Inquisitive sheep

It was a freezing cold day yesterday. The sheep seemed interested to see me, or is it Petra? They watch us all the way.

Wood-pile fungi

I have watched these fungi growing slowly for over a week now. They are on the pile of old logs lying by the wood walk. They are now about 2cm across.

More animal friends

A new group of cattle have been introduced to the field next to the open field.

One curious young bullock seemed determined to make friends - or at least to keep a close eye on Petra.

Perhaps we will see him regularly.

Winter arrives

After a very wet period a bright day encouraged us back into the fields. A lot has changed since our last walk around here.

On the wood walk luxuriant mosses are shining out on the old stumps.







And a curious gelatinous fungus has appeared on old logs in the woodpile.

Along Kings Barn Lane all the blackthorn bushes show a rich encrusting of lichen.

Some of the sloes are still hanging on the leafless bushes.

Lancing Ring again

A sunny beginning to November!

At Lancing Ring again  I found a wild privet bush well covered in berries (left), although most of the leaves had fallen.


In the open areas large stands of dogwood are growing, some still in flower(right).

Among the dogwood there were several pink clovers in flower and a large number of autumn hawkbit was in evidence.

But most surprising to me were the few flowers of scabious and several groups of wild basil.

However, on checking my wild flower book, I see that both are expected to flower into October.

So it can't be very unusual to see them on the first of November.