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A Suffolk Lane

~ A diary of my life in rural north Suffolk.

A Suffolk Lane

Monthly Archives: Oct 2015

October’s End

31 Sat Oct 2015

Posted by Clare Pooley in churches, family, Insects, Landscaping, music, plants, Rural Diary, trees, weather

≈ 30 Comments

Tags

Anastasia Moutsatsou, autumn, berries, Diary, insects, leaf colour, Mendham, October, plants, renovations, Sir Alfred Munnings, sunset, trees, weather

IMG_5822Holly

I saw these holly berries (Ilex aquifolium) in one of the carparks in Halesworth at the beginning of the month.

We have had a fair amount of cloud and rain this month and there was a week when the rest of the country was getting very pleasant weather while we in eastern East Anglia and also those in eastern Kent were having gloomy, wet weather with north-easterly winds.   We have had a few slight frosts and some sunshine too – but not as much as we would have liked!  For anyone who is interested in our weather here in the east of Britain – and why wouldn’t you be! – here is a link to the local BBC weather forecast.

IMG_5823Spindle

Spindle berries (Euonymous europaeus) seen in our garden at the beginning of October

The leaf-colour has been very beautiful but I haven’t been able to get out often to take photos.  The leaves are falling fast now and the recent heavy rain and windy weather have stripped many trees of their leaves altogether.

IMG_5831Autumn colour

A beautiful Maple tree I saw on the way to my mother’s house on the 14th October.

IMG_5833Autumn colour

As I stood admiring it it began to rain heavily, as you can see!

IMG_5834Rainbow

The rainbow that appeared at the same time.

IMG_5835Autumn colour

I took a photo of the tree again on the way home later that day.

IMG_5832Hemp Agrimony

I was surprised to see some Hemp-agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum) in flower in the ditch next to the maple tree. It usually flowers during late summer and all other Hemp-agrimony plants had already gone to seed.

Richard and I have been sharing driving Elinor to and from college and I have been feeling much less tired than I did when I was doing all the driving.  The month has had its fair share of hospital, doctors’ surgery, optician and dentist visits.  Every week this month one of us (at least!) has had an appointment or has had to take someone (my mother) to an appointment.

DSC_0621

I mentioned to Richard that I had seen a beautiful Guelder-rose (Viburnum opulus) on my way to my mother’s house (yet again!) so he kindly photographed it for me with his phone when he walked past it on a breezy morning later in the week.

DSC_0622

He photographed it from the other side too

DSC_0623

He also photographed a Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)

Elinor has had her half-term holiday this week.  She has worked very hard during her first half-term and has had quite a lot of homework to do during this week.  She has enjoyed the course so far and her tutors are very pleased with her and the standard of her work.  This bodes very well.  She is also working hard to overcome her anxiety and also the sleep-phobia that has returned to plague her nights.

IMG_5836Raindrops

Raindrops caught in a spider’s web

IMG_5837Witch-hazel

A Witch-hazel leaf. All the rest of the tree’s leaves were a buttery yellow but the leaves on the new shoots went red.

IMG_5838Cricket

This Cricket, a female Speckled Bush-cricket (Leptophyes punctatissima) I believe, was sun-bathing while sitting on a yellow Witch-hazel leaf.

Alice seems well and is enjoying her new job but wishes she was able to work longer hours.  She has to have her PhD thesis printed before she can take part in her graduation ceremony so is trying to save up enough money to get it done.  She is coming home for the weekend in a fortnight and I am looking forward to it very much.  To see her in action discussing horror films please watch the video on the following link.

IMG_5840Autumn colour

Fine trees on a fine day. The churchyard of St Mary’s church in Halesworth. Whenever I see this wall I remember the times I have held one or other of my daughters’ hands when they were little as they balanced all the way along it. It used to take ages! Alice was especially keen.

Richard and I are starting to compile the list of improvements and repairs we need to do to the house and garden.  One of the first jobs will be to replace most of the windows and we hope to get this done before Christmas.  We are also getting a gardener/landscaper to clear and dig out the front ditch which has become overgrown and blocked.  We have asked him to cut the hedges too.  This will be done in a fortnight’s time.

IMG_5850Ladybirds

I found these ladybirds sheltering in my Rosemary bush next to the front door. I think they were hoping to hibernate there. We have since had some very wet weather and they are no longer there.

Last winter we had no ladybirds hibernating in the corner of the window in our bedroom.  This year, when we hope to replace the windows in a few weeks time, the ladybirds are back!  I will have to think of a way of gently moving them before the windows are removed.  I don’t know if they will be as interested in the new poly-carbonate windows we are to have, as they are in the old wooden ones with ladybird pheromones on!

IMG_5844Sir Alfred Munnings pub

Last Sunday we went out for lunch to The Sir Alfred Munnings in Mendham. (I don’t know what the black shadows are top right and bottom left of the photo).

The artist Sir Alfred Munnings was born in Mendham in 1878 and this restaurant and bar was re-named after him.

IMG_5849Mendham

Mendham is a very pretty village just a few miles from where we live.

