David

Beaked earth stars have a grooved “chimney” at the top where the spores are released. They are quite rare, but were growing in two different spots by the canal towpath near Castlecroft.

These are different species of earth star fungus.

They were all growing by the same section of canal towpath, and seen on the same day.

Badger’s don’t hibernate. They may try to last out a few days of cold weather by staying in their warm underground setts. But signs that they have been on the hunt for food after snow can be found even in the depths of winter. Footprints showed that they had been active after the recent snow.

A narrow gap between two bushes forces badgers onto a fixed path as they commute between their sett and the open ground in search of food. The recent snow shows up this path as a well-trodden trail.

A clump of crocuses struggle in the snow this wintry springtime.

Common jellyspot is a fungus found on dead wood. These were growing on a section of tree trunk placed to discourage parking on the grass verge outside the Pendeford Mill Nature Reserve.