February | An English Wood

Dog’s Mercury #plant

Posted by Wildwood on Mar 6, 2026 in 2026, An English Wood Blog, Dog's Mercury, February, Flowers, Plants, Uncategorized, Winter | 0 comments

When Mercurialis perennis appears at about the same time as the Primroses, I know the wood’s waking.

Picture taken February 21.

#plants #nature #naturephotography

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Glad they’re back #wildflowers

Posted by Wildwood on Mar 2, 2026 in 2026, February, Flowers, Plants, Primrose, Spring | 0 comments

Nice to see the Primroses, Primula vulgaris.

Picture taken February 21.

#plants #nature #naturephotography #primrose

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Stinking hellebore #wildflower

Posted by Wildwood on Feb 27, 2026 in 2026, An English Wood Blog, February, Flowers, Plants, Stinking Hellebore, Winter | 0 comments

Helleborus foetidus.

Picture taken February 21.

#plants #nature #naturephotography #hellebore

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The hunter #bird

Posted by Wildwood on Feb 23, 2026 in 2026, An English Wood Blog, Birds, Fauna, February, Owl, Winter | 1 comment

An owl swoops down on one of the rides.

Picture taken by remote camera on January 22.

#wildlifephotography #nature #naturephotography #owl

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Pheasant #bird

Posted by Wildwood on Feb 21, 2026 in 2026, An English Wood Blog, Birds, Fauna, February, Month, Pheasant, Winter | 0 comments

Phasianus colchicus.

Picture taken by remote camera on February 11.

#nature #wildlife #wildlifephotography #pheasant

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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