IMG_5845Mendham church

Mendham church is quite large and well looked after. I couldn’t get far enough away from it to get the whole of the church in one photo.

IMG_5848Mendham church

Mendham church

IMG_5916Sunset

Sunset

IMG_5926Sunset

And another!

Here is one of my favourite songs – ‘Ola Ta Diskola’ (All the Difficulties) by Anastasia Moutsatsou.

Thanks for visiting!

 

 

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An Autumn Walk at Minsmere.

29 Thu Oct 2015

Posted by Clare Pooley in Days out, plants, Rural Diary, trees, walking

≈ 30 Comments

Tags

autumn, fungus, lichen, Minsmere, plants, ponds, RSPB reserve, Suffolk, trees, walking

We took advantage of a dry but cloudy afternoon earlier this week to walk through the woods at Minsmere.  To those of you who don’t know, Minsmere is an RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) wildlife reserve situated on the coast in Suffolk.  We didn’t see many birds, though as the afternoon wore on and the crowds of visitors began to leave we began to hear more birdsong.

IMG_5857Sand martin burrows

The cliff behind the visitor centre with Sand Martin (Delichon urbica) burrows. I’m not sure what the larger holes are – probably rabbit burrows.

We went first to the ponds behind the visitor centre to see if there was any sign of the Bird’s-nest fungus that was discovered there last year.  I looked but didn’t see any though that doesn’t mean it wasn’t there!  I did see some lichen on the decking.

IMG_5852Cladonia  Lichen

One of the Cladonia lichens

IMG_5855Lichen

More lichen was growing on the ground amongst the sparse grass and moss.

We saw lots of fungi on our walk but because of the low light many of my photographs didn’t come out very well and had to be erased.

IMG_5854Fungus

Fungus

IMG_5856Reeds

Reeds in the pond near the visitor centre – mainly Great Reedmace/ Bulrush (Typha latifolia)

IMG_5858Chestnut tree

A bright Sweet Chestnut tree (Castanea sativa)

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IMG_5871The wood

A little pale sunshine filtered down through the trees

IMG_5874Path at Minsmere

I believe the section they have roped off here is where the Adders (Vipera berus) live.

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IMG_5869Bramble flowers

We saw plenty of Bramble flowers (Rubus fruticosus agg.)

IMG_5876The wood

There was dead wood everywhere

IMG_5877Richard and Elinor

Richard and Elinor watching the rabbits on Warren Hill

IMG_5878Warren Hill

Lots of rabbits live here. The birds of prey appreciate this!

IMG_5879Sun through trees

We saw more of the sun as we neared sunset

IMG_5880Minsmere

Sun on the reeds and rushes

IMG_5882Minsmere

Minsmere at sunset

IMG_5883The wood

Edge of the wood

IMG_5886Minsmere

Sunset

IMG_5895The wood
IMG_5896The wood
IMG_5897Perhaps Lesser Water-parsnip

I think this may be Lesser Water-parsnip (Berula erecta) but I am probably wrong.

IMG_5898Lesser Water-parsnip

Here it is again showing its leaves

IMG_5900Pond

One of the many ponds

IMG_5901Fern

A fern

IMG_5903Holm oak

Holm or Evergreen Oak (Quercus ilex)

IMG_5905The wood
IMG_5907The wood
IMG_5909Minsmere

The bracken has turned such a rich colour

IMG_5910The wood

More dead wood

IMG_5914The wood

More colourful bracken

IMG_5915Fungus

The last fungus we saw – in the carpark!

Thanks for visiting!

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A Walk on Ramshaw Rocks – Peak District Holiday

26 Mon Oct 2015

Posted by Clare Pooley in Days out, plants, Rural Diary, walking

≈ 30 Comments

Tags

bilberry, church of St Edward the Confessor, cotton grass, heather, Leek, Peak District, Pride and Prejudice, Ramshaw Rocks, rocks, Staffordshire Moorland, walking

Sunday 16th August was Richard’s birthday and we marked it quietly by attending one of the churches in Leek and then having an early lunch at one of our favourite cafés.  My own father died shortly before my birthday five years ago and so I knew a little how Richard was feeling.

The church we attended was St Edward the Confessor and we were comforted by the familiar words of the service and afterwards were made very welcome by members of the congregation.  I mentioned this church in a post I wrote about the visit we made last year to the Peak District.  In that same post is a mention of the favourite café.   We were concerned to see that the café was up for sale.  Would it still be there next time we visited Leek and if it was, would it still provide us with tasty oatcakes?

I didn’t take any photographs of the interior of the church but Richard did with his phone.  The church contains some beautiful embroidery and stained glass.

DSC_0558

Stained glass in the church of St Edward the Confessor, Leek

DSC_0559

Stained glass window – St Edward the Confessor

I know that one window in the north transept was designed by Edward Burne Jones and made by Morris and Co.  Not having any means of finding out for certain which of these two windows is the window I cannot tag the photo.  (I think it might be the round window).

IMG_5449Hen Cloud

Hen Cloud from Ramshaw Rocks

The following day, we drove the short distance to Ramshaw Rocks as we wanted to walk on them again.  We parked the car by the side of the narrow road and walked up to the first of the rocks – the one we call the ‘Top Hat’ rock.

