This last month's sun has ripened the barley, oat and wheat and some farmers have all ready started harvesting. However, with some of the rain showers the combine harvesters have been left in the half cut fields waiting for more sun. In other parts of the farm the rain is desperately needed so, as always the weather is never quite right.

Harvest Time

Where the harvesting has taken place the badger will take advantage of the surplus bedding material in the form of straw and hay which they roll back to their setts in plenty of time for the winter ahead. You may hear the high squeaking when out in the woods this month and it will either be young sparrowhawks calling their parents or the very similar sound of a female roe deer calling to attract a male buck to mate with her.

Rowan sorbus aucuparia

One of the more colourful small trees to see this month is the Rowan (sorbus aucuparia) with its orange-red berries. It also goes by the name of "Mountain Ash" because it is the only native tree that can be found high up on mountain clefts. The name Rowan is supposed to derive its name from the Norse word "runa" meaning "a charm". This belief that the Rowan has magical qualities came about because at the top of each berry there is a five pointed star shape. This shape has long been associated as a symbol to ward off evil spirits. Because of this the Rowan has been planted beside houses and in churchyards and the leaves have been hung above doorways and wells at the beginning of May to prevent anything bad happening over the coming year. Because they are full of vitamin c the berries were once collected and eaten to prevent scurvy. They also attract numerous birds, especially thrushes. The wood of the Rowan has been used for making tool handles and even bows. However, the strangest use for it was to be made into dowsing rods and used by those that could divine to find precious metals.

Dewberry rubus caesius

Another plant with berries to look out for this month is the Dewberry (rubus caesius). Birds and animals can be found feeding on the fruit which comes out a little ahead of the many varieties of wild blackberries. The Dewberry has many prickles along its stems but not as hard as some of the other bramble species. The fruit differ in that they never produce many seeds to each fruit like the blackberry does and the colour is more of a pale blue than a glossy black.

Pineapple weed chamomilla suaveolens

A plant that has flowers resembling fruit is the Pineapple weed (chamomilla suaveolens). The flower appears not to have any petals but if trodden under foot it has a very strong smell resembling pineapple or apple. The name "Chamomilla" derives its name from the Greek meaning "apple of the earth". It has to be one of the easiest plants to identify because of its smell. This plant is found on pathways, farms and well-trodden gateways. It is believed to have come to this country from the state of Oregon in North America over a hundred years ago. It has spread rapidly across the British Isles finding the climate here just perfect.

Rosebay Willowherb Chamerion angustifolium

Another plant that was introduced and spread across the country is the Rosebay Willowherb (chamerion angustifolium). The bright pink-purple flowers stand out wherever they appear. They like waste ground and have spread well along road and railway embankments. The plant spreads effectively either by its numerous seeds that are taken up in the wind and are blown to far away places and also because of its thick root system that takes a firm hold of where it grows. It has proved a useful source of food for insects that feed on its nectar, birds on its seeds and the caterpillar of the Elephant Hawkmoth on its leaves.

Chaffinch fringilla coelebs

One of our commonest birds to be seen taking advantage of the numerous insects and seeds available to eat this month is the Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs. They can be found in woods, gardens, orchards and farmland where there is either some scrub land or a number of bushes. The male bird has a distinctive pink chest, grey cap, orange face, chestnut back, green rump and white bars on the wings whereas the female, is a duller brown with a green rump and again the white bars on the wings. Later in the year we will see a few extra winter migrant Chaffinches join our resident ones usually on the bird table.

Next month will turn cooler and I will tell you what to look out for.