The teasels, both in the garden and along to footpaths where we walk, have been magnificent this year – growing tall and in profusion on the hedgerows. As many 365 images testify, they are popular with insects, and it’s good to see them balancing the sterile monocultures of the surrounding arable fields. Many farmers around here have left a 5m wide “wildlife corridor” around fields which has encouraged wild plants and flowers around the fields. The “corridors” are filled with high grasses, including along the route of footpaths, making for difficult dog walking. The grasses are always mown once wildflowers have seeded, and hopefully it won’t be long before we will have a variety of open routes again.
There are hundreds growing around us and I sand and marvel at the insects clamouring for the nectar. This is lovely, particularly against the dark background.
