It’s been a murky old day here in Durham, so this picture of a sycamore tree is one I took earlier in the week.
Despite the weather, and the ubiquitous mud, we were determined to get out and start thinking about our proposed survey of trees in the vicinity. At first glance, there’s not a lot happening just now. And then you start to slow down and look closer. In an almost monochrome landscape, thank goodness for the leaves that cling to the young beeches and oaks over winter. I’m not sure what benefit these trees gain from hanging onto their foliage over the winter in their pubescent phase, but it certainly brightens up a dull day.
I used to live opposite a larch plantation at the end of Hornsea Mere (it’s in East Yorkshire), and while the straight rows and the dense shade they cast were at times oppressive, the brief display of golden needles in the autumn were a delight, first on the branch and then, after a frost, forming a vivid carpet on the ground. I’m not sure how this sprig survived the winter, but it has done, albeit drained of all its colour.
As well as these remnants of last year, there are already signs of spring.
Hopefully, we’ll get some brighter weather in a day or two and see a little more of the wonderful patterns picked out by the sun on the tree-trunks.
We have made a preliminary survey of the fields and woods around us and are drawing up a shortlist of trees to focus on when spring arrives. We count ourselves very fortunate to have within ten minutes’ walk of us several mature specimens of the more common species, including:
Oak, ash, sycamore, beech, linden, cherry, alder, chestnut – and we’ll probably be unable to resist including blackthorn and hawthorn.
Some time over the next week or so I’ll try to post photos of the likeliest suspects, in all their midwinter drabness.