First Bluebell in the woods!

Last weekend we saw the first Bluebell in the woods!

It's been a busy week for work, which is why I've only just got around to posting it here...

There's loads of other flowers out too. I tried some artistic photos of this daffodil and old log, one with the flower in focus, the other with the log in focus:

Wood Anemones are spreading fast. Compare this photo with one taken two weeks earlier:

Up the hill in Sweep Wood, where we coppiced just over a year ago, the ground flora is creating a low-level jungle!

and at the very top there are Nettles and Dogs Mercury competing for light:

There's also other odd things there, probably garden escapees:

Further down in the hill, where we were working just a few months ago, there are some odd shrub-like plants, that I remember trying to avoid damaging while felling. I'll wait and see if they flower to try and ID them, but any suggestions welcome!

Moving onto the trees... Sweet Chestnut buds are on the point of opening:

While Hornbeam is already out:

and Birch is way ahead:

It's also nice to see shoots coming out on the coppiced Hornbeam, I expect the other species won't be far behind:

Finally, I was pleased to get a couple of photos of a Greater Spotted Woodpecker, as it was a difficult shot - high up in an Oak with lots of twigs in the way:

There's not much longer to get photos of birds before the leaves hide them from view until the Autumn.

Finally, we cooked dinner on the woodgas campstoves, and sat by the fire until dusk.

A very pleasant Sunday evening!

Mike