Blackmoor
Today Dawn, Ted and I headed off to Blackmoor in Hampshire for their Annual Apple Tasting Day, which always falls on the second Sunday in October. This year was their 54th Open Day and remarkably the weather was dry, warm and sunny, as it always seems to be on this particular day.
It is an event I enjoy taking part in, as my Grandfather used to live in the village and my uncle, up until 1972, was the manager of Blackmoor Estate, working for Lord Selbourne, who in turn was a good friend of my late father. So this village has always been a big part of my life.
Birds Recorded:
1 Red Kite
1 Red Kite
Wood Pigeon
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
1 Mistle Thrush
1 Chiffchaff
1 Goldcrest
Long-tailed Tit
Coal Tit
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Nuthatch
Wren
Rook
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Siskin
Goldfinch
Butterflies Recorded:
2 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta
A Red Admiral on one of the headstones in the church grounds
English Oak Quercus robur
Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna
Horse Chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum
Silver Birch Betula pendula
Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus
Sweet Chestnut Castanea sativa
Rowan Sorbus aucuparia
Common Yew Taxus baccata
Norway Spruce Picea abies
Sweet Chestnut Castanea sativa
English Oak Quercus robur looking very Autumnal.
Other plants:
Bramble Rubus fruticosusa
Common Nettle Urtica dioica
Common Nettle Urtica dioica
Wild Clematis Clematis vitalba
Bracken Pteridium aquilinum
Fungi:
Birch Polypore Piptoporus betulina
Brown roll-rim Paxillus involutus
Hoof Fungus Fomes fomentarius
In the School Hall, where my grandfather was Head Teacher, is a tribute to his life hanging on the wall. Not only does it describe the man he was, but how he was awarded the Victoria Cross in WWI.
The Apple Identification Tent, where a friend of mine Gerry Edwards attempts to identify apples the public bring to him.
False Chanterelle Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca
Oakmoss lichen Evernia prunastri
On this Silver Birch was a Birch Polypore Piptoporus betulina
And on the ground below the Silver Birch a Brown roll-rim Paxillus involutus
Hoof Fungus Fomes fomentarius
And these are..........
..............False Chanterelle Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca
Oakmoss lichen Evernia prunastri
General Shots:
The main car park holding thousands of cars.
Red Cottage where my late aunt and uncle lived. Behind the trees is St Matthew's Church
Blackmoor Tennis Club, where my parents and my aunt & uncle used to visit......
...........when they played on the tennis courts here. Sadly the club is derelict and the courts are now gone
Ted:
Ted enjoying his walk in the woods.