Early Spring in Boilton Woods, Preston

March 28, 2012:
A long stretch of ancient woodland which runs along the north side of the Ribble near Preston includes Boilton Wood, a highly species-rich area. Following almost a week of exceptionally hot sunny weather with temperatures exceeding 20C, plants were quickly coming into flower here and insects emerging.

Five Kidney-spot Ladybirds were seen on the trunks of Ash and several early-emerging Large Bee Flies (Bombylius major) hovered over the vegetation. Wood Anemones and Wood Sorrell were in flower and a small unidentified orange-red circular fungus, only about 3mm in diameter, was found on damp rotting wood.


Wood Sorrell (Oxalis acetosella)


Bombylius major


Kidney-spot Ladybird (Chilocorus renipustulatus)


Unidentified fungus