Revisiting Buckland Hill

Our outing last week ended with this tree hug. Nearly 7m girth we decided for this pollarded Sweet Chestnut on an old boundary in the now-forested area of the hill we were re-visiting after a late October look last year.

It was a day for reminding ourselves about species distinctions that were rather hazy (in at least my mind) after the long winter and late spring.

Lunch near a patch of Slender Parsley-piert.

We saw:

Heath Milkwort, Amlaethai’r waun or Polygala serpyllifolia

Much of it pure white (a new experience for some in the group) or very light blue as above.

Spanish Bluebell, Clychau’r-gog Sbaenaidd or Hyacinthoides hispanica

- a white example.

And the area being much planted for wood not a total surprise to find a display of Douglas Fir cones and "flowers".

Douglas Fir, Ffynidwydden Douglas or Pseudotsuga menziesii

On the way back along a forest ride we saw these two Speedwells beside each other - set up for a compare and contrast session...

Heath Speedwell, Rhwyddlwyn meddygol or Veronica officinalis

Thyme-leaved Speedwell, Rhwyddlwyn dail teim or Veronica serpyllifolia

And getting back near the cars we found the magnificent Chestnut:

Sweet Chestnut, Castanwydden bêr or Castanea sativa