A WALK IN THE NEW FOREST ON FRIDAY 11TH NOVEMBER, AT 1.30PM, (ITS GETTING DARK EARLIER NOW!) FROM THE DEER SANCTUARY CAR PARK AT BOLDERWOOD. MAP AVAILABLE IF REQUIRED OF COURSE, BUT IT'S EASY TO FIND. THROUGH LYNDHURST ON THE CHRISTCHURCH ROAD, A35, TURN RIGHT OPPOSITE THE WHITE SWAN AT EMERY DOWN CRICKET PITCH. TAKE THE FIRST LEFT (OUTSIDE THE PUB), STAY ON THAT ROAD FOR ABOUT 4 MILES. THE CAR PARK IS ON THE LEFT IN AN OPEN SPACE. LENGTH OF THE WALK: 3 MILES APPROXIMATE TIME 2 HRS. FAIRLY EASY WALKING IN ENCLOSURES AND ANCIENT WOODLANDS (OUT OF ANY COLD WINDS!). A FEW WET AND MUDDY PATCHES IF IT RAINS!
October
Pan favoured us, despite threatened rain, we hardly had any. Although the skies all around were ominously thunderous, the blue sky dominated. Only six started out form Pigs Bush car park but miraculously Sally and Jan who had gone astray found us. We enjoyed the sight of two full stags climbing a short rise in front of us but too far to get a good photo. We encountered a beetle that seemed aggressive in waving its tail upwards. Good job we did not attempt to touch it going by the description below. Dave told us about the partially visible Bishop’s dyke an area the King permitted the Bishop of Winchester to enclose in one day presumably for keeping stock. An excellent walk which we all enjoyed.
Devil’s coach horse
Staphylinus olens
The Devil’s coach horse is a long, black beetle with short elytra (wing cases). At first glance you could mistake it for an earwig.
A nocturnal predator, this beetle lives in and around decaying matter. During the day it tends to rest among leaf litter or under stones. Females lay their eggs in the soil, and these hatch into carnivorous larvae.
It overwinters as a pupa in leaf litter or moss and emerges as an adult the following spring. If you disturb a Devil’s coach horse, it adopts an aggressive, scorpion-like position - it raises its rear end and opens its powerful jaws.
If it still feels threatened it squirts a foul-smelling fluid from its abdomen. Beware – this beetle can also give a painful bite.
Devil’s coach horse
Staphylinus olens
The Devil’s coach horse is a long, black beetle with short elytra (wing cases). At first glance you could mistake it for an earwig.
A nocturnal predator, this beetle lives in and around decaying matter. During the day it tends to rest among leaf litter or under stones. Females lay their eggs in the soil, and these hatch into carnivorous larvae.
It overwinters as a pupa in leaf litter or moss and emerges as an adult the following spring. If you disturb a Devil’s coach horse, it adopts an aggressive, scorpion-like position - it raises its rear end and opens its powerful jaws.
If it still feels threatened it squirts a foul-smelling fluid from its abdomen. Beware – this beetle can also give a painful bite.
September walk went well, the rain again held off until we had finished and were safely home. This time we met at Bolton’s Park cricket ground park and 18 walkers our highest turnout so far strode off into the rutted heather covered tracks. The wind blew but nobody minded as it was not really cold and the air felt fresh. A speedier pace than usual – could we be getting fitter? No pictures as my camera’s window blinked ERR "card error" but promptly worked again after getting home.
