It’s a foggy, wet and windy morning as I head towards the pleasure grounds woodland for some form of cover. Taking the south side of Long Meadow, I spot two Great Tits on the Dogwood along the hedgerow here. Going into the woodland I start the kids trail, a canopy of Holm Oaks keeps me somewhat dry from the rain. Here lots of Stinking Iris can be observed as well as Wild Privet. A few Goldcrests can be heard above with the odd Blue Tit, Chaffinch and Robin. To the ground I spot Jelly Fungus species coming out of one of the log path edging, which obsidentify identifies as Tremella aurantia (also known as Golden Ear in North America), however it also looks closely like the much more common Tremella mesenterica (also known as Yellow Brain Fungus or Witches butter), however I am not an expert on fungi!
Onto the main path, a Crow is heard above, Song Thrush in the distance, the beautiful song of a Great Tit, Harts-tongue Fern spotted within the Brambles, and many a Blue Tit can be heard. I take the Woodchip path where many a Winter Heliotrope is spotted, as well as what I believe is Stereum hirsutum (False Turkey Tail) on the logs.
Continuing, I pass Garden Privet, Bamboo, leafless Sycamore, Monterey Cypress, the veteran Beech, Butchers Broom, Japanese Evergreen Spindle, Ground Ivy, and a whiff of garlic from Ramsons or Wild Garlic as they start to grow with the spring just a few days away. Meanwhile a Wren sings away, Song Thrush heard in the nearby private garden, and a male Blackbird flies past in front of me.
Around the aviaries, Wrens can be heard echoing, many Daffodils are seen as well as lots of Blue Tits around the Shed, a Rook is heard as Snowdrops, Lesser Celandine, Early Crocus and Primroses bloom the woodland.
Heading back to the Learning Centre, I take the Long Meadow – it is a long way from its June prime of wildflowers, but a Robin, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Chaffinch and Crows were still spotted around the hedgerow of Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Dogwood, Field Maple, Sycamore and Japanese Evergreen Spindle.