Update from Coed Cadno

We have called our new plantation Coed Cadno/Fox Wood because foxes are the main wild mammals that frequent it. 

The young trees, planted over two years ago, are doing well despite very little attention and have weathered the summer drought.

Crossing the field today I noticed:

Top left: a cluster of LBMs (little brown mushrooms) probably belonging to the genus Conocybe, beneath a hazel sapling;

Top right: a couple of marble galls on a young oak. These are created by a tiny wasp in order to nurture their larvae;

Bottom left: a leaf mining insect (Lyonetia clerkella) has laid its egg within a birch leaf and the developing larva has burrowed around the leaf eating until it's ready to hatch;

Bottom right:  did I mention foxes?  This is likely to be all that remains of one of our neighbour's goslings.
( And for this reason I no longer keep chickens.)

All these life forms are contingent upon the trees being here; many more will be attracted or accommodated as they grow bigger. Plus foxes.

In the smaller field that was accidentally mowed last year the trees aren't doing so well but some of them are recovering and those that aren't will be replaced.