Shades of green

Persistent rain and almost negligible wind provided the necessary inspiration and motivation for a late spring photography trip to a scowles woodland. Whilst I have written about the benefits of rain wetted surfaces elsewhere in this blog, an additional bonus of heavy rain is the dampening effect on the surprisingly large and diverse resident population of biting insects, that would have otherwise made photography purgatory.

The tree species tally was impressive : beech (Fagus sylvatica), oak (Quercus spp.), ash (Fraxinus excelsior), cherry (Prunus avium), rowan (Sorbus aucuparia), wych elm (Ulmus glabra), holly (Ilex aquifolium), yew (Taxus baccata, field maple (Acer campestre), hazel (Corylus avellana),  hawthorn (Crataegus spp), birch ((Betula spp.), large leaved lime (Tilia platyphyllos), small leaved lime (Tilia cordata) and wild service (Sorbus torminalis). Some trees were derelict coppice stools of considerable girth indicative of a long life span.

Having exhausted my supply of dry micro fibre towels, I made my way back to the car and chanced upon a Greater Butterfly Orchid, the first I have ever seen in a woodland and the end to a satisfying outing.