July

July saw the later meadow flowers coming into bloom including large clumps of black knapweed, field scabious, tansy, wild basil, hogweed, pignut, nettle, dock and two shades of yarrow.

Goatsbeard, standing 40-75 cm tall, is also known as John or Jack-go-to-bed-at-noon as the flowers open very early just for a few hours but only on sunny mornings. Their pappus or clock can be up to 12cm across.

Pignut has a rounded, sweet, aromatic nut or tuber that is popular with pigs, hence its many names including hognut, kippernut, cipernut, arnut, jarnut, hawknut, earth chestnut, groundnut, and earthnut. It is also known as Saint Anthony's nut as he is the patron saint of swineherds. Pignut is common in woods and fields and long-stablished grassland.

On a couple of early mornings a male Roe deer was spotted wandering through the tall grass. The Roe is one of the native deer of the British Isles that lives in the edges of woodlands and forests. It is becoming more common with the increase in woodland planting. We also see Muntjac regularly. Originally brought from China to Woburn Park in Bedfordshire, they are now widespread due to deliberate releases and escapes. They are also known as the barking or rib-faced deer.

July 2021 and a new wild flower has been found, a sow thistle growing in a crack against a wall.