As the seasons change, the flora and fauna between the railway's fences adapt to survive, grow or reproduce.
Nature between the fences – Summer 2025
By Dr. Ian S Pogson
Summer has come to the UK and the GWSR. Between the fences, the birds have done theirmating calls, mated, created nests and raised young. The deer havemultiplied again, but this year have been hard to spot. More and more red kites have infiltrated theCotswolds, coming up the M40 corridor and maybe across from Wales. My knowledge of Welsh kite-calls isinsufficient to discern! On the railway,at the lineside, this continuous dry weather has allowed us to inspect our culvertsand water courses quite easily in terms of not needing to wade in ditches, butthe vegetation growth has been absolutely astonishing. Quite the best season for early blackberrieshas arrived and these have been sampled by grateful volunteers clearing theway. Very few birds have been logged inour regular blog, we wonder if they like us, they have been seeking shade.
Being based in and around the Vale of Evesham, there hasbeen a plentiful plum crop and it is clear from deer scat on the ground thatthese and all manner of other berries have been consumed by these “ghosts” ofcreatures. Crab apples have weighed downbranches and in a few parts we have poppies waving their colourful heads.
I reproduce below shamelessly the words of our HoD (Head ofDepartment, Andrew, who faithfully records the wildlife we spot during ourstewardship of the culverts, siphons, bridges and other waterways that cross orserve our 15-mile-long railway. Yes, ourrailway is longer than the part with the tracks laid upon it. Passenger trainsmay currently stop at Cheltenham Race Course station (CRC), but the railscontinue south into Hunting Butts tunnel and then our Drainage responsibilitiesresume under Swindon Lane Bridge and beyond to the edge of the Prince of WalesSports Centre and we have culverts and drains to attend to there.
Andrew observed, ‘At Bishops Cleeve, some of the resident black headedgulls were noted circling overhead at lunchtime. A lone red kite swooped lowover the embankment, obviously spotting some small mammals we have disturbed.In the ditch we noted several large dragonflies – but less welcome were someangry wasps who are nesting on the embankment. Our helpful resident informed usthat there is a family of foxes living under an empty home off the site; and heoften spots a lone badger in the same spot.’
Andrew added, ‘Before the rain started, we watched animpressive ariel ballet from gulls, red kites, buzzards and crows. North ofStation Road Bridge we had a quick glimpse of a deer – probably a muntjac. Onthe floral side, we noted quite a lot of wild roses in bloom.
‘Our arrival at the top of the haul road opposite the RoyalOak disturbed a roe deer. We also spotted many rabbits there – so too did a RedKite circling overhead. We noted wild garlic in the damp andshade at Gretton; whilst by the haul road there is lots of cowparsley (Anthriscus sylvestris) and red campion (Silenedioica) plants. Also Dipsacus fullonum, wildteasel, last year’s plants with their dead teasel heads are easy to spot; butthis year’s growth without the flower heads is not so easy to distinguish.
‘Theinteresting observations were early in the day – we found both a frog and toadin the yard at Winchcombe whilst loading materials. Near Peasbrook we spottedmore roe deer; and several rabbits. We observed plenty of insects of amultitude of species – including some ladybirds. And taking advantage of theabundance of flying insects were several swifts.’
More terrific lineside photos areavailable on the page set up byMike Peers on the image-hosting website, flickr.
The regular drainage team blogspot ‘GWSRInfrastructure — Drainage’ can be found at GWSR Infrastructure— Drainage.
More terrific lineside photos are available on the page set up by Mike Peers on the image-hosting website,flickr.
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