Green larch cones, West Park

Green larch cones, West Park

Cones on one of the West Park larches, just beginning to ripen. The cones are large, so the tree may be a non-native species.

Pious pelican misericord

Pious pelican

Another bird portrayal from a misericord at Ludlow.

Pelicans are often portrayed in old churches. They were considered to be a symbols of Christ: it was thought that they killed their own chicks, then, three days later, speared their beaks into their own chests and drew blood which brought the chicks back to life.

Lime nail gall

Lime nail gall

These lime nail galls, on the leaves of lime trees, can grow to as much as half a centimeter tall, and range in colour from yellow to red. They are the protective covers of a mite, Eriophyes tiliae.

Lime nail gall

Speckled wood butterfly on a nettle leaf

Speckled wood butterfly on a nettle leaf

A speckled wood butterfly sits ready to defend its territory, resting on a sunlit leaf in a nettle patch in the meadow near the Smestow Valley Reserve Ranger Station.

Unripe holly berries

Unripe holly berries

As they first begin to develop,these holly berries are practically the same colour as the branch they are growing from. They will have turned bright red well in time for Christmas.