David

Another picture from a visit to Bantock Park in early May. A maple tree was in flower. Although the leaves had not been out for long, something had already been nibbling them.

Walls built from furnace slag used to be common around Wolverhampton. This is less so now, but they can still be found. This one was by the former Bantock Park lodge next to Finchfield Road.

It was still early in the morning. Every few yards along the pavement there was another slug, all heading for the nearby long grass which would be their daytime refuge.

This acer was also growing in Bantock Park. The sunlight shining through its red leaves made them even more dramatic than usual.

The unopened bud gives little clue of the colour the flower will be. If it is a wild plant, then yellow. If descended from an escaped cultivated variety, a more striking orange.

The flowers are poisonous, like other parts of the tree. They are responsible for the old name: “the golden chain tree”.