Noticing Nature Blog

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

Wood Blewit (Collybia nuda) growing on the churchyard compost heap. Wood Blewit

Fungi! A small group of Blackening Waxcaps (Hygrocybe conica) in the churchyard. Blackening Waxcaps

Sulphur Tuft (Hypholoma fasciculare) a very common, autumn fungus. Lots of it to be found at the moment wherever there are rotting hardwood stumps and logs. The woodland floors around Goodnestone are looking lovely at the moment with fungi, seeds and autumn leaves providing plenty of photo opportunities. Autumn

The park and gardens of Goodnestone House are a delight at any time of year. So much thought goes into the management of the area to enhance its value for wildlife whilst still meeting its obligation as a formal walled garden and woodland plant collection for more horticulturally biased visitors. Plenty of dead wood and today plenty of fungi as a result. Split Gill fungus This rather attractive fungus is a young specimen of Split Gill fungus (Schizophyllum commune). It's very