The Great Tree

 There is a tree that I have long believed to be the largest tree in town, and I haven't come across anything to make me doubt this. Indeed, many other people agree. 

It lies within The Friary Gardens, where once upon a time Henry VII gave the monks money to set up a small abbey, only for Henry VIII to imprison the monks and flatten it in 1539. 

Some may recognise it as the place where I photograph the aconite every January, up on a bank that was later constructed as a civil war era rampart. 

No-one knows how old the tree is, although they don't believe it was around at the time of the abbey. So maybe it is 200-300 years old. For many years many people, including myself, thought it was a london plane tree. 

It is not. It is an oriental plane tree, apparently the leaves and the seeds are the giveaway. 

It must have seen countless families take picnics under its boughs, and thousands of dogs walk around the grounds. Every day children scoot, skate and cycle by its giant, tumerous trunk. 

It is The Great Tree of the town, and long may it remain so. 

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 12.11.25

Late Season Critters

 It's been a week of mist, fog, and grey skies depositing various amounts of rainfall on our heads. Storms are expected later in the week. 

But the critters of warmer months have not quite left us yet. My household pipistrelle bat still comes out after sunset to perform acrobatic feats just above me in the postage stamp garden, and where the last of the flowers bloom, bees and bumblebees are still to be seen.

That being said, darkness closes in, more so when the clocks fall back next weekend. When I go running, I'm clad in various lights and fluorescent clothing, and cricket whites already seem long ago. 

Early December, and then we will see the first snowdrops and the time of renewal begins. 

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 21.10.25

Make the Most of the Bright Days

 Well, I've just hit 21 years old again, and getting over a Tourettes mega phase and all the manic nonsense that accompanies it. 

Hot weather is long behind us, and the leaves are falling from the trees, as well as various acorns, hazelnuts and walnuts - I planted a couple of hazelnuts I found on a pavement on our work campus. I've collected seeds from the library gardens in order to plant them in my planters, and bought some new bulbs to plant whenever I can ever clear out the weed roots from my plant pots. 

I like visiting the park, although cans of shandy have replaced tea as my drink of choice, my body having decided to become wheat and dairy intolerant in my old 21 year old age. Still some nice flowers blooming at the park, and a common carder bumblebee was paying a visit. 

Always the hardiest of our bumbles, it's good to see them still around, and I will miss them during the dead months, as I have done for all these 21 years. 

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 13.10.25

Sunbathing Dragonflies

 For some reason, the cycle track bridge over the A1 becomes a favourite sunbathing spot for dragonflies this time of year. 

More specifically, common darters, and even more specifically today, female common darters, three of which were out enjoying autumn sun on the bridge today, their huge brown eyes following me as I tried to get photographs. 

Most of the time, dragonflies are pretty skittish and hard to photograph, but at this time of the year with colder nights - and it was chilly last night - they take a while to warm up and are a bit more amenable to posing for irritating photographers.

The coralberry bushes were busy too today, lots of bees going like hooligans at the last of the flowers. 

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 23.09.25

The Last of late Season Colour

 The warm weather disappeared largely very quickly, replaced by unsettled weather and occasionally heavy rain that blocked my guttering and caused water to run down my kitchen and living room walls. 

Plaster wrecked, good job I'm renting. 

Back issues have eased, but sciatica remains an issue some mornings when I wake up. I get into some mad positions when I sleep. 

So, what's out there?

White butterflies are still around, honey bees too and bufftailed and common carder bumblebees. All feeding of the last flowers in bloom - hawkbut, bristly oxe tongue, the occasional creeping thistle. Ivy mining bees have also been around feeding off guess what ivy flowers. 

I'll show you what I've found. 

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 20.09.25

Photo Dump amid more Health Issues

 Summer's over, Autumn begins, and with that I've had a sudden spike in Tourettes, IBS and eczema symptoms. Joyous stuff. Goes to show how neurodiverse conditions, GI issues and skin troubles are all linked. 

That being said, I've still got out there briefly, to take photos at the library gardens or on my work campus, waving my Pixel 6A around and getting strange looks from a few folk as always!

Let's see what we found, starting with a small white butterfly I found in the library gardens nature reserve today. 

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 04.09.25 

A Tiny Brown Argus

 With my back in somewhat better shape, I've been able to be a bit more mobile again, and get a bit closer to the generally rather low down action. 

The hot weather has gone and the weather is changeable, but still pretty pleasant when the sun decides to make an apperance. Therefore butterflies and bees have been on the wing, although on our campus there's not much in bloom for them to nectar off - ragwort, coralberry, and the remaining creeping cingquefoil. 

So lets see what's been out there, that I've managed to successfully stalk without my Tourettes ticcing scaring them off! 

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 29.08.25