Walk in the Woodland

Cuttings Path

Walking towards the Cuttings path, see how the Pendular Sedge plant is taking over.


Pendulous sedge (Carex pendula) has attractive, green strap-like leaves all throughout the year (ie. it is evergreen).  It seeds freely and can become a troublesome weed in damp gardens. We will re-appraise its presence in a year or two.

Another evergreen over on left, is a Cotoneaster.  The name Cotoneaster stems from the Latin ’cotone’ for quince and ‘aster’ for resembling because of its similarity to the plant Quince.  It is a relation of Hawthorn  and is native to the Palaearctic region. 

Dog rose with distinct red berries. (another on winter twig list!). The plant is high in certain antioxidants. The fruit (rose hip) is noted for its high level of vitamin C, and is used to make syrup, tea, and marmalade. 

Stand of Ash trees. 

Aphids love them, so look out for their predators - ladybirds, hoverflies and birds. The leaves are eaten by  a number of moth caterpillars.

Winterclumps of 'helicoptor' seeds' SpringCheck all healthy and no sign of 'Ash Dieback'

Great Willowherb

Great Willowherb is a large herb that flourishes in damp ground, such as wet grasslands, ditches, riversides and woodland clearings. Its fluffy seeds are dispersed by the wind. Pink flowers appear on the top of hairy stems from July to August.

Goat Willow

As you go down to the left, look right and 25 yards away is a magnificent tree , but which sort?  Kim from Lancs Wildlife suggested a Goat Willow. The overall shape is right, and along the fallen branches are many suckers growing..

Hawthorn Tree

Hawthorn, in Spring with white lovely smelling flowers, in Winter with distinctive red berries - and prickly shoots! 

Being an old native species there are around 150 species of insect associated with it.

Oak Tree

Oak tree, with classic leaf in winter - found at the base of the tree.  Always worth a look in winter for dead leaves to help identify it,

But which sort of oak?

Into the Cutting.  If this looks like a disused railway line, that is because it is.  See 'Commemorative' for what came along the railway during World War 1.

Fallen branch of heritage pear (Hessle) tree being cleared off path

Further along - the pear tree! Possibly an old variety called  Hessle c.1820,  allegedly from the Yorkshire village of that name (but possibly Scottish in origin) .  

See nest in the fallen branch . The mobile phone gives you an idea how big this nest was, previously high up in the pear tree.  

What bird do you think made that nest? Is it a magpie, pigeon, crow or sparrow? Answer

Hessle

The Hessle is an old English dessert variety of pear. It is a cooking pear. First mention dates back to 1827,  yet thought to be much older. It originated from the village of Hessle near Hull, East Yorkshire. It was most popular in the North of England and Scotland, and widely grown and appreciated for its reliable crops everywhere. It travelled well and was sold to fruit markets and jam factories. With the passing of time, it reigned supreme as the pear of choice for discerning palates. More from Slow Food If any WMW Friend can tell us a good recioe using it, please let us know.

Following the Cuttings path along to Mitton Road,  you can see a blue plaque on the wall to commemorate the wounded solddiers who came here in WW1.

See our Commemorative section more more details.