Points of interest were a Yew covered with creamy white male flowers (below) and Butcher's Broom with plenty of red berries, also the Polypody (fern) growing on the trunk and branches of a beech. Butcher’s Broom was used in the seventeenth century to scour butchers’ chopping blocks and was also put around the meat to prevent mice getting to it. The plant has flattened stems which look like leaves and these are very sharp and spiky.
By the edge of Broomy enclosure we stopped to listen to Woodlark singing
and there was a debate about a bird of prey which flew over as to
whether this was a Sparrowhawk or a Goshawk. We then heard the haunting
call from the enclosure of Goshawk which could have been the bird we had
seen.
On
the way back we had lovely views across the forest to the Ogdens and
beyond and as this is a very open part of the forest we were lucky to
find that the wind was not too strong.
Birds seen included: Canada Goose, Buzzard, Wren, Robin, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Chaffinch. Blue & Great Tits, Goldcrest, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow and Chaffinch.
Birds only heard were: Goshawk, Stock Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Woodlark and Jay.
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| Yew in flower |