pyramids and helices

...mixed weather today. Heavy rain overnight gave way to a grey and cloudy morning followed by a sunshine and showery afternoon. The best of the weather... is now!

After lunch, we went for a walk in Wareham Forest in the hope of finding some interesting fungi or bugs. Just as we set off through the trees, an enormous black cloud appeared and showered us with gentle rain. Just as we got back to the car, the sky turned blue and the sun came out! Consequently, we took a detour to Worth Matravers and the coast path on the way home, and enjoyed a delightful early evening walk.

I spotted a lovely little cluster of Pyramidal Orchids Anacamptis pyramidalis on the hillside and was delighted to find one with a snail symmetrically arranged within the flower spike. I think the snail is a Grove Snail also known as Brown-Lipped Snail Cepaea nemoralis but, as I am not certain, I have ordered a book to fill the unforgivable gap in my natural history collection...