IMG_5450Top hat rock

‘Top Hat’ rock. I expect you can’t understand why we call it that!

I can see another photo-bombing bee!

IMG_5451Heather and bilberries

Heather (Calluna vulgaris) and Bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus)

IMG_5456Bilberry

A sweet and juicy bilberry!

IMG_5452Grass

Beautiful grasses – possibly Tufted Hair-grass (Deschampsia cespitosa)

IMG_5454R at top hat rock

Perhaps you see now why we call it the ‘Top Hat’!

This rock may look familiar to some of you.  Perhaps I should give you a clue.  Stick with the link – you will see the rock eventually.  If you haven’t the patience, the rock appears at 4.38 minutes into the clip.

IMG_5495Top hat

This rock can be seen very clearly from the road on your left as you go north along the A53 from Leek to Buxton.

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The photos in the slideshow are all of the rocks we saw on our walk.

IMG_5459View from RamshawRocks

A view of the surrounding countryside from Ramshaw Rocks

IMG_5461Common Cotton-grass still in flower

I was surprised to see this Common Cotton-grass (Eriophorum angustifolium) still in flower in August

IMG_5462Lichen and moss on rock

Lichen and moss on a rock

IMG_5467Common Cotton-grass

More Common Cotton-grass

IMG_5468Cocoon on heather

A cocoon on Heather. I don’t know what made the cocoon.

IMG_5471Tormentil

Tormentil (Potentilla erecta)

IMG_5475R climbing

Richard climbing up the hill

IMG_5476View from R Rocks

A view

IMG_5477View of hills

and another!

IMG_5479R and carved rock

Richard and the carved boulder

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IMG_5463Alpacas

Alpacas

IMG_5488Unknown flower

This is some type of Bedstraw plant. Note the pink spots on the flower buds.

IMG_5493Tiny fir tree

I found this tiny fir tree next to the path.

IMG_5494Rosebay-willowherb

This colourful Rosebay Willowherb (Chamerion angustifolium) caught my eye.

We had by this time walked back to near where we had begun our walk.  We returned to our caravan for our evening meal and a hot drink.

Thanks for visiting!

 

 

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Two Evenings Out

24 Sat Oct 2015

Posted by Clare Pooley in family, music, poetry, Rural Diary, theatre

≈ 29 Comments

Tags

Aquarelle Guitar Quartet, Brian Patten, Halesworth, Halesworth Arts Festival, music, Neil Innes, Poetry

Richard and I hardly ever go out in the evening but this week we managed to go out twice!  At the end of October each year the Halesworth Arts Festival takes place in The Cut, an old maltings that has been converted into an entertainment venue.  The Cut takes its name from the lane it is in – New Cut – which refers to new cuts made to the river when a lock was built in the 18th century and the River Blyth was made navigable from Southwold on the coast to Halesworth.

IMG_5842The Cut

The Cut

Last Sunday night we went to listen to a poetry reading by Brian Patten who made his name in the 60’s with the publication of the ‘Mersey Sound‘ anthology.  (The other two poets featured in this anthology were Adrian Henri and Roger McGough).  We enjoyed the evening very much.  Patten not only read many of his favourite poems but spoke about why and when he wrote them.  When I was in my very early 20’s and living in Liverpool I went to hear Roger McGough at a ‘Pubs and Pints’ event.  A nice re-connection, I thought.

We discovered Brian Patten had known and read with many other famous poets apart from Henri and McGough;  Robert Graves, Philip Larkin, Stevie Smith, Pablo Neruda, Allen Ginsberg, Laurie Lee and Robert Lowell.  He had shared a house with Brian Eno and had been friends with among many others, Keith Moon and Neil Innes.   Neil Innes was in the audience and joined him in a few reminiscenses.

Neil Innes?  He is the minstrel in this clip.

He is the singer here

My father who was a cabinet maker, once did some work for Neil Innes in the 70’s when Innes was living in Lewisham.  My father had no idea who Innes was and felt sorry for him and so undercharged for the work.  ‘His jeans were split at the knees and he was obviously short of money’ said Dad.  I think we were the ones who were short of money – always.  My mother explained who Dad had worked for.

The other performance Richard and I attended was a concert by the ‘Aquarelle Guitar Quartet’.  I don’t think I could describe them better than the blurb in the programme so please click on the link to read it and see the programme of music they played.  There is also a recording of them playing.

The programme included classical – old and modern, jazz, folk and film music.  I loved ‘Opals’ by Philip Houghton who is Australian and uses the Australian landscape as inspiration.  ‘Folia’ by the American composer Ian Krouse was amazing.

The four young men, who had met when they were at the Royal Northern College of Music, were charming, amusing and very talented and I would urge you to see them in concert if they play anywhere near where you live.

Thanks for visiting!

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A Walk in the Peak District.

