Winter | An English Wood

The updated species list

Posted by Wildwood on Mar 5, 2025 in 2025, February, Winter | 2 comments

I’ve finally updated the ‘Species in the Wood’ page on the site, up to and including 2024.

Photo is looking south across the pond from the high bank, which is only accessible in winter.

Picture taken February 19.

#nature #pond

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Hazel #tree

Posted by Wildwood on Feb 24, 2025 in An English Wood Blog, February, Hazel, Plants, Trees, Winter | 0 comments

Corylus avellana.

Picture taken February 19.

#trees #plants #plant #nature #naturephotography #woods #hazel

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“Quite violent purgative” #plant

Posted by Wildwood on Feb 21, 2025 in 2025, An English Wood Blog, February, Flowers, Plants, Spurge Laurel, Winter | 0 comments

Neither a spurge nor a laurel, Spurge Laurel, Daphne laureola, was once used medicinally, according to Stevens in “Discovering Wild Plant Names.”

Picture taken February 9.

#wildflowers #plants #nature #naturephotography #woods #wildflower #spurge

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Bark beetles #insect

Posted by Wildwood on Feb 17, 2025 in 2025, An English Wood Blog, Bark Beetles, February, Insects, Winter | 2 comments

Thanks to neighbours Ken and Linda for explaining what’s happened to this Ash. “Bark beetles lay their eggs under the bark of dead trees. When the eggs hatch the larvae feed … under the bark and leave characteristic galleries as they move forward … Once they are full size they pupate and emerge as adult beetles to start it all off again. Woodpeckers find this secret food supply by pecking away the dead bark, then feed on the larvae, pupae and adult beetles.

This is probably the work of Hylesinus crenatu, the Large Ash Bark Beetle.

Picture taken February 9.

#nature #naturephotography #woods #insects #insectphotography #bird #birds #woodpecker #tree #trees #Ash

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Stinking Hellebore #plant

Posted by Wildwood on Feb 14, 2025 in 2025, An English Wood Blog, February, Flowers, Plants, Stinking Hellebore, Winter | 0 comments

Helleborus foetidus, a Christmas rose about to flower. First time I’ve noticed this on the way into the wood.

Picture taken on February 9.

#wildflowers #plants #nature #naturephotography #woods #hellebore #wildflower

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Turkeytail #fungus

Posted by Wildwood on Feb 10, 2025 in 2025, An English Wood Blog, February, Fungi, Turkeytail, Winter | 0 comments

Trametes versicolor.

Picture taken February 9.

#fungus #nature #naturephotography #woods #mushroom #turkeytail #mushrooms

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Drunkard’s aid #plant

Posted by Wildwood on Feb 7, 2025 in 2025, An English Wood Blog, Flowers, Ivy, January, Plants, Winter | 0 comments

Spreading the leaves of Ivy, Hedera helix, across the path of those worse for wear could bring them to their senses, according to Baker in “Discovering the Folklore of Plants.”

Picture taken January 22.

#wildflowers #plants #nature #naturephotography #woods #ivy #wildflower