David

These cones didn’t look like they had ripened completely, but already something had begun to nibble them.

Close-up of a fairy ring mushroom. Although another can be seen in the background, there was no ring this time.

Trees beginning to take on the shades of autumn in the grounds of Himley Hall a couple of days ago.

This was a late flower I saw at the start of the month.

At the foot of the small sandstone hill behind Himley Hall are a couple of bricked-up artificial caves. They are the former ice houses for the Hall, just a short step from the kitchens, and built into the easily draining rock so that the water from the melting ice would just percolate away.

With the recent poor weather, I haven’t been getting out for many up to date pictures. This water boatman using its powerful legs to scull across the surface of a pond was taken early in July.