Leaves are already turning brown

With the dry hot spell we had this last August the weather has been perfect for harvesting. Not only has the cereal harvest been finished but the yield and quality was good too! It was one of the hottest and driest August months on record. With it there has been a bumper crop of wild fruit and nuts. Already much of the countryside is either golden or brown and parched. The woodlands have already showing signs of leaves turning orange or dried up and brown. One of the mammals that suffered a lot this last month has been the badger. This has been because the ground has been so dry and hard that their main food source, the humble earthworm, has stayed well under ground. This has meant the badger has been forced to look for other sources of food and has continued to forage in daylight at the end of the night. A number of exhausted and hungry ones have miscalculated crossing the roads and ended up dead on the side of the road. The abundant fruit has ripened very quickly this year and so it will fall and rot quickly too. This could cause problems for the animals and birds later in the year and many of them may find looking for food very difficult unless they store their food away. If possible landowners, including gardeners, should refrain from cutting hedgerows until January as this will help the wildlife have a better chance of finding food.

Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus agg)

One of the most abundant berries available has to be the Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus agg). There are many varieties of this plant in leaf shape and taste and size of the berries. Apart from being a good food source for animals and birds people have collected them to go into pies, crumbles, jams, wines and puddings. In the past the prickly stems have been cut and laid out along hedge bottoms and left for the autumn. Then with a knife had the prickles removed and used as natural binding material and even baskets and beehives have been made from this very common plant.

Field Maple (Acer campestre)

Another plant that produces seeds that can be eaten by mammals like the squirrel is the Field Maple (Acer campestre). These seeds are shaped like the old fashioned keys for doors. This shape allows the seeds to be caught by the wind when they drop and fly resembling small helicopters. They can settle well away from the parent tree and if they are not eaten they can germinate and grow elsewhere in the wood or hedgerow. Some of the older Field Maples on woodland edges can be hosts to some of our rarer mosses and should be left alone if possible.

Goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea)

Look out for a yellow flowered plant called Goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea) that at first glance resembles ragwort but on closer examination you can see that the leaves are not the same. This plant seems to prefer sandy areas especially on the edges of heathland. The Latin name "Solidago" means "to make whole or heal". It has long been associated with healing and was sought after especially dire circumstances such as when duels were challenged or for stabbings in dark alleys. Such was its importance during the Elizabethan period that the selling of Goldenrod became a lucrative business and it started to be imported from the continent. This continued until it was realised that with a little more searching this plant could be found on our heaths and so when it was realised any one could get hold of it, it lost its commercial value but not its medicinal value. Today it is a much-overlooked plant but because it flowers late in the season it is an important nectar source for insects.

Tutsan (Hypericum androsaemum)

Another yellow flowered plant that has nearly all turned to berry is the Tutsan (Hypericum androsaemum). This plant can be found in a variety of habitats but prefers woodland glades. It is a member of the St Johnswort family but its leaves are larger than for other species within this family. These leaves used to be laid on wounds because of their antiseptic qualities. When dried they have a pleasant odour and have for centuries been placed between the pages of hymn books and bibles to keep away the usual musty smell. The berries are another food source for animals and birds.

One of the birds you may see feeding on them is the Starling (Sturnus vulgaris). A

t this time of year the already large flocks of this bird swell with extra migrants from the continent. Because of these extra large colonies crops and seeds may be raided so starlings can be a nuisance not only to farmers but to smaller birds trying to find food. They have been called the bandits of the bird world especially with all their varied noise and droppi

Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

ngs left everywhere. Nevertheless, their ability to mimic sounds from squeaky gates to mobile phones make them amusing birds to have around.

Next month the nights will be drawing in and many visitors will be arriving whilst our summer residents will be leaving.