A Local Walk and Flowers from the Garden

 

Last weekend D and I went a local walk along public footpaths at Southfields Farm Coleshill.  We visited the farm for an open day a few years ago and it was a very wildlife friendly farm.

By the farm buildings there was what looked like a "community farm"? and there are also several fields with horses.

We followed a different footpath to last time so sadly missed the wildflower meadow.

Lots of lovely grasses - I really must learn to identify some.

There is a circular walk you can do - I checked the route when we got home and it is about five miles - a walk to consider when we have more time.

Next four photos taken by D.

This is a new insect trapper and it really is very good. You open the soft base and place it over the insect and slowly close the base.  We caught a Swollen-thighed beetle and what I think may be a species of Capsid bug. 

It was encouraging to see more bees and butterflies about. Butterfly species included several Small Tortoiseshell and Meadow Brown.

Flowers in the Garden

I have forgotten what this flower is though I suspect someone has told me in the past.  One forms a creeping mat and the other is a large shrub. I am assuming they are the same species. But oddly there is another similar one in the herbaceous border which I forgot to take a picture of.

Another mystery plant bought years ago!

St John's Wort in the wild flower mini meadow and scabious is flowering now too.

Bistort

I hope everyone is staying safe and well.

We are in Herefordshire at the moment. To be honest it has been too hot to do much but I will do a few posts next week.

Photos by D with the Canon Sx50HS

Those by me taken with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330.

Southfields Farm

Why do several interesting events so often happen on the same day? Yesterday it was the Open Day at Maxstoke Castle and also Southfields Farm Annual Open Day and I really wanted to go to both but sadly didn't have the time so had to pick one. We've been to Maxstoke Castle several times in the past but I have never visited Southfields and, as it is a farm under Environmental Stewardship, I was keen to see what had been done there for wildlife so D and I decided to visit the latter.

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It was an ideal day out for families with activities such as Meet the Animals, Trailer Rides, Craft Activities for Children, Pond dipping etc. so we had a quick look round - it was very busy!

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I did know thanks to Vinnyman's Blog (see link on the right under my Blog List) that there is a rather beautiful wildflower meadow. Unfortunately we had arrived too late to join the Farm and Wildlife Walk which would have taken in that area, but eventually I found someone who was able to give me directions. Once we had left the main area of activities in the farmyard it was very quiet and peaceful.

Some views of the farmland and Warwickshire countryside as we walked down the Bridle Path in the direction of the River Blythe.

I am not sure what this pretty pink flower is - it looked like a species of geranium and am not even sure if it is wild but it was certainly attracting bees.

In the distance we could see the hamlet of Maxstoke and the Priory - the Canon zoom came in useful to get this picture.

As we reached a field by the river we were lucky enough to see a hare running towards us. It spotted us almost immediately and turned and ran in the opposite direction - the best photo D was able to get!

River Blythe

We followed the banks of the river for a short distance and then through a small wooded area and we were in the wildflower meadow.

We didn't see many butterflies apart from a Large Skipper - it was very very windy - but we did find lots of Banded Demoiselles.

Ladybird Larva

The field was full of Ox-eye Daisies, many many species of grass, Buttercups, Knapweed, Clover and Birdsfoot Trefoil. A wonderful sight - taking me back to my childhood when so many meadows still looked like this one.

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Some of the flowers seen in hedgerows - many species of umbellifer, Dog Roses, Foxgloves, Pineapple weed and Hedge Woundwort.

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Looking back as we walked back to the farm for

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a cup of tea and cake in a cup (carrot cake) :)

I do hope to visit the farm again in the future - there is also a field sown with plants that provide seeds for birds over the autumn and winter.



Most of the photos were taken by D with the Canon SX50 HS so this time I have marked the ones taken by me with the Olympus *C.

Thanks again to Vinnyman for alerting me to the existence of this farm.

If you want to see Maxstoke Castle and Gardens please see here and here for posts on previous visits.