Weather Window

Wednesday 7^th January 2026, Harton Hollow

Our first expedition of the new year was to Harton Hollow, a Shropshire Wildlife Trust reserve at the southern end of Wenlock Edge. We were fortunate that the trip fell between the snowy weather at the start of the week and the much more severe weather at the end of the week courtesy of Storm Goretti. In fact we were surprised at how green the landscape was, the earlier snow having melted away almost completely.
 
On arrival in the car park we were greeted by a particularly confiding Marsh Tit. It was closely followed by three Bramblings, who perched briefly in the top of a tree. Unfortunately, as no-one had a long lens to capture these events, you will have to take my word for it! A scenic view from the site towards the Clee Hills was captured instead.

Harton Hollow is a small site with just one path through it. It is therefore difficult to construct a thrilling narrative of our day, which was largely spent walking in single file through the site, stopping at intervals to beat or vacuum for finds. And of course, also, very importantly, for lunch!  So here are photos of some of our finds…
   
A liverwort: Plagiochila asplenioides

photo: John Martin

A brace of 16-spot Ladybirds

A gall of Taxomyia taxi (a species of midge) on Yew

photo: John Martin

What might have been a slime-mould, perhaps a Didymium species

photo: John Martin

A pseudoscorpion which we presume  to be the ubiquitous Neobisium carcinoides  

One of a group of earthstar fungi, Geastrum michelianum

photo: John Martin

A springtail, Orchesella cincta

photo: John Martin

And its larger relative,  Orchesella  villosa.

photo: John Martin

Harton Hollow is not a large nature reserve and with only one route through it, we found ourselves back at the car park in rather quick time. So an early finish! As compensation, we were able to journey home in very pleasant sunshine.
 
Snow Flea update: we didn’t find any. One large patch of Polytrichum moss was located and investigated but no Snow Fleas were forthcoming. Maybe  next week...
 
 
Photographs © the author except as noted.