Wolves Wild

Weeping willow by the entrance to Compton Park. The branches are green as the tree begins to put on new growth for the spring, contrasting with the white of the snow, and the blue fence of the new housing development.

The remains of one of last year’s nettles, backlit by the sun on a frosty morning.

The old lime tree on Tettenhall green, in its protective fence,

According to a notice, it is 300 years old.

Winter-flowering jasmine living up to its name in the current hard weather. This was near West Park’s South Gate.

Vibernum flowering by West Park’s West Gate in the current snow and ice.

Fox tracks in the snow lead through a gap in the hedge by the canal near Castlecroft.

Gaps at the bottom of otherwise dense hedges often show routes regularly taken by foxes or even badgers. Snow, and sometimes mud, can preserve footprints to identify the animals using the track.

Small mushrooms growing on wood mulch in one of the beds of Castle Park, Bridgnorth.

Their texture was enhanced by the frost which had condensed on them.

Fresh overnight snow is good for showing footprints of the animals which have been about. These can include pets as well as wild animals. Cats have a footprint divided into pads which fit together into a rounded foot (above) which does not show claw-marks.

Dog prints are broader than foxes. The claw marks may, as here, be very faint. Fox prints (but not dogs) also seem to line up in a single straight line, left and right feet on the same track.

Claws and/or toes figure in the prints of any other of the larger wild mammals which are likely to be seen in urban areas like Wolverhampton.

Badger prints look (to my eye) rather like clawed hands, with “palms” broader yet than those of dogs.

Rabbit and squirrel have clearer toes than the other mammals mentioned here.

Cones ripening onthe upper branches of two types of conifer.

Rose hips and other fruit berries also get covered by the current snow.

This year there is a very poor harvest on the trees and bushes because of the wet summer we had. So putting out food for the birds is vital for their survival. They need unfrozen water too.