Nature & Wildlife

Wildlife

As most Stretton gardeners would testify, in a good year their Buddleia are likely to be visited by many common species. Less commonly can be seen large and small Skippers, Holly Blue and the migrant Painted Lady. Surveys of the Long Mynd streams have discovered around 50 species of small creatures such as Caddis Flies, May Flies and Dragon Flies. The small acid hill pools also support similar species, whereas the more entrophic water bodies of the valley tend to contain rather different species.

Frogs and Toads are locally common whilst all three species of British Newt (Common, Great Crested and Palmate) are found in various aquatic habitats here.
Adders, Grass Snakes and Slow Worms have been reported from the district, the latter being quite common in some areas as too is the Common Lizard.

Many rodents are found in the Stretton Valley. Of particular interest is the presence of Dormice and Yellow Necked Woodmice. Hares, though no longer really common can be found in some pasture land.

Insect eaters are in residence too, three sorts of Shrew can be found whilst Pipestrelle and Brown Long Eared Bat colonies are regularly reported by householders.

Of the larger mammals we can claim healthy Fox and Badger populations and though Weasel and Stoats are sometimes glimpsed, only the dead carcass of the more furtive Polecat, indicates the likelihood of breeding sites near the A49. Mink are present on the valley streams, but Otters once recorded here many years ago do not seem to have re-appeared, the small streams probably hold too little to support a breeding population

Birds of the Strettons area

The bird population of an area depends upon the variety of habitat, and Church Stretton is ideally placed, nestling under the Long Mynd and surrounded by patches of native woodland. In summer the Long Mynd is alive with Meadow Pipits, which in turn attract Cuckoos. Red Grouse and Curlew breed here, with Snipe in boggier patches. Raptors hunt the moors, especially Buzzard and Kestrel, but also the scarcer Hobby and Peregrine. Ravens croak harshly and cast ominous shadows across the heather. In summer, Tree Pipits, Redstarts, Whinchats and Stonechats are found on scrub and bracken covered slopes, with Wheatears on short turf, whilst Ring Ousels sing from rock outcrops.

Mistle Thrushes gather in late summer to feed on bilberries. Rushing waters of hill streams are beloved by Dippers and Grey Wagtails. Resident woodland birds include Green, Great and Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers, Nuthatch and Tree Creeper, with more common birds such as Wren, Thrushes and Tits. Joining them each Spring are Pied Flycatchers, Wood and other Warblers, whilst Sparrowhawks are on hand to prey on them. Many species visit gardens, especially if food is supplied. Watch out for the acrobatic tits and attractive little Siskin at peanut feeders. 

Flora

The varied geology of the area surrounding Church Stretton lends itself to a wide range of floral habitats. To the west, heather, bracken and bilberry cover large tracts of the Longmynd Hills, which are rendered particularly colourful in the autumn. Gorse is plentiful on the drier south-facing slopes. Where streams have cut valleys, or batches as they are called locally, Water Crowfoot and Mimulus are common together with Mountain Fern - often called Lemon-Scented Fern for obvious reasons. Wet flushes on the hillside support two interesting insectivorous plants - Sundew and Butterwort, and not surprisingly, the area is rich in sedges and mosses.

The hills to the east of the town are mostly well wooded and in spring are carpeted with Bluebells, Primroses, Celandines and Wood Anemones. Wild Garlic grows by the freely draining streams and Wood Sorrel is extremely common. Pockets of Pink Purslane are found here and there but it is much more prolific a few miles further east. Marshy fields behind Helmeth are noted for their Marsh-Marigolds,while small pockets of limestone near Caradoc yield many interesting plants.

When 'The Flora of Shropshire' was being compiled some years ago, well over 600 species of flower were recorded in the immediate vicinity of Church Stretton making it indeed a veritable botanists paradise.

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