Southwell Trail (March/April 2022) - Part 2

Following on from my last post is a further selection of photographs from the Southwell Trail capturing the transition from winter to spring.

This time I concentrate mainly on the details rather than land or treescapes including early wildflowers, the first new leaves, blossoms, and some of the farming activities in the local fields.

Celandine are often the first wildflowers to bloom on the trail, seen below with some violets. I also noted a fine patch of honesty (Lunaria annua):

There is always plenty of blackthorn and damson on the trail in early spring along with the uplifting cherry blossoms:

The birch trees are one of the first to develop their leaves in addition to the mass of catkins:

Also noticeable are the flowering field maples:

Early spring is a good time for following the farming activities. Some of the fields are treated with lime before the ploughs get to work. The deep ruts create a visual spectacle that never fails to impress:

August on the Southwell Trail

These are a selection of photographs taken whilst walking the Southwell Trail during August. They feature the seasonal details that caught my eye as summer came to an end.

Some of the ferns along the trail had started to change colour as early as the first week in August and the golden yellows stood out nicely against the dark undergrowth:

There was also an autumnal look to some of the field maple and silver birch leaves as the leaf litter started to accumulate:

A number of storms during the month causing damage to some of the trees including this damson tree that had fallen across the path:

There was plenty of other fruit on display in addition to the fallen damson including, blackthorn sloes, acorns, and a mass of haws on the hawthorns:

Finally, I continued to keep my eye on the ash trees that tend to be one of the first trees along the trail to lose their leaves in autumn. I noticed that they had already started to thin in places:

Early Autumn, Southwell Trail

This second selection of early autumn photos from the Southwell Trail features the light on the fields that run adjacent to the trail. I really enjoy these views even though I see them nearly everyday - I have even come to accept the power lines and pylons that cross the land!

In addition to the views, I started recording some of changes in leaf colour. This field maple changed from green leaves with patches of yellow to a full golden colour in the space of a week:

Finally, I checked out my favourite ash trees which still had green leaves but looked particularly autumnal as its clumps of winged fruit, or 'keys', had matured and dried to an orange-brown colour: