Noticing Nature Blog

Beavers have been spreading along the tributaries of the Great Stour river for some time. But, this is the first time I've seen evidence of their arrival in Staple parish. This damage to a lone willow coppice by the stream at Great Pedding is fresh as it wasn't there a couple of days ago when I last visited. Notice the stripped bark and teeth marks. The incisor teeth marks can be clearly seen here.

Nice to see this welcome splash of colour amongst the acres of kale along the footpath down to Great Pedding Farm. It's Orange Peel Fungus (Aleuria aurantia). Orange Peel Fungus

Lots of these bright red berries around at the moment, in the churchyard and hedgerows. They are the fruits of Woody Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara) also known as Bittersweet. As with Deadly Nightshade, a close relative, the berries are poisonous. It's a rambling plant, needing support to grow upwards but seems to thrive in rough grassland as well. The berries certainly add a colourful splash to November but they will soon be foraged by thrushes and blackbirds. Bittersweet

This is the hedgerow between the church and Crixhall Court. It embodies pretty much everything that's right in a good hedge. It has a wide margin between the base of the hedge and the cultivated field. The field itself has been sown with a cover crop which will provide for wildlife during the winter and early spring, before cultivation resumes. The hedge was planted perhaps only 20 years ago with a mix of native species. This includes hazel, spindle, hawthorn, wayfaring tree,

The huge field behind the church, overlooking Great Pedding, is sprouting concrete posts. And a lot of them! Difficult to comment really, so I won't. A field of concrete posts!

This is a Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis). It is not our native species, having arrived in the UK from Asia in 2004. It is very variable with the number of spots and background colour varying enormously. It is now a very common ladybird and is able to out-compete our native species for its main prey, aphids. It also eats other ladybirds' eggs and larvae. Harlequin Ladybird