The Gruffalo's Cache Traditional Geocache
castagnari: As the owner has not responded to my previous log requesting that they check this cache I am archiving it.
If you wish to email me please send your email via my profile (click on my name) and quote the cache name and number.
Regards
Shaun
castagnari
Volunteer UK Reviewer - geocaching.com
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A nice easy stroll through Gull Coppice in Whiteley. Can be done as a cache and dash or take more time and enjoy a lovely circular walk through the Coppice. Accessible to all.
Gull Coppice is accessible from Yew Tree Drive opposite the School. Parking is located near the shops, please note this gets very busy during school run times. Gull coppice covers 40 acres and consists of two distinct habitats. One section was planted with Lawson's Cypress, a non native conifer by the Forestry Commission which was felled in the Winter of 1995/96. The other is secondary oak woodland. The coniferous area had no ground flora. Now it has been felled, grasses, foxgloves and a variety of pioneer wild flowers have appeared. Trees that have reseeded include oak, ash, aspen and birch in particular. Deer used the area to shelter in before, now they are browsing it extensively. Common lizards have been found in the clear felled area. The coniferous section was planted up about 35 years ago on former ancient woodland by the Forestry Commission. This section is surrounded by an old wood bank with an estimated age of over 200 years. It was part of the old Gull Coppice which was a large ancient woodland. The remaining section of Gull Coppice is hazel coppice with oak standards. The deciduous half contains pendunculate oak, turkey oak, hawthorn, crab apple, alder buckthorn, and one wild service. In glades within the woodland there is a lot of blackthorn which provides suitable habitat for nightingales. Ground flora is not particularly diverse at present due to over shading by oaks, or by prevalence of turkey oaks. Along the ride are common spotted orchids, primrose, bugle, violets. Purple hairstreak are present in this section and need oak as a food plant. There is also a colony of white admirals in the woodland next to the school. Keep an eye out for the animals in the trees, courtesy of the children at Whiteley Primary School. We regularly walk through here and have often spotted foxes and deer. This is our first cache and so any feedback would be much appreciated. Avoid doing the cache during school run times as this area gets very busy and lots of stealth would be required. We named this cache after one of our eldest daughters favourite books. You never know you may see a mouse, fox, owl, snake or a Gruffalo!! Cache contains log only, so don't forget your pen. Please be careful when replacing log and cache.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Haqre fanxr.