Today we saw the first Bluebells of the year at HCP on Brakey Bank, eight days later than last year. Celandines, Wood Anemones and a couple of Red Campion. We also heard our first Chiffchaff. Looks like Spring is finally here! Please note that the Exmoor Ponies are now out of Brakey Bank field and roaming Warren Glen. The two remaining Belties can be seen in the Field between the Visitor Centre and the Coastguard Cottages..

Warren Glen is a challenge to walk as are most places at the moment, so I was pleased to find these fungi on the western side where there is a small patch of burnt gorse on Monday. Velvet shank, or Flammulina velutipes, can be found in late autumn through to spring and is said to favour dead gorse and elm (Marcel Bon). Fortunately this seems to be one of the few species of fungi that one can identify with some certainty without resorting to spore prints and a microscope. I particularly like the three in the hollow of the gorse stem.

Pretty much constant rain yesterday and last night (including a bit of snow) led to the most water I can remember seeing pouring out of the Quarry, heading for Warren Wood. There are places where it could go over the top of your wellies! Here’s a photo or twoplus one of a slightly snowy Warren Glen.

Footpath or stream?

That’s deep!

At the quarry face

Across the glen