Misty ChevinSeasons of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eaves run;
John Keats Ode to Autumn
Thirteen of us gathered today to enjoy a walk in the Danefield estate on Otley Chevin. This area of land had been bequeathed to Otley council by the Fawkes family. It had been clear-felled during the Second World War and replanted with conifer and some exotic trees. There was an ethereal atmosphere as we made our way through the mist-enshrouded woodland in the direction of Caley Crags. The atmosphere was added to by the groups of colourful Fly Agaric fungi seen, known for their hallucinogenic properties and associations with the pixes, elves etc. The mist had lifted on arrival at our lunch spot and we enjoyed views of the Wharfe Valley below.
Fly AgaricTo bend with apples the moss’d cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
Following lunch we enjoyed a ramble through an area of heath consisting of Bilberry, Ling, Heather and Bracken towards the pond and board walk. Here we spent time observing a superb Southern Hawker dragonfly in flight. We followed the Sculpture Trail on our return to the car park. Lots of fungi were seen growing in the conifer woodland.
In the afternoon we moved onto Crag House Farm, a Caring for Life project where we were treated to a celebratory birthday tea by the blog scribe in their superb Barn restaurant.
Small CopperTo swell the gourd, plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
And still more, later flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm days will never cease,
For Summer has o'er brimmed their clammy cells,
Our exploration of the nature reserve continued in the afternoon sunshine. We saw trees and shrubs laden with fruit, late summer flowers and much to the delight of our young guest Eden, butterflies and dragonflies. A lot of hard work had been put into creating an oasis for wildlife.
This was a splendid and varied day out in an area close to our own doorstep. Some of the species seen were: Birds - 14 species in total including Tree Sparrow, Chiffchaff, Nuthatch, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Goldfinch. Dragonflies - Southern Hawker, Common Hawker. Butterflies - Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Small Copper, Small Tortoiseshell, Large White. Fungi (identified by John) - Common Inkcap, Common Yellow Russula, Fly Agaric, Peppery Bolete, The Deceiver, The Blusher, Tawny Grissette, Wrinkled Club, Sulphur Tuft, Shaggy Scalycap, Snakeskin Grissette, Amanita Vaginata, Hairy Curtain Crust, Candle Snuff. Flowers (Joan and Alice did a comprehensive list) - Climbing Corydalis, Common and Musk Mallow, Black Horehound, Hemp Agrimony. Shrubs - Spindle, Elderberry, Guelder Rose, Rowan.
Margaret