Winter Woodland Work takes a Pause

 After a very wet November and the recent cold spell, days spent working in the wood have been few and far between. In the last few months however, I have managed to reclaim another acre of  Wealden woodland from a jungle of rhododendron. I am itching to get some bonfires lit when we get a dryer spell and to complete some tree thinning. I hope that by the time the first butterflies appear in the Spring, the view through the wood will be greatly improved. 

Apart from woodland birds and deer, there is not much wildlife to find at this time of year but continuing my fungi education, species of crust fungi are fairly easy to find. 

Stereum hirsutum (Hairy Curtain Crust) (on dead fallen birch)

Stereum rameale (on dead standing sweet chestnut)