Under the canopy

Although the air temperature in West Wales never reaches the heights experienced elsewhere, a shady walk seemed a wise precaution.

The beech trees in this small valley stretch high enough to catch the winter storms and last year there were some casualties. Bracket fungi have already taken advantage of one such (first extra) with spores powdering the ground like cocoa.

As I sat beside the stream for a while I watched a bee (bumble or what?) digging herself into the leaf mould - to nest I imagine. You can just see her furry yellow rump as she disappears from view (second extra).

Trees are so much more than 'just' trees, they create a whole ecology.