Well, it’s a beautiful day for a nice stroll in the Pleasure Ground - that’s what I would have been saying yesterday. But, today, it is rather stormy as our first named storm of the Autumn/winter moves through, Storm Ashely is rather making me wet!
I decide to walk straight towards the Pleasure Grounds, A – because I hope to stay dry’ish, and B – to see if I could find anymore Red Cage Fungus, or another Fungus which a member of the public took picture of yesterday and reported to us – a round pink like fungus, unfortunately I could not find it.
I continue to walk, getting soaked and passing dog walkers as I go – for understandable reasons there was not many birds flying or singing along, but I did see many Wood Pigeons flying and chilling on the Holm Oaks, and one Magpie staring at me – one for sorrow, that bodes well for today!
Heading towards the shed I see a beautiful Beech tree, I thought to myself how nice it is to see it amongst the predominantly non-native Holm Oak woodland. I then decide to head right into the shrubs and trees to see if I could see anything interesting. I notice the area of the Pleasure Ground I walked through was full of Hazel, and Ash acted as the canopy – unfortunately not many of its beautiful compound leaves were present making me rather wet. On the ground I noticed the Stinking Iris, Hart’s-tongue Fern, Shield-Fern, Ground Ivy and brambles – I thought to myself: “It will be interesting to come back here in the spring – see what species of woodland plants grow then and in much sunnier weather (hopefully)!”
I continue, I see a pollarded tree, possibly an species of Oak (likely Holm Oak), but it didn’t seem to be doing well – Lots of fungus is growing on it including King Alfred’s Cake. Further on I take a stop to look out at sea, a pretty wavy Durlston Bay I have to say, have seen it much worse though!
Finishing off, I have spotted two Red Cages, both already known to be there, no new one found today. But both a looking rather sad – maybe too much rain?