Woodland walk near Chaffcombe

 This morning I was lucky enough to be invited on a walk through a private woodland near Chaffcombe. Although the weather was not sunny it was quite mild and the birds were singing enthusiastically, including Nuthatches, Chiffchaff, Coal Tits, Wrens, Robins and Song thrush as well as drumming Great Spotted Woodpeckers.
The main reason for the walk was to see the beautiful spread of Bluebells, but unfortunately they were barely out and the colour not as dramatic as we had hoped for.
Nevertheless there were a good number of other spring woodland flowers to be seen in this remnant of ancient woodland, as well as unusual lichen and fungi, and I have added a few photos here to demonstrate the variety.

Primroses amongst the wild garlic

Early Purple Orchid

Herb Paris

Toothwort

Wood Sorrel

Wood Anemone

Lungwort (Lichen)

Unusual fungi known as Alfred's cakes, with their "burnt offering" appearance,  which grow on dead trees

Alfred's cakes on an ash branch

Close up of Alfred's cakes

Nearby the wood there was a lovely area with Cowslips in full bloom, the first I have seen this year.

Lastly, whilst there were no butterflies on the wing today there was a very unusual "caterpillar"- what a way to end a truly lovely spring woodland walk!