The 30th January '09 saw The Wrekin Forest Volunteers helping to lay a hedge at the south part of Telford Town Park alongside a walk-way. This was my first bash at hedge-laying so yet another skill to learn and one that I thoroughly enjoyed doing.
And so to the task in hand...
We spent quite some time searching for Olly's bill-hook - a family heirloom that was around 200 years old - that had just simply disappeared. It was eventually found under Olly's foot so had we just lifted him up we would have found it much earlier!
Now... I'm going to have a stab at identifying this: I know it looks like something you might drop onto your cornflakes but it's actually (or probably!) Auricularia auricula-judae (Jew's Ear) but I could well be wrong! How did I do Les?
Staking the hedge. I have to mention Penny here (well I don't have to but I will);- because she really led the hedge-laying group and led it very ably too! She is also a mean fire-starter - and I don't mean by that she's in any way a secret arsonist or that she occasionally sings with The Prodigy who had a song some years ago by the same title! - No - I mean she's great at starting the fire whenever we have one, not that we did on this day but you know what I mean - am I starting to ramble? OK...
Anyone for a slice of cheesecake with bilberry leaf topping?
I won't even attempt to ID this one but I'm sure someone will
As the day drew to a close a few of use headed off to explore the wilderness and found:-
The Shropshire Union Canal used to pass right through the Park. In its hay-day many industries flourished alongside the canal; there were iron furnaces, foundries and forges at Hinkshay and Stirchley. Most of these industries belonged to the Old Park Company which was set up by Isaac Hawkins Browne - who used to live at Stirchley Grange - a fine old building currently up for sale and now urgently in need of some TLC and a bit of cash.
After the hedge-laying we planted around 100 mixed hedge plants and finished the day tired but satisfied that we'd put in a good day's work.
Click the collage below to see more pics...
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Hi
ReplyDeleteGreat to read the blog again. Due mainly to illness I've not been out for yonks (ooer that dates me a bit!) so it really got the enthusiasm going again and I can't wait to Project some Access up the Ercall LNR on Friday. I don't know what it means either but that's (more or less) what it says on the calendar.
I think the fungus is actually Scarlet Elf Cup but, as you say, Les will know.
See everyone on Friday.
Pleased to hear you're soon to be back with us Nige. Think you might be right about the Scarlet Elf Cup but guess we'd better wait for the definitive answer... Les?
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed the Scarlet Elf Cup. But which one? There are two of them, and they look just the same to me. Sarcoscypha coccinea or Sarcoscypha austriaca? Ooh missis.
ReplyDeleteCan't help with the lichen. Over to you Penny.
It is indeed the Scarlet Elf Cup. But which one? There are two of them, and they look just the same to me. Sarcoscypha coccinea or Sarcoscypha austriaca? Ooh missis.
ReplyDeleteCan't help with the lichen. Over to you Penny.
Cheers Les - thanks for that! Perhaps we can eliminate S.austriaca for 2 reasons:-
ReplyDelete1. Perhaps it indicates it's indigenous to Austria
and...
2. It's not in my book!
Funnily enough S austriaca is the only one in my book. I suspect Les has both books and is reading one with each eye !
ReplyDeleteSee y'all tomoz.