Edford Wood is a private wood that is managed by the Somerset Wildlife Trust. Each year, part of it is opened up to the public from February to May so that people can enjoy the spectacle of the wild daffodils and bluebells here. I thought I'd visit a bit earlier this year to see whether the wild daffodils are up yet. Here's what I saw as I ambled around the loop walk.
This wood is situated in a valley and always seems like quite a damp wood to me. There are lots of moss covered trees and stumps and logs throughout the whole wood.
Apart from wanting to see if the daffodils were up yet, I was also on the lookout for Dipper while walking along the Mells stream that runs through the wood. Unfortunately it was running quite high and muddy so I wasn't in luck on this occasion.
There was evidence that the daffs were on their way, but really only just emerging. Another few weeks and I'll come back for the full spectacle.
There were some flowers out. The ever dependable Snowdrops, showing the first signs of spring.
I noticed a couple of fungi as I walked around. These Elf Caps were hard to miss with their brilliant red cups surrounded by the lush moss.
Elf Caps grow on decaying branches and logs on damp woodland floors. The fruit is usually produced during the winter and early spring.
The next fungi was something I'd never come across before. It was attached to a fallen Birch tree. So, when I got home, I put up a couple of photos of it on Somerset Wildlife Trust's facebook page to see if anyone could help with the ID. They soon came back with an answer. It a Birch Bracket (Piptoporus betulinus). Betula is the Latin name for Birch.
This fungi was approximately 9 to 10 inches across and around 1.5 inches thick.
According to one of the people who ID'd the fungi, one of the uses in the past was as a blade stropper. I need to get myself a decent fungi book!
I wasn't doing very well with birds as I walked around, but towards the end of my walk, an obliging Treecreeper performed for me while searching out food on a mossy tree trunk.
On the way back to the entrance of the reserve, I pass a stagnant pond. I liked the reflection on the still water.
I'll look forward to coming back to this peaceful wood in a few weeks time to see the daffodils and anything else that has popped up in the meantime!
4 comments:
A lovely area Jen with lots of interest already. I look forward to some more images when you return there.
The treecreeper was pretty good as they are never very obliging really.
A very nice place to visit Jenny and nice that it is open to the public to view the Spring flowers. I'm sure they look a picture in full flower. The Snowdrops are very pretty.
The Elf Cap is so colourful against the mossy branch.
Well done with the Treecreeper, as Roy mentioned, they are tricky little birds to catch on camera!
Hi Jen! What a lovely walk. Our daffies were pushing up but now they are covered with 6 inches of sleet and snow that we got yesterday. Love the Snowdrops and the little Creeper.. :)
Hi Roy, yes those Treecreepers are usually very flitty, and very often on the other side of the tree!!
Hi Jan, yes it is a lovely place, about 20 mins drive in the car so not too bad. I'm looking forward to getting back there in a few weeks.
Hi Pix, yuck, 6 inches of sleet and snow doesn't sound like much fun. I hope it clears quickly to let the daffs through!
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