King’s Castle

Kings Castle Wood – Nr Wells, Somerset, UK. ID IMG_7230

Kings Castle Wood

This Somerset Wildlife Trust reserve sits above the small city of Wells.  The woodland floor is rich in wild flowers such as bluebells, wood anemones and wood violets.

Kings Castle Wood – Nr Wells, Somerset, UK. ID IMG_7214

It is possible to explore the woods using a network of small paths.  The south facing slopes does have some semi-open glades but I found it hard to get an open view through all the undergrowth and cut branches.

Bluebells in the clearing – Kings Castle Wood, Somerset, UK. ID JB3_6322

The wild garlic will be out soon.

Bluebells in the clearing – Kings Castle Wood, Somerset, UK. ID JB3_6322

Woodland Flowers

As wells as bluebells there are yellow patches of celandines spotted with occasional wood anemones.

Kings Castle Wood – Nr Wells, Somerset, UK. ID IMG_7414

Before the tree leaves open the sun finds it way down to the violets and primroses.

Woodland Flowers – Kings Castle Wood, Somerset, UK. ID IMG_7379

Butterflies

The woodland spring butterflies are attracted by the flowers.  Today was the day of the speckled wood butterfly.

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) – Kings Castle Wood, Somerset, UK. ID IMG_7347

There were lots of speckled woods dashing around then resting in the dappled light of the woodland floor.

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) – Kings Castle Wood, Somerset, UK. ID IMG_7347

The orange-tip butterflies did not want to be photographed.

And Finally…

I was surprised to see this comb-horn cranefly reading the SWT’s interpretation board.

Comb-horn Cranefly (Ctenophora flaveolata) – Kings Castle Wood, Somerset, UK. ID IMG_7414

It took me a long time on the internet to figure out what it was.  But it turns out that this is a rare find.

Kings Castle Wood – Nr Wells, Somerset, UK. ID IMG_7189

When I looked back through by pictures I discovered that the same fly was in this picture of the notice board taken 40mins early.  It most be a slow reader!