December draws a delightful display of Viburnum, which blossoms along the entrance road. Countless clusters of classy white flowers tinged pink where each little floret bursts from its bud.
In January, the Japanese Spindle will follow, fruiting orange berries which will break from their ripening rosy capsules. The colour will match that of Stinking Iris which perseveres through the season and replaces that of the remaining red Rosehips will dwindle upon their thorny stems.
The first Winter Heliotrope has also bloomed at Sunnydale. Stalks of pale-purple flowers emerging above the carpet of green kidney-shaped leaves. Pretty, if were not for its invasive tendency to spread and outcompete all the natural groundcover and therefore has limited value for biodiversity.
Here, amongst the well-established wood, euphonious bird song echoes through the tree trunks: Soothing sounds from the rhythms of Robin, sweet Blue Tit, and the restless Wren. The chorus is broken by the deeper corvid calls; Carrion Crow chatter, ‘chuk’ing Magpie and rasping Raven.
More repetitions from a Coal Tit’s two-tone tunes. And a flurry of movement, where the Long-tailed Tits pass through, soft whistles of communication as they follow one another through the trees.
The stream bed is dry, instead filled with curling Sycamore leaves. The trail of leaf litter flowing through the fruiting Cherry Laurel, past the young Yew, and eddying under the Hypericums. It’s banks are green with Ivy and Ferns; Male and Hart’s Tongue.
Last week, rangers and volunteers cut another coupe of Hazel around the Aviary Glade. One of seven sections cut in rotation to provide an annual crop. Catkins have formed upon the remaining mature stalls, though none of female flowers showing just yet.