if you go down to the wood today again

Walking again with my son in the woods it is great to observe the small things and the big things. The small things include beautiful snow drops (galanthus nivalis) sadly hanging their heads and seeking comfort in clusters.

Spring encourages the shoots but the roots have kept a firm grip through the recent gales.

Some others have not fared so well. I am not sure what the cause of death was for these two young fellows but even though myxomatosis is common in this area they lack its symptoms.

Returning to the trail the signs of spring soon show up again, I am not sure but this may be either a type of a violet or pink purslane (claytonia sibirica).

Of course there is always the garbage to pick up!

But then we can return to enjoying the hermaphrodite flowers of the hawthorn (crataegus monogyna).

Here is a male on top of a female frog (rana temporaria), she will lay around 1000-3000 eggs over the course of a few days. I guess he is just along for the ride!

Life and death and life again, all on a short walk in the woods.
The small things and the big things.

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wandlebury

ladybirds and ladybugs again

Crossing the pond from Canada to the UK some friends still stay close. I was reminded this weekend that in Canada we used see the 'two spotted ladybug' (adalia bipunctata).

Another ladybird, the harlequin (harmonia axyridis succinea) was introduced to North America in 80's to control aphids who were damaging the pecan crops. It is now the most widespread ladybird species in the US and has already invaded much of northwestern Europe. It arrived in Britain in summer 2004 and in my bathroom early yesterday.

So the next time you dig into some pecan pie, think of the harlequin and his profilicacy.



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ladybirds and ladybugs
harlequin survey
harlequin ladybird

if you go down to the woods today

I went with my son for a two hour walk in a woods close to our home recently and in the spirit of 'giving something back' I decided to pick up any rubbish I came across.
Below is just a selection of what I gathered.

Pieces of plastic, some domestic in nature presumably from other walkers, some from fertilizer bags from the adjacent farmland.

Yuck! tissues.

The mentality of someone who has finished with a lighter or battery and decides to throw it away astounds me. Presumably the sunglasses len was lost accidentally whilst walking.
Of course, it is crucial to keep hydrated when hiking!

Oh yes! and keep your energy levels up with some sweeties!

Transparent plastic is easily missed but not when there is lots of it thrown about.

The brown plastic thing is a protective cover for saplings that have been planted, it does a useful job but it too in the end becomes litter. The other stuff is some aluminum foil and wire.

Orange peel will decompose within a 2 year time frame but the yellow balloon and green tennis ball a dog has chewed will take longer.

Oh yes! Did I mention that if you walking make sure to keep hydrated something with lots of sugar should do the trick!

If you go down to the woods today, don't mess it up!

For more information ...
magog trust