It’s wet and foggy as I get out of the car. I decide to walk straight to the pleasure ground woodlands, on the way I hear and see a Crow, Raven, Robin, Wren, Dunnock, Firecrest, and a Great Tit. On to the picnic area of Long Meadow a couple of male Blackbirds are spotted, another Robin too, as a Blue Tit sings away in and amongst the hedgerows.
Into the Pleasure Ground Woodlands, the Holm Oaks create an even darker atmosphere, while Stinking Iris dominates the ground floor. I head straight to see what’s growing in the glade – here I see Lords and Ladies, Creeping Thistle, various Fern species, Willowherb, Garlic Mustard and more, a Jackdaw can be heard above me as I look around.
Moving onward, a Jay, Blackcap, and another Firecrest can be heard above the predominantly Holm Oak woodland, with Great Horsetail spotted on the ground. A Wood Pigeon is seen flying behind Black Pine and in front of a rather foggy English Channel. A Grey Squirrel is seen rustling down some scrub while a Chiffchaff sings away.
Walking on, Willow, Brambles, a still leafless Sycamore, Winter-heliotrope, Japanese Spindel, Bamboo, Horse-chestnut, Monetary Cypress, Holly, and Bay are all spotted as a Raven and Rooks are heard above the canopy. Off the path a few plants were spotted, Non-native Bluebells, Lesser Celandine, Three Cornered Leek (which can be mistaken for white bluebells, but has a garlic/onion/leek’y smell to them), and Primroses still in bloom, here above Great Tits and Herring Gulls can be heard.
Into the Aviaries, a female Blackbird is spotted, Ramsons (Wild Garlic) is in plentiful supply, Daffodils are still in bloom, Hart-tongue Fern a present, and Hazel is growing on coppiced stalls. All the while Robins, Crows and Collard Doves are heard.
Heading back to the Learning Centre – I spot a full Lords and Ladies looking pretty, Native Bluebells – with its droopier posture, a Treecreeper. In Long Meadow the suns try to pop out with leaves growing on Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Pedunculate Oak, Field Maple, Horse-chestnut, and Dogwood. A Buff-tailed Bumblebee as well as a Long-tailed Tit were spotted and back in the car park Goldfinches were flying about.