Bel's Wood

I had a really bad run with the cameras catching moving brambles, squirrels and the odd Robin. I have however picked up the occasional gem (Otters, Woodcock, Sparrow Hawk, Badgers etc) so I thought I would gather my favourites and put them in one place. Enjoy. Blackbird and Robin which are very common at the wood as they are in our gardens I am so happy to have Woodcocks at the wood and have seen them in the flesh over the last years, usually just fleetingly when I have flushed them when walking through the trees. They have a mating ritual called 'roding' where they fly low over woodland or heathlands as dawn or dusk in spring and I was lucky enough to see this one time. They are a rare bird and on the red list according to the RSPB. I was therefore delighted to see this one feeding on the beck right in front of the camera.  They are a lovely brown colour and maybe one day I'll get a daylight shot showing their colours. Woodpidgeons are pretty common too. I am including thi...

As the bluebells form seed heads, the next rush of flowers and blossom have appeared. The Broom has taken over from the more orange Gorse flowers. Gorse orange on the left and broom yellow on the right. Both have been full of bees this spring. The broom and the hawthorn give an eggy colour across the site. The air if full of insects and bird song amongst the blossom Early Purple Orchids The first Dog Rose to appear Gerrymander Speedwell nestled in the grass   Foxgloves are having a bit of a year. They first appeared in numbers when the gorse was removed and now form a forest on rocky outcrops amongst the Scots Pines. The willow has been pushing out its seed looking like smoke on some days And the Rowan  & Whitebeam flowers are across the site. Holly Blossom Cowslips and Bugle  Buttercup and Cuckoo flower (Ladies Smock)  just as the cuckoos arrived The trees are having a good start to the season with sunshine and rain although the temperatures have been low during...

Spring is a special time everywhere and having spent many hours at Bel’s Wood in the cold and dark days this winter, seeing the saplings sprouting, hearing bumblebees again and the wider range of birdsong in the lengthening days is a delight. One of the species of tree that I have introduced to Bel’s Wood is the Alder. I know Alder as a large old knurly tree. Last year the saplings become well established growing straight and tall and with side branches radiating evenly. Well, spring brought new delights with colour from fruit and flowers on these 2m high trees. Alder flowers The purple/ violet and yellow colours remind me of Regency Colours and came as a complete surprise to me and has made the tree a new favourite. The Willow trees have grown well and many of the saplings planted 2 years ago have produced pussy willow. Pussy willow on saplings September 2025 one of the tallest trees at the wood modelled by my friend Lisa This is particularly pleasing as I have lost one grand o...