A group of hardy walkers, ventured out into the freezing icy morning. We walked from the car park at Bolderwood and through an area of Douglas fir trees which was the old site of a series of hunting lodges dating from 1325. A lichen, Flavoparmeli sp, was seen on the trunk of a Douglas fir.
Flavoparmeli
sp ©
Claire Kidger
There was also a plaque marking Bolderwood as part of the Platinum Jubilee 2022 green canopy a network of 70 ancient woodlands. We walked towards the deer sanctuary and saw two Roe deer grazing under the trees. Adjacent to the path were a few Hazel trees with long yellow male catkins and the red female flower.
Hazel with female flowers and male catkins © Richard Coomber
We saw very few birds but heard and briefly spotted a Great Spotted Woodpecker and Nuthatch. We looked at a large fallen rotten beech tree and spotted some frozen Smoky Bracket and Beech Woodwart, whilst on a fallen branch we found the lichen Ramalina farinacea.
As we turned off the main path into Mark Ash, an ancient woodland, a Coal Tit was seen moving quickly through the branches above. We stopped at a very old Holly and saw a young sapling growing in the hollow of the trunk. Usnea sp, another lichen, grew on a Holly branch.
In the woodland we observed several fallen trees with new upright young trees growing from the sweet chestnut trunk.
The 'nursery' tree ©
Claire Kidger
Walking up through the woodland a Firecrest was spotted fliting through the branches of a Holly and we heard a Stock Dove calling. In the deciduous woodland were several species of moss including Bank Haircap Polytrichastrum formosum and Common Tamarisk-moss Thuidium tamariscinum. Fungi found there included Candlesnuff, Holly Speckle and Pink Disco on a fallen beech branch.
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| Bank Haircap © Claire Kidger |
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| Common Tamarisk-moss © Claire Kidger |
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| Pink Disco © Claire Kidger |
Before we walked uphill to an area of mixed woodland we safely traversed a muddy area - safely. Amongst the trees in the woodland Cypress conifers, Cedar and a very large girthed Yew tree were noted. We all returned feeling warmer than when we started out. CK
Our route
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