where the 737s appear above the tree line, so I am not fussed about not being sure where I am. Over the years I have come across a fair few walkers that have lost their bearings and require guidance to get back to the place where they began their walk.

As I crossed a large open expanse, I picked up a pheasant’s wing. By inspecting the quill tips of the feathers, it was apparent that this was the work of a fox as the quills were all broken at the point. If it had been a bird of prey then the quill tips would still be intact as these birds pluck their prey whereas foxes just rip them off.

I stopped to have a chat with a local who was exercising his two dogs, a labrador and a splendidly feisty border terrier. We reminisced about what species used to be seen in the forest that have now all but disappeared and what new species have moved in. The most obvious omission from my walk was rabbits. Fifteen years ago they were to be found all over the woods, but now they are in very low numbers. Their population crash has been brought about by the fatal rabbit haemorrhagic disease.

Bird species now seen on a regular basis here that would have been absent some 25 years ago include the aforementioned raven, red kite, common buzzard and little egrets that can often be seen in and around the lakes.

Some years ago here, on a previous Nature Notes wander, I spotted a few damselflies. On closer inspection I identified them as the rarer white-legged damsels. I was informed a few days later that this was a new species for the forest. I am sure there are many species present that are yet to be recorded, particularly spider and fly species.

By now I was back at the main entrance from the Flitch Way and sauntered down the old railway line in search of finch species. Not many siskins have arrived from Scandinavia this winter. They are frequently seen along the Flitch Way, feeding on the seeds of the alder trees. Grange Paddocks is another favourite spot for them.

From deep in bramble and buddleia undergrowth came the squeaky call of a bullfinch. I positioned myself behind a tree, hoping that it would pop up into view for a photo, but, after a couple of minutes, three birds emerged and immediately flew off. Always a wonderful bird to see.

I headed back to Thremhall Park and checked the pond here where a couple of moorhens and some mallards paddled about. I also checked the recently-installed bee hive, containing Apis mellifera (western honeybee.) Next year their honey will be on sale in the café and the presence of these will help plants and trees to flourish.

I headed home to sort out the photos and, upon checking my pedometer on my phone, noted that I had walked more than six miles. It certainly blew away the cobwebs from being inside for three days.

P. S. Having filed my copy to the office, I thought it would be good to see if there were any siskins in the alder trees along the River Stort at Grange Paddocks.

I hadn’t been there long when a flock of 40-plus flew over and I tracked them down to an alder tree. In good sunlight, I managed a few pleasing shots.

These birds will spend the rest of the winter in the alders from the weir all the way to Cannons Mill Lane.

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