Bel's Wood

Watching the land absorb dead leaves and fungi take over fallen trees has its own beauty. Worms prefer succulent leaves so don’t touch fallen oak leaves until they need to which is why they are so visible at this time of year, not just under oak trees but where other leaves had fallen and have been taken below the ground. Bel’s Wood won’t have sheep or cattle grazing any more so there is less chance of skeletons like this beauty.  Although maybe badgers, squirrels and other rodents may succumb. T here is evidence of birds  fulfilling their place in the food chain.   That’s without human intervention.

Bel's Wood in winter is a delight with the bracken flattened, trees without leaves and having done a bit of secateur work on the gorse, the whole site is navigable. Identifying trees without leaves or fruit or flowers is a challenge as they are mostly decidious but there are dead leaves still on the ground and bark and some of last year's fruit (hazel nut shells) are distinctive. So far I have identified the following: Trees: Blackthorn Birch - silver birch and possibly downy birch Broom Gorse Hazel Holly Sessile oaks Yew trees Willow (white)                            Yew tree  with gorse in flower                    Downy b irch Sessile oak in the sunshine Unidentified until spring                                Silver birch                                               Holly                                                                          Willow Fungus so far identified:- Hoof fungus Yellow brain Wood ears White jelly fungus Wood ears