A visit to the high heath. This is a very interesting area. Up to 3 years ago it was dense Spruce forestry which was then harvested. Since then it has been replanted with Larch, but those young trees are still very small - say 1.5 to 2m tall. The remainder of the area is now grassland with heathers, mosses and the occasional Willow. It is quite fascinating to see how quickly the heath specimens arrived after the harvest took place. It is now home to the Drinker Moth and Green Hairstreak butterfly, Bog Asphodel, Heath Milkwort, Butterwort and a range of Speedwells and Willowherbs. Even the range of fungi has changed, with a number of sawdust-loving fungi appearing. This area was cleared by a few men with saws and diggers in a couple of months. It is clear that dramatic ecological change is very easily achieved.
It will be interesting to watch as the trees grow, the light diminishes and the species begin to die back again.
Wet and cold.
I've previously shown the Willow cabbage gall, caused by a midge - Rabdophaga salicibrassicoides. Today, as I was inspecting a few of them, I noticed that the leaves had started to grow again. The green was a bit of a surprise. I know it's mild, but there must be some reason for those leaves to grow now.
Another late flower - the Lesser Trefoil - one of the Clovers. The flower head is about 5 mm across. Trifolium dubium.
This moss - Pleurozium schreberi - is identified by its red stems. Main specimen about 6 cm. tall.