Wednesday, 3 June 2009

UK Woodland Seasons (Chapter 3 - June)

Looking upwards in early June we now see wall-to-wall foliage and very little light reaches the woodland floor.
















Only on the woodland edges do we see any sunlight. Here on the woodland edges the growth of vegetation is amazing, with bright white flower heads of Elder and pink wild roses.








Wild Roses






On the ground we see very little colour, other than green. Gone are the bluebells, except for yellow leaves and swollen seed pods.









Bluebell seed pods







Where there is light the Nettles and Dog's Mercury are growing tall. Other plants in flower are the Wild Privet and the Bramble (Blackberry). Martagon Lily is almost in full bloom - just a few more days.









Martagon Lily






Flowers of the Elder tree adorn the woodland edge. The scent is like honey!












Elder flowers in closeup














Greater Burdock on path edges. This species has the largest leaves of any native British plant.


















Bramble in bloom














Nettle in flower


















Wild Privet in flower. This is a calcium tolerant indicator species (indicating the high pH of the soil)














Impenetrable growth quickly filling any clearings.















Where there is light Nettle and Dog's Mercury grow luxuriantly













Bramble growing rampantly in a clearing. Only two years earlier this very patch was rough grassland with two species of orchid present. Clearly some conservation work needs to be done.