Whitebeam rising above the cliff of Scout Scar escarpment There's a dome of blue over Scout Scar and the warmth of the sun is a surprise, a drop in temperatures was forecast. A history of weather and season lies before us. Squally winds and rain in early October have brought forth fungi and the distribution of fruit-bodies indicates the hidden mycelium. A scatter of golden fungi resembles late flowers.
In spring, the weather must have been just right for the pollination of whitebeam as there's a splendid crop of berries.
In spring, the weather must have been just right for the pollination of whitebeam as there's a splendid crop of berries.
Some years, there are no whitebeam berries. The trees are found all along the escarpment cliff and where they rise above it their leaves are stripped by autumn gales. Whitebeam, the white tree, named for the pale underside of its leaves. One slender whitebeam gave a display perch to a male redstart who arrived from Africa in the last week of April or the first in May and sang in its branches, until two years ago. Pale blotches that make the tree bark distinctive and the rich colour of berries along the cliff-face is a highlight of autumn.
Ravens soar above the escarpment. I hear mistle thrush and there are flocks of small birds flitting through the trees. Ash die-back has hit Scout Scar hard because the ridge was a stronghold of ash. They lose their leaves early because the ridge is exposed to the prevailing south-westerlies but afflicted trees failed to come into leaf in spring so they've been skeletal-bare all year.
Yew grows up the cliff-face and shows dark and evergreen. The woods below have the first tinges of autumn but have yet to colour significantly. A burst of colour comes from bracken.
Yew grows up the cliff-face and shows dark and evergreen. The woods below have the first tinges of autumn but have yet to colour significantly. A burst of colour comes from bracken.
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