Elterwater in December

Bracket fungus

 At Elterwater we look for the dipper of the place. Langdale Beck flows high and his perching stones are submerged, but on our return there he is. 
Colwith Force is resounding in a landscape where the becks are clamorous.  The woodland floor is saturated and rich in colour: decaying leaf litter, green mosses and wood sorrel.

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A gorse bush only half-conceals orange blobs of jelly fungus growing on its stems.  And in decay a birch is decked with hoof fungus, birch polypore.  LIchens grow in dark clots on branches of birch where small catkins will overwinter. And there is witches' broom.