Waiting for news

I've sent this photo, with a few others, to The Forestry Commission and I think I already know what their reply will be, as there are a number of sites locally where many young Ash trees have had to be destroyed.

Now the guidelines have changed and only those trees  which show signs of the Ash dieback disease will have to be destroyed.   At the moment only few of the 420+ Ash trees that we have planted display obvious signs of having the disease.
 
The latest guidance says that mature trees can be left, even if they are struck down by the fungus. Experts are hoping that  there will be some native trees left that are immune to this fungus.

There are a number of old, coppiced Ash trees in our ancient hedgerow, so it's great that they don't have to be cut down.

Help with identifying Ash Dieback disease.

Ash Dieback

Farming Today on BBC Radio 4  this morning was all about this disease. A number of experts were interviewed followed  by a general discussion about whether should be done to keep our native trees free from imported diseases.

Ash Trees Dieback disease

The Foresty Commission has issued a warning about a fungal disease

that has reached our shores from the continent. A report on the Today programme this morning said that only trees in Norfolk were infected.

The link above gives more details and help with identifying diseased trees. It also gives contact details  of organisations that should be contacted if you are concerned about any  ash trees that are dying back.

The woodland is beginning to look very colourful as autumn approaches. It has been a good season for berries in the hedgerow and on the trees. Fungi are started to pop up along the rides and most of the flowers have died down and are displaying pretty seedheads.



Rose hips



Bryony



Ragwort

Old Knobbley's Book.

After many years of studying and admiring this 800 year old Oak tree in Mistley, my daughter has just published this beautifully illustrated childrens' book, which tells the tale of the events that he witnessed during his long and eventful life.
Designed with children in mind, this is an ideal book for Nature and history enthusiasts-- well if they are not interested in these subjects, they will be when they have looked at the book!

The rides have been cut!

It took James nearly 3 hours to cut the rides and the footpath along from the Old Rectory. As you can see there is plenty of vegetation to rake up and put into piles amongst the trees. This will encourage small mammals and insects into the wood.

We have made a start and the area in the middle and one of the rides have been cleared.  The lovely weather this weekend should encourage our willing volunteers to finish off the job.

These two wee beasties were a bit of a distraction. The Green Shield Bug on the seed head of a cow parsley plant  and a small spider that darted from the middle if it's web to sort out it's latest prey.

Wet, wet wet!

The wood is looking very colouful just now with a great variety of wildflowers growing along the rides and between the trees. One evening last week, I wandered about with my camera, as the sun was setting.  There were plenty of bees and other small beasties about, but not many butterflies, which is a bit worrying. The wet summer hasn't suited them at all and it has been difficult for us to find a suitable time to cut the rides.

There are always plenty of tiny beasties jumping around in the grass beween the trees. This one is a Meadow Grasshopper (I think)

This tiny spider seemed to be

posing in the evening sunlight!

Sunshine suits all.

We have had a couple of reasonably sunny days, with not too much wind, just right for wandering round the wood with the camera. Three interesting things caught my attention.


Pyramidal Orchid

Only one spotted in the woodland, although they are thought to be fairly common in England                                    







Goat's-beard

Its common name is Jack-go-to-bed-at-noon.  The flower opens early and closes at noon. As you can see, this photo was taken in  the glow of evening sunlight.

A Small Ermine moth caterpillar.

Many of the branches were shrouded  in what looked like a very large spider's web, which is secreted by  the caterpillars  to protect themselves from predators.



A new elm tree for Elmsett

Photo by Loraine Wenham

James Buckle is planting our commemorative elm tree in the middle of our wood next to the  last area of trees that were were donated by and  planted  by the community.
Most of the elm trees in and around the village were killed by dutch elm disease in fact there are a few skeletal trees in the hedge that surrounds the wood.
This tree has been selected from stock that has some resistance by King and Co. a tree nursery near Braintree.
Let's hope that this one will grow straight and tall and survive for many years.

