Time and tide

            I have written before about our main Oak tree, the bracket fungus growing out of its base and the split in its side. The tree has likely been in decline for all the time we have known it: oak trees take a long time to die. Well, this week, perhaps prompted by high winds, the tree fell. It must have made quite a noise as it came down. Examination today showed that, as we thought, the timber around the base was very rotten and the split in the main trunk had gone a long way into the trunk. It is a great shame to lose such a magnificent tree and one that has been at the heart of our woods and our family times (until recently it held a much enjoyed swing seat) but we will leave it in its new situation to be enjoyed in new ways. It will produce a fine amount of firewood for years to come too and thankfully it fell without causing any significant damage.

          Elsewhere the wet days of Winter are hopefully behind us and the wood is coming to life again. The first flowers are opening and Brimstone and Comma butterflies are on the wing. After all the rain these weeks, the ground remains pretty saturated: a few days of sun will dry it out so we can drive on it. 

       Roll on Spring !

A Comma butterfly on Gorse flowers

Celandines are always a welcome sight

Orchids beginning to show themselves

The fallen giant