Wolves Wild

Trio of carrion crows, on the bare high branches of a tree on the island, West Park.

Resinous polypore, a bracket fungus on the trunk of one of the trees in Bantock Park.

More fly agarics from Bantock Park. One well-hidden under the beech hedge, the other nearby had been kicked over.

Local badgers have been enlarging their setts. These were both in sandy soils.

West Park’s trees include a large number of Japanese maples (or Japanese acers) which seem to have been chosen for interesting variations in their foliage, especially when the leaves are on the turn for the autumn.

All these pictures taken on one day’s stroll around the park, catching the trees before too many leaves had been brought down by the wind and rain.

The view downstream from the footbridge over the ford at Trescott. The Smestow was by no means as full as it can get, but was still flowing with some force.