PATHOGENS & OLYMPIANS

This morning at twelve minutes past eight GMT, Big Ben started a wave of bell ringing around Britain as part of the big countdown of hours to the opening night of some very large event over the border in our capital city. Something to do with athletic prowess, (something started off by the ancient sporting Greeks). Here it was another dog day, hot!

Far across the valley I could hear a tractor mowing a hay field that shone out golden amongst the green of the trees and other fields. With the rain due in this weekend they are making the most of this chance to get their winter fodder safe in dry storage. Sadly one neighbouring farmer has had his baler break down and is awaiting for spares all the way from Germany, this has meant several days loss at a vital time and he is having hire others to get his hay bobbed & baled in an effort to get it all in during this window of weather.

"Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun." to quote the line from the song. We were sensible and headed for the cool, tree shady paths in the forestry. There was enough breeze to move the deciduous leaves and overhead the buzzards were riding the thermals above the forest canopy. But I noticed the orange markers on the trunks of many along the path. This means they are due for felling, so soon, this lovely cool walkway will be more open to the elements. These trees are mature and have had their day as far as the Forestry Commission are concerned, so we went to see how the newly planted, next generation were coping with this recent heat wave.

This meant braving the open spaces were the old brashings looked like bleached bones.

But barely visible without looking closer and in very pale, nutrient poor soil ...

they all surprisingly seem to be doing rather well, the last time I saw them  was in the post "New Growth" on 14th of April. Back then I wondered if they would survive they looked rather poorly and I was wondering why they had been planted on the top of mounds that would surely dry out too quickly in such an exposed area. But, I guess we can again be grateful for the months of rain, that has helped this new generation of forest send young roots downwards and fresh green growth upwards. No sign of viruses here, unlike the computer which was having an appointment with P.C. Doctors, to have a virus removed from the hard drive, a painless operation for the "pooter" not that my wallet felt the same way. Anyway, it now has new antiviral software fitted and is working reasonably again. On the way back to pick it up from respite care, we stopped off at another area of forest for another short, shady, cool walk. Imagine our surprise at this sign ... "Tree Killer on the loose." No not some loony with a chainsaw but a pathogen, that effects many species, such as Oak, Rhododendron & Pieris and even our whinberries! I've been a aware of this for a few years now and watch our local plants constantly for signs.
As I mentioned in an earlier post these are also called baeberries, whortleberries etc.

In this case it is killing off the Japanese Larch trees in this area of forestry. Notice the dual language sign. obligatory in all paperwork and signs in Wales, by law. despite the 100% increase in usage of paper and metal signs such as these. A bone of contention for many. Phytopthora ramorum is a water born mould that needs "damp conditions to spread successfully" (www.woodlands.co.uk)  well after these last weeks of constant drizmality it has been in it's element. As so graphically shown in the sign, we humans can also be carriers of spores. That means cleaning all footwear after leaving the forested area.
Two other species caught my eye today as showing problems, oak and sycamore.

Both were looking sickly, losing leaves all marked with these "mud splash" coloured spots and in the case of the sycamore, all those I saw had lost almost all their leaves. It is far too early in the year for that to happen and it is all very worrying to see it happening.
It's rather ironic really that with my now virus free "pooter" I am now googling plant viruses and pathogens and I haven't even started telling you about another pest of a plant I recently found locally ... Himalayan Balsam. Watch this blog for that invasive plant!
Then just as I was enjoying the heady scent of Meadow Sweet, the taste of wild strawberries and rasberries, my vista was spoiled by another pest of the forest ... humans.

I find sights like this everywhere. Thanks to supermarket "Ready, steady, barbecue " sets"
folk seem to think it is O.K to carry their fire making tools, food and booze to fairly remote places, have a good time, then leave their rubbish behind. Strange is it not that they have the energy to carry these items, when heavy over at times quite long distances, but not have enough strength left over to carry the remnants back to a suitable dustbin. I found the inevitable empty Fosters cans, floating further downstream ... 

Another pest I've never had trouble with until this year ... midges. I've turned into itchy and scratchy but ... the old boy I met up at Cwncelyn the other week, reccomends putting Listerine mouthwash on skin and hair ... all I can say is ... try it ... it works ... except ... when you forget to glaze yourself with a breath freshener!

Oh well, as I type this, the hype of the Olympics opening ceremony is about to begin.

It will make a change from forestry denuding pathogens.