Noticing Nature Blog

The Oil-seed Rape at Crixhall was stunning in the morning sun today. It now stands at 2m high, and by the time I'd passed through it I was well camouflaged! The footpath will be impassable within the next few days though. I also saw my first Speckled Wood butterfly of the year at Crixhall Court.

A beautiful day with temperatures reaching, pretty near, 25 degrees. Lots of butterflies and other insects about, including this hoverfly in the churchyard. It's a common hoverfly in the Syrphus genus, probably Syrphus ribesii. There were also Dotted and Dark-edged Beeflies-delightful creatures. Syrphus sp

Holly Blue A walk over to Goodnestone today in glorious sunshine and a gentle breeze. Lots of butterflies on the wing. Several each of Brimstone, Peacock and Green-veined Whites. A single Small Tortoiseshell, a male Orange-tip and 2 x Holly Blues.

Another selection of spring flowers from around Staple. Clockwise from top left: Common Field Speedwell, Green Alkanet, Forget-me-Not and White Dead-Nettle.

Flowers are blooming rapidly now. Here today, gone tomorrow as they say. The all important food source for newly emerged pollinators and rather attractive too. Clockwise from top left: Dandelions in Jack Foat's ground near Ash, a white form of Honesty along Mill Road near the Black Pig, Lesser Celandines on the track to Goodnestone and Red Dead Nettle on the roadside bank along Buckland Lane.

The old cherry orchard at Goodnestone is looking magnificent at the moment. Full of blossom. It has been preserved, with funding from a variety of sources, to remind us of what orchards used to look like before dwarfing rootstocks and sprays! It's a brilliant idea. Admittedly, a lot of the trees are busted, diseased and of course, unpruned. However, it is a win-win for wildlife and well worth a visit.