Activities in 2019

The benefits of clearing invasive species and thinning excessive numbers of tall, spindly Scots pine began to become evident this year. Heather in particular made a strong comeback, spreading to previously bare areas.

Less time devoted to clearance of invasive species meant more time  spent discovering the variety of life in the wood.

Fungi

With much of the heavy work done, attention turned to documenting the fungi in Sable Wood. A whole section in the Photo Gallery is devoted to fungi.

Conifer tuft put on an impressive show in the autumn.

 

 

 

 

 

Stag’s horn fungus is bioluminescent.

Spiders

Linyphia triangularis, more commonly known as the Common Hammock Weaver spider, are extremely numerous among the heather of Sable Wood. On misty mornings, sunlight will pick out hundreds of webs.

 

 

The spider is small but with a very distinctive tuning fork shaped mark on the carapace behind the eyes. The spider waits underneath the web, hanging upside down in the centre.

 

 

Roe deer

This photograph was taken by a motion-sensitive trail camera. The camera was set low down among the heather, with the intention of photographing adders. Instead it captured this very clear image of a roe deer.

 

 

 

 

Wood mice

Lifting the lid of this refugia revealed not slow-worm or other reptile, but a wood mouse, who stayed just long enough to be photographed.