17 Sat Oct 2015

Posted by Clare Pooley in Days out, Insects, plants, Rural Diary, trees, walking

≈ 45 Comments

Tags

butterfly, caves, Manifold Valley, Peak District, plants, sheep, squash stile, Thor's Cave, walking, Wetton, wild flowers

Not only did we have a week’s holiday in the Lake District this summer but we also went to the Peak District for a week.  I have already told you about the sad start to this break – the death of my mother-in-law on the day of our arrival.  We spent the first full day of our holiday with my brother-in-law but after that there wasn’t anything else to do but wait until we were told by the Coroner that we could arrange the funeral.

We thought we might as well stay in the Peaks and not abandon our holiday.  If Chris (my brother-in-law) needed us we would be close at hand.  We thought we would find comfort in walking in this beautiful part of the country.

After lunch on Saturday 15th August we drove to the village of Wetton in Staffordshire from where we intended to walk along the Manifold Valley.  We drove along a very scenic road en route to Wetton.

IMG_5345The Roaches and Hen Cloud from top road

The Roaches and Hen Cloud (the nearest hill) seen from the road.

IMG_5346View from top road

Another view of The Roaches. The Rocks look like spikes on the spine of a dinosaur.

IMG_5348View from top road

We could just see the Welsh hills on the far horizon beyond the flat Cheshire Plain.

We got to Wetton and found the car park near the centre of the village.  The buildings and houses in the village are mainly made of stone and the church, which was built in the 14th century has an exterior staircase to the belfrey which contains six bells.  The Royal Oak pub, which owns a camping field next to the car park is also the venue for the World Toe Wrestling Championships which began in the 1970’s!

IMG_5349Barn

One of the buildings of Wetton.

IMG_5350Squash stile

Another of those squash stiles which let tall and/or thin people through but not livestock or short people with generously proportioned legs etc.

IMG_5351R and river valley ahead

Richard and I crossed this field which sloped steeply down into the deep valley of the River Manifold.

IMG_5352Cow pat

There were many hazards.

IMG_5355Seed-head

A colourful seed-head – probably Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium).  We also saw a number of Betony (Stachys officinalis) flowers but none of my photos were any good.

IMG_5354Down to river valley

The route down to the river valley

At the bottom of the field we crossed a couple of stiles and entered a wood.

IMG_5358Walk through the wood

Path through the wood

IMG_5359Rhododendron leaves

Lots of invasive Rhododendron seedlings

IMG_5360Steps up through wood

Steps up through the woods

IMG_5362Steps up through wood

Yet more steps! Gasp! Puff!

We were going to see Thor’s Cave.

IMG_5365Thor's cave

Thor’s Cave

This is a Karst Cave i.e. it was formed from the dissolution of soluble limestone.  The entrance is just over 18m up on the hillside and the opening is a symmetrical arch, 7.5m wide and 10m high.  I don’t think there is any connection between this cave and the god Thor; the name probably derives from the word ‘tor’ meaning a hill or rocky peak.   I was most disappointed to find that I didn’t have the ability to climb up to the entrance from the path.  I had to wait outside while Richard explored inside.

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You can see minute-me waving at Richard in one of the photos above.  This will give you some idea of the size of the cave.

IMG_5391Thor's cave

This is what the entrance to the cave looks like from the path below.

While Richard enjoyed himself in the cave, I kept myself busy looking for things to photograph outside.

IMG_5377Hare bells (2)

Harebells (Campanula rotundifolia) growing out of a crevice in the stone.

IMG_5380Tiny maidenhair spleenwort

A tiny Maidenhair Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes).

IMG_5382Jacob's Ladder

Jacob’s-ladder (Polemonium caeruleum)

IMG_5383Another cave

I saw another cave entrance below us.

After Richard emerged from the cave we walked back down to the valley-floor.

IMG_5387Vegetation in the valley

Lots of different plants grew in the scree and rocks of the river-bed alongside the path. There were many wild raspberry canes with ripe fruit but again my camera failed to focus on them.

IMG_5392Meadow Crane's-bill

Meadow Crane’s-bill (Geranium pratense) next to the path.

IMG_5393Meadow Crane's-bill

I’m including another photo of these flowers because I like them! You can see that the seed-heads look a little bit like crane’s heads.

IMG_5394Wild Rhubarb or Butterbur

The large leaves of Butterbur (Petasites hybridus). Also known as Wild Rhubarb, the heart-shaped leaves can be up to 1m/3 ft across.

IMG_5395Meadowsweet

This Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) was so strongly and beautifully  scented!

IMG_5396Common Knapweed

Common Knapweed (Centaurea nigra)

Wild flowers
Wild flowers
Wild flowers
Wild flowers
IMG_5399Former railway line

The path we were walking along was the former Leek and Manifold Light Railway line.  There had even been a station at Thor’s Cave!

This also explains all the well-made steps up to the cave.

IMG_5400View of hill from path

View of a hill from the path.

IMG_5401Meadow Vetchling

Meadow Vetchling (Lathyrus pratensis)

IMG_5402Red Campion and Bramble

Red Campion (Silene dioica) and Bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.)

IMG_5403Meadowsweet

More Meadowsweet.

