Spier's - Natural and Local History

03/06/2026

A Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina) sport, that is a mutant variety which has greatly reduced 'leaves' on a normal stem or rachis. This one has also produced one almost 'normal' 'leaf aka frond. Sports are quite common if you look closely and the species is very common in woodlands and verges. The Victorians were great collectors of the many 'sport' varieties and collected so many that they became quite rare at the time.

15/05/2026

The Common Spotted Orchid is our most common orchid. You get hybrids that are tall and very robust. Dactylorhiza maculata fuchsii is the scientific name.

30/04/2026

The very same False Puffball slime mold the next day. Very hot weather speeded up the process. The spores are brown and dispersed by wind and rain until only a few delicate threads of the sporangium remain, resembling soft foam padding.

29/04/2026

The False Puff-ball slime mold on a pine tree stump.

29/04/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URy4v5-bk6E

1 like. "Solitary Miner Bees (Andrena species) 'Volcanoes' and Burrows in your Lawn."

22/04/2026

A group of Shuttlecock or Ostrich Ferns just opening. The plant has fronds without spore bodies and fronds with only spore bodies - the brown ones. Not native.

22/04/2026

The Diamond Jubilee Wood at Spiers is doing well. 2012 planting and home to a Time Capsule.

22/03/2026

22/03/2026

Hedera helix sagitifolia - a variety of the native species.

19/03/2026

Hawthorn berries on moss - Hawthorn berries provide an important energy food source, particularly when insects are scarce in winter. Haws are especially important to species such as blackbirds and thrushes from late autumn through mid-winter. Blackbirds also feed on other native berries such as holly and rowan, as well as ivy berries in late winter