A great way to explore Wellesley Woodlands, especially for families is to follow our Nature and Heritage brass rubbings trail. The trail comprises 18 permanent posts with raised picture plaques and is located along the Beech and Plane Trails within Wellesley Woodlands. These trails are part of a wider network of waymarked routes within the Woodlands that enable you to explore this beautiful area.
An activity booklet to go with the trail is available for download or a free printed copy is available to collect from:
An adult Stag beetle can be up to 75mm long. Male beetles have huge antlers which are used in courtship displays and to wrestle other males. Stag beetle larvae can be up to 110mm long and feed on decaying wood under the ground as deep as half a metre down, from three to seven years. Adults can't feed on solid food and rely on the fat reserves built up whilst developing as larva.
Did you know: Stag beetles spend the winter underground in the soil and usually emerge from mid-May onwards.
The Wellington statue in Aldershot is a monument to Arthur Wellesley: 1st Duke of Wellington, victor at the Battle of Waterloo and later Prime Minister of the UK. Sculpted by Matthew Cotes Wyatt, it was the largest equestrian statue in Britain when it was unveiled at its original location on the Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner in 1846.
Did you know: in 1883 the future King Edward VII, suggested that it should be moved to Aldershot Military Town, 'where it will be highly regarded by the Army'.
Scots pine is an evergreen conifer native to northern Europe, and is one of just three conifers native to the UK. Mature trees grow up to 35 metres and can live for up to 700 years. After pollination by wind, the female flowers turn green and develop into cones. They mature the following season, meaning there are always cones of different ages on the one tree.
Did you know: Scots pine timber is one of the strongest softwoods available, and it is used in the manufacture of telegraph poles. pit props, gate posts and fencing.
Heather is an evergreen plant with spiky leaves and small purple pink, or white flowers. In the UK it grows across heath and moorland in low, dense, scrubby bushes. Our three most common heathers are Bell heather, Ling and Cross-leaved Heath.
Did you know: The Bell heather's name comes from the flower shaped like a bell.
These two walls (east and west) are the remains of a machine gun range built with bricks from a company that closed in 1930, indicating they were built around World War I. The two walls are slightly different, the eastern one being reinforced with 12.5mm thick iron sheeting, suggesting this was a later wall.
Did you know: The eastern wall has graffiti from 1941, showing it had fallen into disuse by World War II. Can you spot it?
A finger post, sometimes called a guide post, is a traditional sign post used in the UK made up of a post with one or more arms, known as fingers, which point in the direction of the places named on them. There are 49 finger posts in Wellesley Woodlands, all made from oak, pointing the way to different areas. How many have you seen today?
Did you know: The oldest finger post in existence is thought to be in Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, which dates back to 1669.
The Common Centipede is brown/red in colour with long antennae at the front and a pair of long legs at the back. These back legs are almost as long as the front antennae, making it quite difficult to tell front from back. The centipede can crawl backwards, using these long back legs as another pair of feelers.
Did you know: Although the name centipede suggests they have 100 legs, in Britain they always have an odd number of pairs of legs, ranging from 15 to 101 pairs.
Badgers are most easily identified by their black and white striped head - the silver-grey hair on their body makes them difficult to make out especially in poor light. Signs of badger activity can be seen more easily than the animal itself as they are nocturnal. Look for evidence such as distinctive 5-toed footprints and mounds of earth outside the entrances of setts.
Did you know: Badgers are omnivorous - they eat both animals and plants - and are able to choose from a wide range of food.
This arch was carved by Nick Speakman of 3DWood to mark the public opening of the Woodlands on 14 November 2015. The W shape emulates the distinctive Wellesley logo found across the woodlands and new development. Carved into arms of the arch are some of the animals and plants that can be found in the woodlands.
Did you know: The 'loop' at the top of the sculpture has been made from an old shopping trolley, embracing the ethos of recycling.
Common beech is a large tree, native to southern England and South Wales. Mature trees grow to a height of more than 40 metres. Beech is associated with femininity and is often considered the queen of British trees, where oak is the king.
Did you know: Beech trees are commonly used to carve lovers' initials on as it scars so easily and is unable to heal itself completely.
There are 24 species of Bumblebees in Britain but only eight are both widespread and abundant. Most common is the buff-tailed bumblebee, one of the biggest, with 2 golden yellow stripes and a brownish tail. Bumblebees are vital pollinators of crops and wildflowers, being particularly effective with tomatoes as their buzzing frequency releases large pollen loads.
Did you know: Bumblebees visit flowers as far as 2km away to feed on the nectar and gather pollen.
Silver birch is a medium-sized deciduous tree native throughout the UK, which cab reach 30 metres in height, with drooping branches and white bark which sheds layers like tissue paper. Silver birch provides food and habitat for more than 300 insect species and its leaves are an important food for caterpillars.
Did you know: Pollen of the birch tree is responsible for 15-20% of hay fever cases in the northern hemisphere.
Dragonflies are often confused with damselflies as they are closely related. However, dragonflies have much larger eyes, which take up most of their head. Both have two sets of wings, but the hind wings of a dragonfly are larger and are extended out like aeroplane wings, even when resting. Dragonflies that you might see around Wellesley Woodlands include the Keeled Skimmer and Emporer dragonfly.
Did you know: Dragonflies are thought to have been on the planet for 300 million years, and once had a wingspan of 2 1/2 feet.
Established in 1854, Aldershot has long been seen as the home of the British Army. The garrison was established when the War Department bought land near the village of Aldershot to create a permanent training camp for the British Army. Over time, this camp grew into a military town and continues to be used by the Army to the present day.
Did you know: The Support Command of the British Army has its HQ in Aldershot. The Garrison here plays host to around 70 military units and organisations.
The Bedford RL was the British military's main truck from the mid-1950s until the late 1960s. The truck formed the mainstay of Aldershot's troop transport fleet during this period. For young men joining the Royal Corps of Transport at Buller Barracks, the RL would be the vehicle in which they would undertake basis driver training.
Did you know: Many specialist models of the RL were built; including recovery vehicles, mobile workshops, radio vans and cable layers.
English Oak is the most common tree in the UK and has assumed the status of a national emblem. Oak trees produce acorns, but not until the tree is at least 40 years old. Peak acorn production usually occurs after around 80-120 years.
Did you know: Oak trees often grow to the height of around five double decker buses (21 metres) and often live for over 300 years.
Holly is an evergreen shrub with distinct spiked, glossy leaves. Mature trees can grow up to 15m and live for 300 years. Younger plants have spiky leaves all over to protect it, but leaves in the upper part of taller trees are likely to be smooth.
Did you know: A common old-wives-tale says that the more red berries there are on a holly bush the harsher the winter will be.
This brick wall is the remains of a machine gun range with similar design and construction to the pair of WWI firing walls, dating to around 1930. The raised earthworks at either side of the wall would have been where the soldiers were positioned before they began practice firing at it.
Did you know: A shell casing from 1944 was found here in recent years, suggesting this range remaining in use well into World War II.
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