Hardwick Wood

 A very enjoyable walk right round Hardwick Wood this afternoon with Ann and Mike. Quite a lot of Bird song including Cuckoo, ChiffChaff, Nuthatch, Gt Spotted Woodpecker etc and all the expected spring flowers - here a selection of shots (Bluebell,Wood Anemone, Primrose, Oxlip, Celandine). The area that was coppiced this year and then fenced off has wonderful large Oxlips while many in the open wood have been nibbled off, presumably by Muntjac Deer. Quite a few large White and Speckled Wood butterflies on the wing. 

Caldecote Old Rectory Spring Garden

 An absolute delight to photograph some of the flowers in the old Rectory garden adjacent to the Church with its mix of wild, naturalised and planted species all looking wonderful in the sunlight this morning. The footpath from Caledecote to Toft runs through this meadow but I am delighted that as usual the owners are opening the whole garden in aid of the Church on the 17th and 18th May 2025 with teas etc. Put that date in the diary - by then the herbaceous borders etc will also be in bloom.

Very Wet Spring, Hardwick Wood

Primroses, Oxlips, Violets, Celandine, Dog's Mercury are all in bloom in Hardwick Wood but not in great numbers and the Oxlips that are out have been eaten extensively. 

Spring Flowers in Toft

The snowdrops are in full bloom in Toft Churchyard plus other spring flowers. 

Hardwick Wood and Caldecote Church

 Our Cambridge Camera Club (and RPS Nature Group) outing was to have been to Waresley Wood but this was closed until the day so we relocated to Hardwick Wood, which in many ways is a better venue. It is certainly at its best and has the finest displays of  spring flowers for several years with all the species out together. Paul and I visited Caldecote Church meadow at the end for the Fritillarias and also a couple of bees. I was using mixture of focus stacking with the X100v and single shots with the 80mm macro. The bees are with the X100V (23mm). The third shot is with a legacy Olympus lens - I love the softness of this but found it too difficult to manually focus in the bright and contrasty light.  Last shot shows some of the group in situ!!