Unfurling

Another successful day out with the South Lincolnshire Flora Group, on a perfect late spring day. Most of us parked in Thorpe-on-the-Hill and walked footpaths to Tunman Wood, where we met up for lunch with a smaller group who'd decided to park nearer the wood. Much of the site was rather dull, much of it having been re-planted with conifers in the past. However, an area of recent conifer clearance yielded some interest, including this magnificent Scaly Male-fern, a tiny patch of Bristle Club-rush next to a shallow peaty pool and a good population of Water-purslane on a wet ride. 

The day gradually became hotter and stickier, and after a long walk back up the hill we were glad to visit the cafe at Whisby, where we consumed tea and cakes on the terrace, overlooking a very raucous colony of breeding Black-headed Gulls.