Kingfishers under the flight path
The River Crane
The meadows, grassland, woodland and river at Cranebank provide important habitats for wildlife. Despite the low-flying aircraft overhead there is a chance that you will catch a glimpse of a kingfisher or a green woodpecker.
Geology
The meadows beside the river at Cranebank are a reminder of what the flood-plain was once like. The river flows through layers of London clay which lie on top of gravel.
Flora
The oxbow lakes are home to water plants including one of Britain's more poisonous plants, the Hemlock Water Dropwort.
Fauna
The many insects at Cranebank are important because they help to pollinate flowers and provide food for birds. There are over 50 species of hoverflies including some rare species.
Mammals seen near the river not only include foxes and rabbits but also weasels, shrews and bank voles.
Three species of bats are seen at Cranebank.
Submitted by: Jo Hunt, 20 January 2007
