Wed 17th Sept 2014 - Quarr Abbey, Binstead.

Carrie's Photographs.

Team "A" meets Team "B".

Sue's Photographs.

Team "A"

A few of the "Locals".

Spindle Tree.

Spindle (euonymus europaeus) with bright pink fruits and orange seeds.

Helen's Photograph.

Team "B".

Remember that saying "Be careful what you wish for"? Back at the start of August, after our previous visit to Quarr Abbey, I wrote in the blog - Unfortunately we did not make that "Channel Tunnel digging breakthrough moment" so perhaps we could have a future session to complete it? Well, this week's GG session gave us that opportunity and with the whole team split into two, we started attacking the jungle from either end. After the first hour we heard voices, then saw movement, followed by the glorious moment when the two teams finally met in the middle! After a quick tea break, it was time to try and trim back the edges of the pathway we had created so there would be better access. By the end of the session the majority of the ditch had been cleared of undergrowth and all ready to be dredged out. This had been a particularly hard work package, spread over two sessions, so a big WELL DONE to all those who took part. The warm, dry September weather continues, will it last over until next week? Watch this space......

Carrie's Nature Lesson.

This week's find for all discerning nature readers of the world famous Green Gym blog, is the oak apple or oak gall, which is the common name for a large, round, vaguely apple-like gall commonly found on many species of oak. They range in size from 2-5 cm in diameter, and are made by chemicals injected by the larva of certain kinds of gall wasp in the Cynipidae family. The adult female lays her single eggs in developing leaf buds, and the larvae feed on the tissue of the gall resulting from their secretions.  They have been used to produce ink since at least the time of the Roman Empire, and from the Middle Ages to the early 20th century iron gall ink was the main writing medium in the western world.

According to folklore if a worm is found inside the gall on Michaelmas Day, the year will be pleasant and unexceptional.  If a spider is found a bad year will follow with ruined crops and shortages.  If a fly is found the season will be moderate and if nothing is found then serious diseases will occur all year.  Oak Apple Day (or Royal Oak Day) is a former English public holiday on 29 May, which commemorated the Restoration of Charles II in 1660, and refers to an event during the English Civil War, when Charles hid in an oak tree.

Thanks for the photographs Helen, Sue and to Carrie for her photographs and Nature Lesson.