IMG_5404Hazel nuts

Ripening Hazel nuts (Corylus avellana)

IMG_5405Indian Balsam

The pretty flowers of the terribly invasive Indian Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera)

IMG_5406The path

Another view of the path.

IMG_5407Rosebay Willowherb

Lots of Rosebay Willowherb (Chamerion angustifolium)

IMG_5408Dry river-bed

This is the dry river bed of the Manifold.

In anything other than very wet weather the river disappears into swallowholes and flows through caves and subterranean passages and reappears at Ilam further downstream.

IMG_5409Lady's Mantle

Lady’s-mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris agg.)

IMG_5410Field Scabious

Field Scabious (Knautia arvensis)

IMG_5416Gnarled tree

A wonderfully gnarled and twisted tree.

IMG_5417Cinquefoil

Cinquefoil.  I think this is probably Creeping Cinquefoil but the leaves in the photo aren’t quite what I expect from Creeping Cinquefoil.

IMG_5419Hill and valley

Hill and valley.  We had left the old rail-track behind us.

IMG_5420Musk Thistle

Musk Thistle (Carduus nutans) with its drooping flower-heads

IMG_5422Lamb

A black-faced lamb

IMG_5423R on our walk

Richard walking along the track

IMG_5425Creeping thistle

Creeping Thistle (Cirsium arvense)

It was about this stage in our walk that we missed a landmark and went up a hill on the wrong side of a wall.

IMG_5426Stream

A stream

IMG_5428Tufted Forget-me-not

Tufted Forget-me-not (Myosotis laxa)

IMG_5429Small Heath

Small Heath butterfly (Coenonympha pamphilus)

IMG_5430Farmhouse

I took a photo of this house little realising that we should have gone past it and then climbed the hill.

IMG_5431Sheep

‘You’re on the wrong side of the wall, you fools!’, said the sheep.

IMG_5432Sheep tunnel

I took a photo of this sheep tunnel (note my shadow) little realising we could have used it to get onto the right side of the wall!

IMG_5433Stone wall

The wall. We little realised we could have climbed over it at this point.

View from the hillside
View from the hillside
Another view
Another view
Sun setting behind a hill
Sun setting behind a hill
IMG_5441R on our walk

It was here that it dawned on us we were heading for the wrong valley.

We re-traced our steps right back to the house I had photographed earlier.

IMG_5443Rock Stonecrop

Rock Stonecrop (Sedum forsterianum). This specimen was probably a garden escapee as the plant is only native in the SW of England.

IMG_5445Possibly Bogbean

I am not sure what this plant is. I think it might be Bogbean (Menyanthes trifoliata) but I am not sure. My guide says that the emergent leaves of Bogbean have the texture and appearance of broad bean leaves which I would say these do.  However….

IMG_5448Knotgrass

Knotgrass (Polygonum aviculare)

And that was the last photo I took you’ll be pleased to know.  Only when we got back to the house and saw that the correct path went up the same, long, steep hill that we had just climbed and then come down again, but on the other side of that wall that we realised exactly what we had done and what we still had to do.  I must admit that our hearts sank and we suddenly felt very tired.  We did it though; and got back to the car before the sun set.  We were tempted to have a meal in the pub but thought how late we would get back to our caravan if we did so.  We were very thankful to find the car and then return to the caravan site.

Thanks for visiting!

Apologies for the length of the post.

 

 

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Autumn in a Suffolk Lane – Part 2

11 Sun Oct 2015

Posted by Clare Pooley in churches, Days out, Gardening, music, plants, Rural Diary, trees

≈ 42 Comments

Tags

Acorn, ash keys, Astrantia, autumn, Bantam Cock, beach, chickens, Chrysanthemum, conker, dogwood, Dunwich Heath, dwarf gorse, eating apples, Elderberries, fungi, gardening, GERANIUM, Grove snail, Hibiscus, Jake Thackray, Knopper gall, leaf colour, Linstead Magna, Linstead Parva, liverwort, Michaelmas Daisy, moorhen, Pyracantha, rough sea, Salvia, silver birch, Suffolk, sunset, Tansy, viola

IMG_5766Beach at Dunwich Heath

The beach at Dunwich Heath.

We visited yet another of our local beaches on a very windy, cool afternoon recently.  We only stayed on the beach for a short while because the wind was so biting; Elinor and I both got earache.

IMG_5767Beach at Dunwich heath

The mist in the distance is sea-spray.

IMG_5768Beach at Dunwich Heath

The waves were quite rough but the tide was going out.

IMG_5769Beach at Dunwich Heath

Foam was left on the sand and was blowing about.

IMG_5770Dead fish

This little fish must have come too close to the shore.

IMG_5771Snail on bracken

This Grove Snail (Cepaea nemoralis) attached to its bit of bracken was swinging about in the wind.

My ID guide suggests that the Grove Snail “is used to demonstrate the survival of the fittest in evolution, because Thrushes eat the snails which are least well camouflaged against their environment.”

IMG_5772Gorse

The Heather (Calluna vulgaris) was past its best but the Dwarf Gorse (Ulex minor) was looking wonderful

IMG_5776Sunset

Another sunset.

