Misty Morning at Launde Abbey

The old walled garden and woods at Launde Abbey looked great in this morning's very misty conditions

NPP Convention 2025

Spending the weekend at Launde Abbey in Leicestershire - a beautiful Estate not far from Rutland Water.  We come here every 2 years at about the same time - in 2023 the grounds (and all the surrounding roads) were flooded. This year - the opposite; the grassland is dry with no water in the small ponds so I was not surprised to find very few toadstools. (NPP website)

.

Paxton Snail Survey

 Yesterday we sampled the water and banks of two more water locations at Paxton Pits and a couple of land areas, recording all the Snails that we found. Here are just a selection of the species that we found. Richard Preece identified 30 different species during our hunt - many thanks!!

More Garden Minibeasts

Quite a few more sessions clearing the paths in the garden and recording any minibeasts taking shelter there. Not sure how many are new species for the list (IDs at end) but I haven't recorded the striking striped Hemipteran nymph (Nysius spp) before. Mainly small spiders but also one large beautifully marked snail.

 

Early Fungi at RSPB Sandy

 The fungi season has started but with limited species (presumably due to dry conditions) - Amanita species, Cracked Boletus, Sulphur tufts and Parasols predominate and looked great in yesterdays warm autumn sunshine. Good to bump into several friends also on the lookout for attractive clumps!