Flora
All too often we walk around looking at what’s on the ground, except this delightful time of year with the trees providing a fantastic range of red, orange and yellow hues giving a whole new perspective to Warley Place. Of course, this provides our volunteer work force much to do, notably under the old Sweet Chestnut trees clearing the nut kernels and leaves from the grassy area, more than once, to encourage future plant growth. This type of work will continue across the reserve throughout November until all the leaves are down.
Regular visitors will have noticed that the Spindle Tree, between the Sweet Chestnuts and Gorge Bridge, are turning bright pink. Although looking like flowers, they are actually the 4-lobed fruits that later open to expose four bright orange seeds adding a new dimension to autumn.
Although there has been the odd cold morning start October was quite mild and with the moisture during August and September provided very good conditions for fungi to flourish. Our monthly Research Work Party, although not expert in this field, found many interesting species around Warley Place; aided by their individual knowledge and reference books many fungi were identified, including the following strange named types: Fly Agaric, Amethyst Deceiver, Candle Snuff, Jews Ear, Earth Ball, Coral-spot and Razor Strop (named because in days of yore it was used to sharpen cut throat razors, superseded by the leather strop).
Fauna
Squirrels are a plenty at this time of the year busying themselves collecting and burying nuts for their winter store. They seem less concerned about us humans as though they go about their business with perhaps only one thing on their mind – ‘have I got enough food for the winter’.
Another that reaps the benefits of the autumn crop is the Jay, this splendid looking member of the crow family is very often seen around the woodland habitat of Warley Place. These birds are more easily seen in October / November searching for acorns and burying them in caches, often some distance from the tree of origin.
Warley Place News
