With September comes the cooler days and the morning mists. The light is fading quicker as the evenings draw in. It is also this time of year that the majority of our apples are harvested and towards Kent and Hampshire this is the hop harvesting season.

The Hop (Humulus lupulus)

The Hop (Humulus lupulus) is well known to be the main ingredient for making beer. However, although written accounts on the making of beer date back to the Middle Ages by monks in France it only started to be made using hops for flavouring here in the 16th century. The stems of the hop are covered in tiny hooked prickles that enable the plant to climb and smother any neighbouring plant in its search for sunlight.

September skies will be filled with low flying House Martins (Delichon urbica), stocking up on insects and building up their energy for their long journey ahead to Africa. Swallows (Hirundo rustica) can be seen gathering on telephone lines and in great numbers before their migration too. Hopefully, we will have some sunny weather this month, to enable the last of our flowers to bloom and allow the insects to take advantage of the nectar available.

Common Toadflax (Linaria vulgaris)

A colourful flower to look out for on the downs this month is the yellow Common Toadflax (Linaria vulgaris). This plant derives its name because the flower resembles a toad and the narrow leaves look like the leaves of flax.

Devil's-bit Scabious (Succia pratensis)

Another flower to look out for is the purple Devil's-bit Scabious (Succia pratensis), this is often found on the Downs as well as on the wealden clay in some of our meadows. Legend tells that this plant was famous for having many healing qualities, it was reputed to be used to ward off the plague, help against swollen throats, snake bites, stop itching, treating numerous skin diseases and good for treating wounds.

The Devil came to hear of this wonderful plant and was so angry that he bit the roots off it, hoping it would die. Luckily the plant survived but still bears the scar and has ever since had a very short root. With the autumnal feel to this time of the year come some of the early edible fungi like the Parosol Mushroom (Lepiota procera).

Parosol Mushroom (Lepiota procera)

This is an impressive large fungus, although it is only edible to us when fresh. As once it has dropped its spores it soon decays as bacteria take a hold, or invertebrates, slugs and snails eat it up.

Elder in berry (Sambucus nigra).

In the hedgerows there are numerous fruits and nuts to be either eaten now or harvested and stored away like the elderberries from the Elder (Sambucus nigra).

You may be lucky enough to see the nest of

The nest of the Harvest Mouse (Micromys minutus)

a Harvest Mouse (Micromys minutus) hidden near the base of the hedge as they have in some cases been forced there from the cereal fields that have been harvested. The Harvest mouse is this countries smallest native mouse and at this time of year is very vulnerable to predation by foxes, stoats, birds of prey and even pheasants will eat them. Some mammals take the option of moving out of the wild almost altogether and move in with us like the House Mouse (Mus musculus).

House Mouse (Mus musculus)

This mouse has been living in close association with us since the Neolithic period and in some cases can be seen feeding off our plates. (Our thanks to Bruce for writing this and not doing his washing up-Ed)

Next month October I will talk more about Fungi. (Oh dear! -Ed)