Showing posts with label Ancient Woodland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ancient Woodland. Show all posts

Wednesday 20 May 2015

Another Spring in an ancient woodland

Still no Swifts but at last I have seen the first signs of the Hawthorne blossom in my garden. The May Flowers will soon be putting on a spectacular display along the Atlantic Highway, a snowy white corridor, a magical gateway to Bideford Bay and the Hartland Heritage Coast. This is a perfect time for a walk in the countryside or a chance to explore an ancient woodland. By the middle of the merry month of May the leaves on the trees are a stunning vivid green, translucent in the sunlight, perfect, for a while at least, before the rain and the wind tarnishes them. The wonder of an ancient woodland, year after year the wild flowers return carpeting the ground, path verges and banks. The signs are there for all to see in early Spring, Snowdrops, Alexanders, Primroses, Dandelion, Yellow Pimpernel, Dogs Mercury, Herb Robert and Lesser Celandine. These are followed by Bluebells, Bugle, Cuckoo Flower, Speedwell, Wood Anemone, Red Campion, Greater Stitchwort, Woodruff, Dog Violet, Common Sorrel, Early Spotted Orchid, Creeping Buttercup and carpets of Ramsons. At this time of the year "In the Greenwood" it's fun to identify the trees by the shape of their pristine leaves Oak, Beech, Hazel, Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Holly, Mountain Ash, Willow and more. Fighting for space in the woodland floor are a mass of upwardly mobile ferns, a host of rare grasses, lichens and maybe some fungi clinging to a fallen moss-laden tree. So much to see so enjoy your woodland WALK, WATCH & LISTEN

http://www.thenorthdevonfocus.co.uk

http://www.thenorthdevonfocus.co.uk

http://www.thenorthdevonfocus.co.uk

LOCAL WOODLAND WONDERS - WALK, WATCH & LISTEN