Celebrations in the Wood

The rain kept away and many people came to celebrate our Queen's Jubilee and watch James buckle plant our commemorative tree.
Much thought and effort had gone into making the scarecrows. Local charity shops had been raided to find suitable clothes and props for their creations and James Buckle, our judge, looked long and hard to find the winners!


 He thought that Lizzie, the bird-watching queen, was well thought out and reflected the  queen's love of the countryside.

There were lots of extra props (the tartan scarf, a pair of binoculars, the scarf, tied in royal fashion and a bird spotters magazine in her pocket) which made this, a truly royal scarecrow.

The rest of the scarecrows are lurking in the Jubilee Scarecrows page above!







Prize-giving



Commemorative tree

We collected this lovely disease resistant elm tree from King and Co's  tree nursery in Rayne, Essex yesterday. Could have bought a whole load of other, well grown trees for our garden, but this one took up most of the room in our small car!

It's just the right size and should grow well in the middle of the wood.

Thanks nurserymen for your help.

James Buckle will be planting this for us at 11 o'clock on Tuesday 5th June, when we celebrate the Queen's Jubilee.

So much to learn

An excerpt from the feature documentary by Louie Schwartzberg following notable mycologist, Paul Stamets, as he discusses the important role mushrooms play in the survival and health of the earth and human species.

Winter wanderings

On a cold, bright morning, as I wandered round the wood, not expecting to take many photos, I glanced down at the base of the hedge that runs along the back and spotted these gelatinous fungi, growing on a rotting length of wood.
The Jew's Ear fungus is smooth when fresh, but becomes hard and folded as it matures and dries out in dry weather. It is able to rehydrate when it rains and continue to shed spores. It likes damp woodland and is widespread in warmer parts of northern temperate zones.

There have been sightings of the barn owls hunting over the woodland. It would be good if they decided to become residents of out barn owl box.
A kestrel family were the first occupants and Roger Horne took this lovely photo of a chick, while it was being ringed. Last year I think the jackdaws got there first.
We shall see!

Improving the hedgerow

As you can see from the photo, the hedge between Buckle's Wood and the village meadow is in a sorry state! Some serious restoration is needed.
We have applied for a pack of saplings from The Woodland Trust, given to communities as part of the Jubilee celebrations. When I last looked, they had received over 7,000 requests. If we are lucky, it will be a great start to our project. the birds, insects and other wildlife that are attracted to well maintained hedges will be glad too!

Planting trees is good for the planet

Coppicing

The trees along the ditch on the western edge of our woodland have been coppiced in time gone by. This ancient way of woodland management, by cutting trees down at their base, encourages vigorous new growth and helps to prolong the their lifespan. The cut timber has many uses.
www.coppicing.com has lots of additional information and illustrated examples of good practice.

Fabulous Fungi

The recent mild, wet weather is just right for fungi. This year there are many different species popping up through the grass. Last Sunday was warm and sunny, so I wandered round with my camera.

I wish I knew more about mushrooms and fungi, their names in particula

Last Sunday, The Living World on Radio 4 featured two experts discussing their finds on a fungi foray in Wales. It was fascinating.

Tidying up

James has trimmed the ground cover away from the base of the hedges, where the blackthorn was encroaching onto the rides and cut back the new growth on the section of hedge that has been layed. Since then, the other side of this section has been cut by Robert Fison's contractor.

The Spindle bushes really stand out now, with branches full of fruits and seeds, which are poisonous. The wood from these shrubs were once used for spindles, knitting needles and skewers.
While I was taking these photos, a few starlings were enjoying the last of the sloe and blackberries in the hedgerow.

Heaps of hay and baskets of berries

We concentrated on the area in the middle of the woodland and then on the rides leading up to it. I would say that more than half of the grass has been raked off and heaped into piles amongst the trees. The rest will be done as and when the sun shines and people have an hour to spare.

There are lots of berries and fruit on the trees in the woodland and the hedgerow. The birds and beasts will have full tummies, if the apple and blackberry cumble makers don't find them soon!