In a post I wrote a couple of weeks ago I mentioned that the bright yellow of the Perennial Sow-thistle was not common at this time of year.  I will have to eat my words because most of the flowers I have seen since then have been yellow!

IMG_5778Tansy

Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) seen on the roadside between Linstead Magna and the village of Linstead Parva *(see below)

IMG_5779Tansy

The Tansy has very aromatic leaves and the little button flowerheads are made up of disc florets only.

IMG_5780Tansy

The genus name ‘Tanecetum’ and the name Tansy are both derived from the Greek word for immortality. The plant was believed to give  eternal life to the drinker of an infusion made from it.

Tansy used to be used as a flavouring in food until fairly recently.  Egg dishes especially, were enhanced by the use of finely chopped tansy leaves.  Tansy was also used as an alternative to expensive imported spices such as nutmeg and cinnamon and Tansy Cake at Easter was very popular.  Because of the strength of its scent, Tansy was also used as a repellent, keeping mice from corn and flies from meat.

IMG_5781Dogwood

Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea)

Close to where I photographed the Tansy I found this hedge of Dogwood.  It was covered in large black berries – the largest I have ever seen on a Dogwood – and most of  the leaves had turned a beautiful red.  Dogwood leaves are usually a much darker, duller maroon in Autumn.

IMG_5782Dogwood

What also surprised me about these Dogwood bushes was seeing flowers in bloom at the same time as the berries and the red leaves.

It isn’t easy to see them in this photo so I cropped it.

IMG_5782Dogwood - Copy

One of the flower-heads is in the centre of this picture.  The couple of weeks of warm and sunny weather we have had recently had fooled the bush into thinking it was spring again.

Richard and I have been working in the garden, getting it ready for winter.  I only seem able to get out there a couple of days a week but I have managed to get quite a lot done.  One of my jobs has been tidying behind the garden shed and round the back of the greenhouse.  Behind the shed was rank with weeds, mainly stinging nettles, which I was able to pull out fairly easily as the soil is quite damp there.  I had stored lots of pots and tubs full of spring bulbs behind the greenhouse so these have come back out to be smartened up and got ready for next spring.  I discovered other flowerpots that should have been emptied and cleaned ages ago.

IMG_5783Marchantia polymorpha liverwort with snail

This pot was covered with liverwort Marchantia polymorpha. It has little green cups on the leaf-like structures (thallus). Do you see the baby snail?

IMG_5818Fungus

We have a lot of fungus all over the grass in our garden. Nothing exciting or colourful, just brown and cream-coloured toadstools. These had been nibbled by something.

IMG_5814Fungus
IMG_5816Fungus

Two other unidentified types of fungi.

IMG_5786Hibiscus

I have had this Hibiscus for about 26 years. It was a gift from my ex-mother-in-law who brought this with her when she came to see us when Alice was a tiny girl.

I love these double flowers – the peach petals have dark crimson bases.

IMG_5788Chrysanthemum

Richard has a new Chrysanthemum flower

IMG_5789Geranium

My Geraniums are still flowering

IMG_5792Viola

I like this pretty Viola

IMG_5799Michaelmas Daisy
IMG_5800Michaelmas Daisy
IMG_5807Michaelmas Daisy

Three different Michaelmas Daisies

IMG_5808Salvia

Salvia

IMG_5811Astrantia

The three ages of Astrantia

IMG_5793Elderberries

Elderberries from the bush at the end of the drive.

IMG_5805Acorn

Acorn  This is the first time in years that these acorns aren’t affected by Knopper galls.

018Acorns with galls (640x458)

This is a photo I took last year of Knopper gall damage on acorns

IMG_5806Conker

‘Conker’

IMG_5815Ash keys

Ash ‘keys’

IMG_5795Autumn colour

The trees in our lane

IMG_5812Silver birch

Our Silver Birch is changing colour

IMG_5813Birch leaves

Birch leaves

IMG_5797Pyracantha

I pruned our Pyracantha recently

IMG_5821Apple tree damage

We not only had a lot of aphid damage to our apple trees in the spring and early summer but the apples on this tree are now being eaten by Moorhens!  It is odd seeing water birds wobbling about in the trees gulping down our apples as fast as they can.

We are getting a little tired of next-door’s free-range chickens in our garden all day.  They kick about in the flower beds and damage seedlings; they peck off flowers and generally make a mess of the paths, beds and compost heaps in the garden.  We have spoken to our neighbours about it a few times but they don’t appear to have any intention of keeping their chickens on their own land.  They have a constant supply of chicks too.

Linstead Magna (large/greater Linstead) is now a small collection of houses and farm buildings.  The church no longer exists but I spoke to someone some years ago who remembered the church and used to attend it.  For more information about this church see here.

Linstead Parva (small/lesser Linstead) is a pleasant little village with a pretty church.  In spring the churchyard is covered in snowdrops and other spring flowers.

Thanks for visiting!

