Up from the Stream

Spotted again.

Weedkiller Madness

Weedkiller has now been used along the inside of Blacka's boundary in addition to that sprayed along the verges on the road. Not only is this land designated as a nature reserve by a wildlife trust, it is also a place where locally scarce plants grow - or used to. There seems to be no end to these examples of gross philistinism around here.

We might expect that the landowners would know how this came to happen but apparently not. They deny all knowledge. It's my guess - just that - that some contractors, inadequately supervised, have done this.

11th June

Young and Scared

It seems early for this young fox to be out exploring independently. Something may have happened to its family. Even out here on a nature reserve not everyone is well-disposed towards predators. I had seen him very briefly twice before in recent days, always on his own, so was ready with the camera on approaching the same spot.

This is the time of year when we're most likely to come across young birds and animals. Many don't survive. The fox itself is a predator and itself kills weaker specimens of other wildlife. We should do all we can to ensure that public landscapes are balanced through the presence of a range of species including predators, not by human action. I wonder how many foxes have been targeted by local conservationists since they discovered that curlews' nests had been raided not by dogs but by foxes? Always an excuse to play God.

Prickly

Not on anyone's target list but a group with four members on Blacka the thistle is an under-celebrated flower. Perhaps it deserves better.

It grows well in open areas but that's its problem. Most open areas are blighted with sheep grazing and sheep don't like prickly plants. So all the other wild flowers get eaten up leaving little else but thistles. The result is far from a diverse and interesting sight with the thistle playing a role along with others; its more like an unsightly monoculture devoted to advantaging one plant. Those in the sheep enclosure are mainly Creeping Thistle with some Spear Thistle.

Also in wetter parts to the south of the site is the Marsh Thistle.

We may also be lucky enough to find the Melancholy Thistle if the cows have not trampled on the one place where it's found. They've already visited one part of the bog.

Ancient and Active

Mention of venerable trees to most of us might suggest oak and yew. But the claims of hawthorn should not be forgotten.

It's also one of those trees that looks old and worn yet remains vital. It would be good to have an easy way of ageing these specimens in this corner of Blacka.

Today these ancient hawthorns are showing that they still have much life in them. Despite being twisted and gnarled, trunks rutted and boughs drooped they still glory in the power to reproduce.

Foliage

Tall birch with a breeze lifting the leaves and a blue sky is one of the sights of early June.

Less tall birch is a good backdrop to a youngster showing off his new headgear.