Monday 25 May 2009

Edford Wood revisited

This is the first of four posts on a return visit to Edford woods. I first went there earlier this year, back in March to see the wild Daffodils and promised myself I would return later in the spring to see what might have come up in the meantime.
It is a Somerset Wildlife Trust Reserve which lies about 15 minutes drive west of my hometown of Frome.As the sign says, this particular circular walk around the wood is only open from February through to May. I'm not sure why this is, but I realised I was running out of time to get my return walk in this year.The first thing I noticed almost straight away was how much lusher the vegetation was (see my previous post in March called Daffy Day) and also the pungent smell of the 'wild garlic' or Ramsons which followed me the entire way around my 3 hour walk. Good thing I like the smell! (-:Where there had been carpets of wild Daffodils a few weeks ago, the ground was now smothered in this beautiful and useful wild onion.Many people still use Ramsons in their cooking. I haven't tried myself as yet!Here's a close up of the flower with the stream as a backdrop.I think this is a stretch of the Mells stream (Mells being a village between Edford Wood and Frome) that runs through the wood. It has Dipper, Kingfisher and Grey Wagtails along this stretch.As I was having atrocious luck with getting anywhere photographing birds today, I turned my lens towards the wild flowers found in this ancient woodland habitat. This dainty flower is the Water Avens (Geum rivale) and is apparently quite rare in southern Britain, it likes damp woodland as it name suggests.Another woodland speciality is the Wood Spurge (Euphorbia amygdaloides). It favours broad-leaved woodland and its local Somerset name is 'Devil's cup and saucer'.Here is a close up showing the 'cup and saucer'. Euphorbia in its cultivated forms is a popular garden plant.
More on Edford woods to follow....

9 comments:

Kelly said...

...so lush and green...I loved this post! The wildflowers are so nice, especially the Water Avens. The "cup and saucer" is unique. I've never seen a plant that cute!

Anonymous said...

Hi Jenny Wren. I have days like this too. It's a good thing that you have many talents. This are nice images.

Eve said...

Your pictures are beautiful Jenny! Can't wait for tomorrow!

NatureStop said...

We enjoyed your visit to the Edford woods.So refreshing!!!really liked the "cup and saucer" pic.

Mary said...

What a beautiful woods to walk in. Those flowers are all new to me and interesting. Love that "cup and saucer" one...cute!

Jenny said...

Hi Kelly, yes it was lush. I love this time of year before the season gets that slightly 'tired' look. I'm kind of glad the birds were'nt co-operating as it made me look at the plants instead! (-:

Hi Steve, that's very kind of you and I'm not at all sure I believe you when you say you have bad bird days! (-;

Hi Evie, thanks I'm sooo glad I made it around this wood before that walk closes up for the year!

Hi Nature stop, thanks for that, I was refreshed after such a lovely walk too. (-: That Euphorbia really is a refreshing looking plant I think!

Hi Mary, it really is a lovely walk around and I'm very glad I made it before it closes up at the end of this month. Do you have Euphorbias in garden centres over there? They're lovely in the garden, specially in a shady spot.

Quiet Paths said...

What an incredibly beautiful place! I would love to stroll through this area. Bring on the carpet of wild flowers!

Mary said...

I don't know if they do or not...will have to check.

Anonymous said...

The Water Avens, I have never seen that one Jen, very dainty.