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Autumn in a Suffolk Lane

08 Thu Oct 2015

Posted by Clare Pooley in amphibians, churches, Insects, music, Norwich, plants, Rural Diary, wild birds

≈ 38 Comments

Tags

amphibian, autumn leaf colour, church, common toad, Edith Cavell, Elder, field maple, Fish Slapping Dance, fungi, Great Tit, Halesworth, Herring Festival, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, mezzo-soprano, Monty Python, nest, Norwich Cathedral, picture-wing fly, shaggy inkcap, sunset, trees, wild bird

This post and the next will have assorted photographs of things I have seen.  I’ll also mention briefly a few things I have done.  The photos are inserted in chronological order as I can’t think of anything better!

IMG_5742Inkcaps at surgery

Toadstools on the lawn at the surgery.

A couple of weeks ago I had to attend the doctor’s surgery a few times in one week.  I collected my medication, I had my usual monthly blood test with a test for cholesterol which meant fasting from 10 pm the evening before, and I had my flu injection.  All on different days.  I noticed these toadstools after my blood test but unfortunately I had left my camera in the car.  The following morning I took these photos after my flu jab.

IMG_5743Inkcaps at surgery

These are Shaggy Inkcaps (Coprinus comatus) also known as Lawyer’s Wig and unfortunately most of them are past their best.

The early morning light made it difficult to photograph them and they had deteriorated significantly overnight.

IMG_5744Inkcaps at surgery

The white fungi are emerging Inkcaps but I can’t identify the dark brown mushrooms.

Some of you may remember that our parcels box was taken over by Great Tits in the spring and we had to seal it shut so that the birds were not disturbed.  I believe the brood was successful.  Richard dismantled the box last week as it was rotting and we had a look at the nest inside.

IMG_5745Bird's nest

Great Tit (Parus major) nest.

We looked closely at what had been used.  Please click on each photo to get a description of the materials used.

Dried grass and lots and lots of moss
Dried grass and lots and lots of moss
Bits and pieces of anything soft. I recognise lint/fluff from two of my pullovers here.
Bits and pieces of anything soft. I recognise lint/fluff from two of my pullovers here.
Sheep's wool
Sheep’s wool
Feathers
Feathers

The work that went into constructing this nest is astounding.

IMG_5746Common Toad

This is a Common Toad (Bufo bufo) that I saw crossing our drive.  Fortunately it took it’s time and I was able to run indoors and fetch my camera before it disappeared.

IMG_5747Common toad

Common Toad

IMG_5755Autumn colour

Autumn colour.  A Field Maple (Acer campestre)

Last week was a week of sunny warm days and cool nights.  The trees and plants began to show autumnal tints.

IMG_5758Autumn colour

Elder (Sambucus nigra) leaves have turned pink

IMG_5760Sunset

A wonderful sunset seen from the back of our house

IMG_5765Fly

A ‘picture-wing’ fly. Possibly from the Herina group.

This little fly was in our kitchen some nights ago.  I took this photo when it landed on the window blind.  It was only a few millimetres in length.

Richard and I noticed posters up in Halesworth announcing the Herring Festival.  This is to take place in The Cut, the centre for the arts in the town.  The herring industry has been in decline for some time and Richard and I wondered what went on at the festival (not ever having gone).  We remembered this……

I haven’t been able to attend our local churches very often recently.  I have been taking my mother to her church once a fortnight to enable me to go to church with Richard every other week.  We took Elinor to the morning service at Norwich Cathedral a couple of weeks ago as she enjoys these services.  The Cathedral was preparing to hold a number of services to commemorate the life of Edith Cavell.

My music choice for this post is one of my favourite arias sung by my favourite mezzo-soprano, the late, great Lorraine Hunt Lieberson

Thanks for visiting!

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A Walk in Whinlatter Forest

05 Mon Oct 2015

Posted by Clare Pooley in Days out, Insects, plants, Rural Diary, walking

≈ 40 Comments

Tags

bolete, butterfly, cat's-ear, Climbing Corydalis, common ragwort, Forestry Commission, Fox-and-cubs, fungus, heather, lady's-mantle, lichen, moss, pixie-cup lichen, ringlet, walking, Whinlatter Forest, wild flowers

Alice came to visit us on the last day of our holiday in the Lake District.  We met her off the train in Penrith at about 10.00 am and took her back to our rented cottage for a cup of tea.  After catching up with all her news we took her to Whinlatter Forest which we had visited briefly earlier in the week, as Elinor wanted to show it to her sister.

IMG_5237Whinlatter Forest

This is another Forestry Commission forest and is mainly planted with non-native trees.

Not only are there a number of tracks through the woods for walking and mountain biking but they also have segways for hire too.  There are trails designed to appeal to small children and zip wires and swinging on ropes for very active people.

We walked.

IMG_5238Whinlatter Forest

Whinlatter Forest

Alice is a fast walker so she and Richard went ahead.  I am forever on the lookout for interesting plants and insects and take lots of photos and Elinor can’t walk fast or far so we both kept together.

IMG_5239Alice and Richard in the forest

Alice and Richard waiting for Elinor and me.

IMG_5240Forest glade

Elinor liked this forest glade.

