Decay and Renewal

After a few urban walks I took Monty out to Hayley Woods today. It's an ancient woodland with lots of lovely mossy logs lying around. This one is sporting old, exploded, puffball fungi and all around it new shoots are appearing. Most of the woodland floor is full of bluebell shoots but there were lots of these plants as well - any suggestions what they are?

It was far too muddy to walk in the wood much so we went back to the car (Monty having had a fantastic time - nose down, tail rotating) and I decided we should explore the public footpaths in nearby Longstowe - where we ended up covered in the thickest, stickiest mud I have ever encountered!!

[robinwarner]

great perspective here. great textures and details. good one

[Kristel Koldenhof]

awesome!

[ottery]

love how near the view point is to the ground

[Martha]

this is really lovely. Really like the perspective. Sounds like a muddy day!!

[Peggy Sirk]

Excellent perspective, Judith! I think I see how/why you encountered mud. It would appear that you had to lie in it to get this great shot! I'm not sure what those sprouts might be in that nascent state of development. But they're very cute. :) Lovely photo!

[Loveday Giles]

A have a feeling they may be Wood Avens or something similar, if I remember I will look them up in my "BOOK"!

[Judith Greenwood]

@mole Ooh - I've looked that up but all the pics are mature plants - will have to go back when they are a bit bigger!

[Judith Greenwood]

@mole I openend the Woodland Trust magazine to find the answer to this question - it's dog's mercury - an indicator of ancient woodland. Saw some with @helenmiss the other day as well.