Lower Trunk of an old Holly Tree

The ancient woodlands on the edge of Dartmoor often cover steep-sided valleys. The trees are rugged and knarled and often covered in mosses and lichens. I can identify oak, ash,beech,sycamore and birch trees, but others I recognise but cannot name. This one though is unmistakable and will come into it's own as the other trees loose their leaves. Holly trees are easy to overlook in the Summer months, but are worth looking out for.  The trunks of the older trees can be quite fascinating with their etched rings and hard, nobbly bits.