IMG_5243Bolete fungus perhaps

A Bolete fungus.  I cannot identify this one.

IMG_5244Underside of the Bolete

Looking at the underside of the toadstool.   The photo shows that Boletes do not have gills but spongy tissue with pores in. This fungus has been eaten by something.

IMG_5245Climbing Corydalis

Climbing Corydalis (Ceratocapnos claviculata)  Not a very good picture.

IMG_5247Heather

Heather (Calluna vulgaris) in bud with a faded Cat’s-ear (Hypochaeris radicata)

IMG_5249Lichen

Lichen

IMG_5254Fox and cubs

Fox-and-cubs (Pilosella aurantiaca) with yellow Cat’s-ear

IMG_5250Lichen perhaps Cladonia pyxidata

I believe this lichen is Cladonia pyxidata – Pixie-cup Lichen

You can see how small these little cups are by comparing them with the pine needles next to them.

IMG_5251Ringlet perhaps

This butterfly flew next to us for some way along a sunny track. I tried to photograph it countless times and this time thought I had managed it….

The reason I really wanted to get a photograph of it was that I thought it looked like a Ringlet butterfly but they usually have eye-spots on their wings.   I have since done some research and I believe it is likely to be a Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus) as sometimes they are seen without eye-spots.  What is confusing is that all references to Ringlets state that they aren’t found in the north-west of England!  I am sending my inadequate photo to ukbutterflies.co.uk to see what they make of it.

IMG_5252Moss

Yet more moss!

IMG_5256Lady's-mantle

Lady’s-mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris agg) behind more Fox-and-cubs

IMG_5258Common Ragwort

Common Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea)

IMG_5255Fell view

View of the surrounding fells (hills)

IMG_5253Skiddaw

This fell is Skiddaw

We returned to the carpark and went into the café and had a drink and a sandwich.  We took Alice back to our cottage for a while until it was time for her to catch her train to Sheffield.  We spent the rest of the day cleaning the cottage and packing for our journey  home the following day.

Thanks for visiting!

 

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Dobgill Waterfall

02 Fri Oct 2015

Posted by Clare Pooley in Days out, plants, Rural Diary, walking

≈ 27 Comments

Tags

Dobgill, Dobgill Wood, foxglove, fungus, heath bedstraw, larch trees, liverwort, moss, Phytophthora ramorum disease, tree-felling, walking, waterfall, wood sorrel

After leaving Elinor in the car to rest (see previous post Thirlmere Reservoir) Richard and I began the steep climb up to see the waterfall.

IMG_5210Ramorum sign

The sign that was attached to the gate leading into the upper wood.

This is yet another disease that is killing our trees.  I have found an interesting and informative article on a Forestry Commission site about Ramorum disease and I include it here.  It includes a video in which an expert goes over a diseased tree and points out and explains the symptoms.

IMG_5211Oozing tree

Almost the first tree I saw showed symptoms of a bleed.

IMG_5212Dobgill wood

Tree-felling in Dobgill wood.

I don’t know why the stone wall was here.  Perhaps it had been constructed before the trees were planted.  Just behind the trees in the photo is a sheer rock face.

IMG_5213Dobgill wood

There was a marked difference between the wood below the car-park near the lake and this part of the higher wood.

IMG_5214Dobgill wood

The trees struggle to grow up between boulders. The native deciduous trees have been left standing.

IMG_5215Chewed fungus

Chewed fungus

IMG_5216Path up through wood

This is the steep stony path we took up through the wood.

IMG_5217Dobgill falls

Dobgill Falls

IMG_5225Dobgill falls

Dobgill Falls

IMG_5227

Dobgill Falls

The climb was very tiring because so steep and rough under-foot and I’m not sure that the falls were really worth the struggle to get to see them.  However, Richard and I were very pleased with ourselves at having managed to get to the top.  After a short rest to get our breath back we began to walk back down the hill.

IMG_5223Heath Bedstraw

Heath Bedstraw (Galium saxatile)

IMG_5224moss

Hypnum cupressiforme moss / Cypress-leaved Plait-moss

I love this moss.  It looks as though it is made from plaited silk.

IMG_5228Wood Sorrel leaves

Wood Sorrel leaves (Oxalis acetosella)

IMG_5230Fungus on dead tree

Fungus (I think) on dead tree

IMG_5234Liverwort

Not a very clear photo of some liverwort

IMG_5236Dobgill wood

Foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea) in Dobgill Wood

I found walking in this upper wood rather a sad experience with disease and death all around.  Because most of the trees in this part of the wood are non-native there are fewer insects, birds, wild flowers and plants than in the lower wood.  Those non-native trees are now being killed by an incurable disease (also known as Sudden Oak Death).  I hope that by destroying these trees the spread of Ramorum can be slowed down and that one day a cure can be discovered.  It would be nice to think that the native trees in the wood that are unaffected might now be able to grow and spread and native wildlife might return.

Thanks for visiting!

 

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I talk about what it's like living in a quiet part of Suffolk. I am a wife, mother and daughter, a practising Christian and love the natural world that surrounds me. I enjoy my life - most of the time!

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