Walk: 03 May 2018 Roydon Woods



Wood Anemones - pink ones!
© Angela Morrell
Brown-banded Carder Bee
© Chris Robinson
A record 23 members joined Angela for a Bluebell walk in Roydon Woods. The woods were looking lovely, fresh new green leaves, mainly of Beech, Oak and Hazel, were coming out every-where in different shades of green. 

Besides the carpets of Bluebells we saw many woodland spring flowers including Wood Spurge, Greater Stitchwort, Yellow Pimpernel, Common Dog-violet, Common Figwort, Dogs’ Mercury, Ladies’ Smock, Herb Robert, Kingcups, Bugle, Barren Strawberry, Pignut and a Common Spotted Orchid, not yet in flower. Wood Anemones were still flowering, including some clumps of the less common pink variety.

Speckled Wood
© Chris Robinson
Wild Service Tree
© Chris Robinson
The damp woods are a good place to find ferns; Scaly Male Fern, Hard Fern, Broad Buckler and Hartstongue. The sunshine brought out the bees and butterflies: Brown-banded Carder Bee Small and Green-veined Whites, Speckled Wood, Brimstone, and Orange Tip. 

Some seedling trees attracted our attention at the end of the walk. We identified these as Wild Service Trees, an unusual native tree that can be found locally in the Forest. A slime mould Fuligo septica was also discovered which is called 'Flowers of Tan' due to its regular appearance on the bark used in tanning. (AM)
Fuligo septica
© Chris Robinson