Cherry Stones

Cherry stones eaten by a vole.  High Elms Country Park, 20 September 2011.

When a small area of grass and wildflowers in High Elms Country Park was mown, this hoard of cherry stones was uncovered. They were a few yards from the tree, and a small pathway between the stones and the tree could be seen (gone by the time I saw it). It was pointed out to me by Nick Hopkins, one of the rangers, who is pretty sure that the creature responsible was a vole, probably a short-tailed vole, Microtus agrestis. They must have been brought here, a spot which was well under cover at the time, and then eaten in safety. It's interesting to see that it's not just the sweet outer part of the cherry that attracts wildlife.