A Cotswold Year - Charting the seasons in the South Cotswolds


Thursday 30 October 2014

Dursley Beech Woods

  • Beech trees are showing their autumn colours as the leaves start to fall. There were a few sunny intervals today as we walked through the woods above Dursley and they are well worth a visit.

Sunday 26 October 2014

Autumn in Coaley Wood

Leaves are falling fast now but there is still plenty of autumn colour in  Coaley Wood.
It's a lovely time to get out for a walk in the woods.

Friday 24 October 2014

Colours in the autumn evening sunshine.

After a stormy afternoon, just before dark we were treated to an amazing effect in the south Cotswolds.

Friday 17 October 2014

Beech Mast

There appears to be a very high quantity of beech nuts on the ground this autumn known as mast.
Beech does not always produce ripe nuts but in mast years such as this year trees bear thousands of ripe nuts which provide a feast for wildlife.
We seem to be crunching over nuts everywhere on our woodland walks and even in the garden. It is not clear why mast years occur but weather may be a factor

Tuesday 7 October 2014

Teasels


 Teasels were used in textile processing many years ago. The seed heads made a natural comb for woollen cloth where they were used to raise the nap. Nowadays teasels have been replaced by metal cards but seeing them growing in the countryside reminds us of years gone by. Today they provide a useful source of food for small birds like the Goldfinch.

Monday 6 October 2014

Woodland Clearance

 Scenes reminiscent of rainforest slash and burn as the National Trust burns brash wood in Woodchester Park to clear woodland to restore pasture for cattle and sheep.
Their aim is to recreate the historic parkland landscape and to encourage the rare lesser horseshoe bats which are already present in the park.

Friday 3 October 2014

End of Summer?

Rain forecast but what a fantastic warm dry September we had with only 12mm rain recorded in our garden.
Our borders are still looking good but sadly it can't last