Sweet Chestnut

Came across these lovely old Chestnut trees on an estate near Shipton Moyne whilst out walking last week. Must be hundreds of years old.

Sun and Showers

It is feeling like Autumn already as the rose bay willow herb starts to set seed beneath stormy looking skies.
We managed an early walk with some sunshine before the rain set in.

Crane Chicks

A pair of Cranes released in Somerset as part of the Crane Reintroduction Project have returned to Slimbridge WWT to breed and hatched two chicks this year. Lovely to see these birds living in the wild again.

Marbled White Butterfly

The uncut long grass of meadows near our home are alive with butterflies at the moment including the Marbled White pictured. We also saw large numbers of Meadow Brown, Ringlet and large Skipper although getting close enough for a good picture before they fly off is a challenge.

Bullfinch

Over the years the species of birds visiting our feeders have changed.
Sadly gone are the once common Greenfinch but Bullfinch are welcome new visitors and this lovely pair are becoming regulars.

Bee Orchid

Yesterday we spent a lovely morning on Rodborough Common with our local RSPB group looking for butterflies. At present the common is covered with many different species of Orchids and other wild flowers. We were delighted to spot this amazing Bee Orchid in the limestone grassland, many Common Fragrant both in pink and white as well as Pyramid and Twayblade Orchids.

Wood garlic

Spring colours have been at the best this week. The wood garlic flowers carpet the woodland floor as the beech trees come into leaf. All too soon the leaf canopy will blot out the light and the woodland floor will die back.

Roe deer in grassland

 Roe deer usually hide in the woodland but when grass is allowed to grow longer for hay or silage they are attracted into the fields. They like to graze in grass where other animals have not been and can often be seen in the early morning.

Beech woods in Spring

The delicate green of freshly emerged beech leaves, bluebells underneath and blue sky above. What a magnificent Springtime sight!

Bluebell Woods

 Happy Easter
Enjoy a walk in the beautiful bluebell woods of the Cotswolds