Wild Hop

A wild hop scrambling through the lichen-covered twigs of blackthorn is just beginning to change to a soft golden colour, a sure sign that autumn is moving on. 

After a morning at the computer, I went for a walk along a footpath in Marholm, and did a bit of plant recording on the way. Despite the bare harvested fields and mown verges, I recorded quite a few species that hadn't been seen for more than thirty years, including a plant of dwarf spurge, which is rare and declining in the UK. 

My discovery of a thriving population of water primrose was even more surprising. This potentially invasive species is listed on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, but despite this status it still seems to be quite uncommon. I've only seen it once previously, in Norfolk. This appears to be the first record for Northamptonshire, though it won't be a welcome one.

While I was out, Pete and Alex cut back some overgrown conifers on the boundary of our garden. Strictly, they belong to our next-door neighbour, but he's not a great gardener and was happy for us to go ahead and manage them. In the evening we made fishcakes - very delicious but so filling -  a light salad was the perfect accompaniment.