Even on the most bitterly cold winter days, the tussocky meadow near Kings holds myriads of spiders and the like, which are revealed when the tufts of grass are pulled back and the vole runs are exposed. This microhabitat has its own microclimate to match and a liberal layer of snow has no effect on this – in fact it benefits these shy creatures by providing additional insulation from the cold winds and a seal from their aerial predators. Shrews are insectivores and need a good supply of spiders but the other mammals there are rodents which are herbivorous – with the exception of harvest mice. These climb about amongst the tall grasses during the summer months and build their ball-shaped breeding nest well above the ground, but in winter they resort to the shelter and security of the ground and build much smaler winter nests underground in the vole and mole tunnels. Harvest Mice supplement their diet of seeds and berries with the occasional piece of meat – in the form of a spider or grub.