Oxfordshire Woodland Group

By the beginning of August 2013 the bramble continues to grow apace sending out long shoots. On close inspection the bramble would appear to be untouched by browsing deer. Fruit clusters are now beginning to form and should provide a healthy food stock for dormice and birds.

The deer are now browsing elsewhere with unprotected coppice and hedgerow shoots becoming badly damaged.

Chilterns

By the beginning of December 2013 the bramble has stopped growing but has not as yet started to decline very much. It is now being used a deer habitat as a safe place for young deer to rest up during the day.

By late January 2014 the bramble patch does not appear to have been grazed down to any significant extent.

Chilterns

By the end of March 2014 the bramble patch is noticeably smaller and especially reduced in height and spread. This decline coincides with the emergence of new green shoots in the hedgrows and plants on the woodbanks and in the clearings.

Nearly a year has gone by since the start of this phenelogical recording that illustrates the dynamics of bramble growth within the woodland environment.

Chilterns

Two weeks later on 14th April 2014

shoots were beginning to emerge on the bramble

Chilterns

Whilst watching BBC Springwatch nestcams (Chanel 301) I noticed that bramble would appear to be the nesting site of preference for robins and bullfinches and so any attempts at clearing this woodland shrub at this time of year should be avoided or undertaken with great care.

The growth of the bramble over the second half of May 2014 has been dramatic due to the significant rainfall experienced over this period.

Chilterns