Old Barn

A few days before Christmas I was on the way home from a long winter walk, when I came across this ruined wooden barn blanketed in snow, near Drayton Beauchamp Village, close to Wilstone Reservoir. I was dreaming of home and warming up with a hot cup of tea by this time, but stopped for a few minutes to take a some photographs. There was something timeless and haunting about the old building, slowly collapsing under the weight of time, like an out of focus glimpse of a lost rural past, fast slipping beyond the reach of memory.

Old Wooden Barn - Drayton Beauchamp (19/12/2010)

Brown Argus

Last year I was sent these two photos of an interesting Brown Argus Aricia agestis by Tim Alps. Tim has a keen interest in encouraging wildlife into his large butterfly friendly garden in Aldbury where I have been working regularly for a few years. The photos were taken last May on the limestone grassland above Whipsnade Zoo, an excellent site for Downland butterflies. The specimen clearly shows that the black discoidal spot on the upper forewing is partly ringed with white. I have not found any reference to this feature in any of my books, but I have come across the odd photo of similarly marked butterflies on the internet. These butterflies appear to have similar markings to a small proportion of the salmacis subspecies of Northern Brown Argus Aricia artaxerxes, sometimes known as the Castle Eden Argus, which is only found in Northern England. The majority of specimens belonging to salmacis, have a black discoidal spot, but a small percentage have a white spot and resemble the Scottish subssp artaxerxes. Less than 10% of specimens have a small black discoidal spot faintly ringed with white, somewhat similar to the Brown Argus pictured below.

For many years Northern Brown Argus was considered to be a subspecies of Brown Argus but was eventually classified as a species in it's own right. Studies have shown that some of the colonies along the border of the two species ranges have been incorrectly classified and some colonies in the north of England are now considered to be A. agestis. Although the range of the two species does not overlap that situation may change as Brown Argus expands northwards as a result of global warming.

Brown Argus Aricia agestis, Whipsnade 26/05/2010 - (Tim Alps)

Brown Argus Aricia agestis, Whipsnade 26/05/2010 - (Tim Alps)

I'm fairly sure that the oddly marked Brown Argus on the right is a female due to the bold orange markings that reach the wing tips, and that the left-hand butterfly is a male as the sparser markings taper off and fade away. The male should be smaller than the female, with less rounded wings, but this specimen gives the impression of being noticeably larger, which is rather confusing. Strangely enough whilst searching through my own photos I came across a dreadful shot that I took several years ago at Whipsnade of a similarly marked Brown Argus, making me wonder if this aberration is present in some colonies but absent from others.

Photographs - Copyright: Tim Alps

Common Hogweed

Tough and woody, this dead flowerhead creates a stark snow-capped framework against the cold winter sky. A biennial, Common Hogweed Heracleum spondylium is one of the most well known members of the Apiaceae or Carrot family and is usually found growing in profusion on roadsides, waste ground and at the base of hedges. Common Hogweed is also known as Cow Parsnip and is an Umbelliferous plant closely related to Cow Parsley, Fennel and of course the infamous Giant Hogweed. The young shoots are apparently one of the tastiest wild vegetables to be found, especially when cooked with butter and seasoning. The young leaves can be steamed or used in salads and the flower buds are also edible but the tap-root of is mildly toxic. The main problem is that while some of the Umbellifers are edible, several, such as Hemlock Conium maculatum are highly poisonous, and some veer between the two states depending on their environment. This makes eating members of the Carrot family a slightly fraught experience as the young leaves and shoots can be hard to safely identify!

Common Hogweed Heracleum spondylium (Ivinghoe Beacon, 29/10/2008)

Fungi

Angel's Bonnet Mycena archangeliana

This delicate little Bonnet is widespread and common, especially in the South of England and is found on the decayed wood of deciduous trees, especially the stumps and fallen branches of Ash and Beech. The Angel's Bonnet above was found growing on a small piece of dead wood which I managed to rest on a tree stump a couple of feet above the ground allowing me to get a nice blurred background.

Common Bonnet Mycena galericulata

The commonest member of the genus Mycenae, this Bonnet is found throughout the country on the decayed and buried wood of deciduous trees and occasionally conifers. Common Bonnets are typically found in small clusters, such as this group growing in the damp mossy woodland at Whipsnade Heath

Candlesnuff Fungus Xylaria hypoxilon

This charming antler-like fungus is black at the base, grey in the middle and white at the top, resembling a snuffed candle wick. It is surprisingly strong and rubbery and can be bent without breaking. Sometimes called Stag's Horn Fungus, it is found all year round, but is particularly common in autumn and winter, growing on dead deciduous wood, especially Beech. This little group was photographed on a rotting stump at Whipsnade Heath in November.

Hoof Fungus Fomentus fomentarius

Hoof fungus is a large, impressive Polypore usually was used found on Silver Birch and occasionally Beech and Sycamore. The hard, leathery flesh burns very slowly and was once used for lighting fires; hence it's alternative common name, Tinder Bracket. If correctly treated by soaking in washing soda and then pounded, dried pieces of Hoof Fungus make an excellent desiccant which is sttil used by Trout fisherman to dry artificial flies to help them float more effectively. This substance is called Amadou and was used by ancient people as tinder and as a smouldering portable firelighter. The stretched and beaten flesh was also used to make clothing, including hats and gloves. This solitary specimen was found, after a much searching, growing on a fallen Silver Birch at Rammamere Common near Woburn. Hoof Fungus is fairly common in Scotland but is found less frequently south of the border, although possibly increasing.

Orange Peel Fungus Aleuria aurantia

This beautiful and fragile cup shaped fungus resembling scattered orange peel is usually found on disturbed ground, especially woodland paths and roadsides. Orange Peel is the only Elf Cup Fungus that is edible although it does not taste particularly pleasant and is therefore rarely used. The other Elf Cups are poisonous in varying degrees. This small specimen was found last November in typical habitat at the edge of a sandy path at Rammamere Common.

Wilstone Reservoir

A Mute Swan floats drifts through the dying embers of an icy December day at Wilstone.

Sunset at Wilstone Reservoir (07/12/2008)

Ivinghoe Beacon

The weather has turned mild, wet and windy and the snow and endless freezing days seem just a distant memory. We seem to be back to typical winter weather and there is even talk of a mild February - we shall see! Now that life is easier again the birds, fickle as they are, have abandoned my garden which apart from the odd bored Starling barely gets a visitor now. The reservoirs, trapped in deep frozen slumber despite the warmer weather have been released from winter's icy grip and have suddenly sprung back to life. I am not a great lover of the winter but when the snow arrives it always seems so beautiful and exciting. At least fleetingly! As a gardener, snow and frost mean no work and the novelty soon wears off as I start to fret about when I will be able to earn some money again! These pictures of Ivinghoe Beacon taken in early April 2008 are a reminder that Winter can often have one last nasty surprise up it's sleeve! I wonder what is in store for us this year...

Sheep on the southern slope of Ivinghoe Beacon (06/04/2008)

Steps Hill looking west towards Tring Reservoirs (06/04/2008)