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Observations made during walk on Friday July 30th 2010

Amongst the plants for sale in the stable yard were two small pots of the shrub False Spireae (Sorbaris sorbifolia) which were carrying their creamy white flowers held in a plume at the end of the branches.These were clearly attractive to insects as there was one hornet, one bumble bee, one greenbottle fly and one hoverfly in close proximity and all of them just remained on one flowerhead with no attempt to move away from close scrutiny.

The Badger sett in the old midden near where the woodland path joins the tarmac road towards the house is currently disused possibly due to the collapse of their quarters in the dry conditions. The Walnut tree closest to the gate into the park is carrying a good crop. The grass in the park, due to its ability to produce new shoots (tillers) from its base at ground level, is greening up with the cooler temperatures and some rain.

Along the woodland paths, the mostly white umbellifer now in flower is Hedge Parsley flowering later than most of its family from July to September. All the Wild Parsnips in the valley are showing their yellow flowers. Unfortunately, the Bedstraws and Centaury went over very quickly in the dry conditions. The Common Gromwell still has a few seed bearing heads from 2009.

The most numerous butterflies were Common Blue found in the valley with group of twos and threes dancing together. Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Ringlet were frequent and Large White, Small White, Brimstone and Peacock were seen.

Colin Dibb August 2010