Wolves Wild

Bunches of keys holding last year’s fruit hang from the same branches of the ash tree which are already showing the buds of the new year’s growth.

Moorhen striding gingerly over the frozen boating lake in West Park.

Even a partial freezing of the West Park boating lake is causing a problem for these birds.

The squirrels of West Park are so used to being fed that it is moot whether they are wild.

These are such spectacular mushrooms, so here are another couple of them.

This fungus looks like a congealed foam on rotting wood, including, as here, on tree stumps.

This closer view also shows tiny puffballs nearby.

This flock were systematically going over the patch of ground which was very soft after recent rainfall.

This delicately coloured mushroom grows in leaf litter – here at the roadside by the Million, a Forestry Commission wood near Kinver.

This tiny mushroom was growing from a tree trunk.

Holly has bright red berries as winter comes, and deep green leaves all year long. It’s easy to see why it should be taken as a mid-winter decoration symbolising continuing life.