Hot September days

            Normally such a cool place to be even Crow Wood has felt airless in this unusual September heatwave. Overall it has been quite a wet year so there should be plenty of moisture in the soil but some trees are showing the impact of the high temperatures by losing their leaves early. One of our grandest old oaks seems to be suffering particularly and we noticed recently there are a number of bare twigs right at its crown. The tree has a large bracket fungus growing from its base, which returns every year. We think it is a species known as Artist's Bracket, Ganoderma applanatum, so called because it is possible to draw into its white underside. It is likely that the fungus is slowly killing the tree and this is now showing in the thin crown. The fungus has been apparent on the tree since we acquired the wood in 2005 so it really is a slow death. As well as the seasonal loss of leaves, exaggerated by the heat, other trees are showing the impact of squirrels, which like to strip the bark of birches and chestnuts particularly to get at the sweet sap underneath. This invariably causes all the stem above the wound to die back and the tree to lose its leaves early. Grey Squirrels are a great nuisance in woodland and in some years cause considerable damage. Death, however, is just part of the woodland cycle - our favourite oak will be with us for many a year yet and even when dead will be an important element of the Crow Wood story and of its ecological cycles.

             Life goes on. Early Autumn is generally a quiet time for birds but the Hornets are out in force and the hot conditions have encouraged a few butterflies to stay on the wing longer than usual. Reptiles seen recently include Slow Worms, Viviparous Lizards and a Grass Snake all enjoying the hot days. A few toads are also about and always manage to find a damp, shaded spot to shelter in until nightfall. The bees have had a very successful year and our apiarist friend was able to give us 4 jars of honey this year as rent........very welcome, indeed.

It is an exceptional year for Rowan berries

Chestnuts are getting bigger and will crop well, hopefully

The bracket fungus on the oak tree, a sign of decay deep within the trunk

This Birch has lost all it leaves after Squirrels stripped the bark

 A Brimstone butterfly still out and about

A Toad keeping cool under a tin sheet

More squirrel damage, this time to a young Chestnut tree

The crown of the affected oak tree showing the loss of leaves and bare twigs

A heathy oak crown for comparison

A rather worn Speckled Wood butterfly

A Comma butterfly