ASH-LEAVED MAPLE

 

Health Centre car park again: this time it's not berries but maple samaras making this ash-leaved maple (Acer negundo) spectacular up to Christmas.

The stems are green and the leaves , which are mostly gone by now, are pinnate, meaning they have between 3 and 5 leaflets.

There are variegated and pink forms of this tree, which is also known as Box Elder although it is neither an elder nor a box tree.

COCKSPUR THORN

The  Broad-leaved Cockspur Thorn (Crataegus prunifolia) ia a North American relative of the Hawthorn and does well in Britain. 

The red berries last up until Christmas and the leaves are often very colourful in autumn.

This specimen grows alongside the Thornbury Health Centre car park

 

POPLAR WITH MISTLETOE

Poplar is one of mistletoe's favourite hosts. Now the leaves are dropping off, the mistletoe shows up, not only on poplar, but also on lime, apple, robinia, silver maple and occasionally on hawthorn, oak and other trees.

 

WALL BARLEY

 One of the few grasses that I can confidently name, 

Wall Barley is ideal for throwing at your pals like a dart.

LATE CATERPILLARS

Although both the Pale Tussock Moth and the Knot Grass Moth are an attractive mottled grey, their caterpillars are more striking.  Because they overwinter as pupae, the caterpillars are around in September and early October - a nice bit of autumn colour.

  

Knot Grass

  

Pale Tussock

Photos:Caterpillars: Alan Watts.        Adult moths: Naturespot

VOLUNTEERS APPRECIATED

Although we have help cutting the grass at Filnore Woods from South Glos Tom and his mighty mowing machine, the arisings have to be raked off in order to bring down the fertility so that next year's wild flowers are not overwhelmed by more vigorous grasses and other flowering plants.  This raking is one of the many jobs that the Filnore Friends volunteers undertake to keep the place rich in biodiversity and pleasant to visit.

So it is good that the RHS '?It's Your Neighbourhood' Scheme has recognised their efforts with a level 5 Outstanding award

 

Well done guys and gals.

MOLE SEASON

Now is the season when molehils appear.  The molehills are not homes but spoil heaps from the tunnels.

Actually moles have to tunnel all year in search of earthworms, leather jackets, wire worms, beetle larvae, etc, or they will starve after a few hours without food.

They live solitary lives except for the pairing season in March and April, after which between two and seven pink and hairless molekins are born.