Misty Afternoon at Bradgate Park

The mist hung around all day yesterday and added a soft quality to the light for photography. There are some wonderful old oak and Sweet Chestnut trees there and, as usual during this month, some very large parasol toadstools in all the grassy areas. The flowers, including delicate harebells, are enjoying a bit of moisture after a hot dry summer 

Galls Found on Trees on Coe Fen in Cambridge

I managed 2 hours Gall-hunting with the Cambridge Natural History Society before the wind and rain arrived and was pleased with the number that we found particularly on the Oak Trees. 

Toft Garden - Life on the Edge

 Sitting under my small oak tree (now about 25 years old), I became aware of how many small life forms exist on the leaves and also on the logs piled up nearby. First, a very small leafhopper (Ribautiana debilis), then a small booklouse family insect (Ectopsocus petersi) and a Pea gall caused by a small parasitic wasp. The logs are alive with life including Collembolid species and lots of fungi and lichens