As we walk through the wood we seldom think about what is underfoot, apart from avoiding all the mud which the latest rain has created. However, what we walk on has a direct bearing on the woodland we see today. Eons ago the geological processes created the framework for our woodland. What type of trees and plants are able to grow and thrive is dependent upon the type soil and the underlying rocks. The soil in Buck Wood may seem deep and packed with nutrients but in most places it is just over an inch thick. Below this is a tightly compacted layer of sand and rock. Anyone who has tried to plant bulbs in the wood will be aware how difficult it is. 
This creates problems for one of our much loved but seldom seen animals - the mole. You tend to see evidence of moles in fields
where they leave their mole hills. Last week I was surprised to see this trail across the footpath. The rocky surface was obviously too hard for the mole and it had create its tunnel overground. I don't expect this route will last too long and it will have to find an easier place to live.
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