Autumn at Aston Lodge Park

by Dave Emley 

As John Keates penned, Autumn, is the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, so I thought we could take a look at what there is to see around the estate at this time of year.

Ivy

Most of our flowers are over, but Ivy is the exception. It is our most important flowering plant at this time of year. Walk past any Ivy bush on a sunny day, and it will be humming with insects. It is a major source of nectar at a time when there is little else. Insects will be feeding up, prior to hibernation. Later, the berries will form a major food source for birds too. The foliage is also very important, as a place for insects to hibernate, and for birds to roost in. So, all in all, Ivy is one of our most important plants, and should be looked after.

Ivy Bee

This bee, Colletes hederae, was described as new to science in 1993. Since then, it has spread widely across Europe, and is a recent colonist in the UK, and one that is spreading rapidly northwards. In 2022, we saw it for the first time in our area. It is an attractive species that, unlike most other bees, only emerges in the autumn. It is worth checking any patch of Ivy.

Holly Blue

The Holly Blue, is the only butterfly that depends on Ivy. It has two broods. The first, or spring brood, lay its eggs on Holly. These develop over the summer, to give rise to a second brood, that lays its eggs on the flowers of Ivy. So, you may well come across a female doing just that.

Fruits

Of course, autumn means fruits, and these are a major food for birds and mammals. We are also partial, but we should remember they may be a treat for us, but they could mean life or death for wildlife, which depend on them. So, be mindful when picking, to leave some for them.

Hawthorn

Hawthorn is a major food for our wintering thrushes, Redwing and Fieldfare. They will be arriving very soon. One problem I've noticed though, is that squirrels and Woodpigeons are stripping bushes before the thrushes arrive.

Redwing

Any time now, Redwings will start to arrive from Scandinavia, and they will make for the Hawthorns and their berries. You can sometimes hear them calling as they pass overhead at night - a high-pitched "seeep" note.

Fieldfare

The Redwings will be in the company of Fieldfares. They are much larger birds. They are partial to ornamental Crab Apples, as shown here, so look out for them in your garden, if you have one.

Blackberry

Blackberry is a well-known shrub, but did you know, there are over 250 different types? It is a specialist's job to sort them out, but next time you pass, look at the shape of the leaves, the spines, fruits etc. They all differ between species. Life is too short to sort them out, so calling them all 'Blackberry' will have to do! The flowers are long gone but, while the fruits are important for birds and small mammals, they are attractive to butterflies too, as they like the sugars released as the berries decay.

Rose Hips

We have two species of wild rose on the estate: Field Rose and Dog-rose. The hips of the two are quite different. Those of Field Rose are roundish, with the remains of the stigma sticking out. Those of Dog-rose are more oval, with no protruding stigma. Both are attractive to birds.

Great Willowherb

Willowherbs, are attractive plants that produce profuse seed, that can get everywhere! However, the seeds are attractive to birds. The most obvious species on the estate is Great Willowherb, which grows alongside the path leading down to the Grassy Patch.

Black Bryony

An unassuming plant during the summer but, come the autumn, its strings of red berries, looking like necklaces, are quite noticeable. You can find it in Blackies Lane, and in the hedgerow alongside the Uttoxeter Road. It is a climber and a member of the Yam family.

Autumnal Butterflies

Several species of butterfly overwinter as adults, and they spend the autumn fattening up in readiness. At this time, it is the Ivy that is most attractive to them. They will emerge again in early spring.

Red Admiral

Red Admiral is a familiar butterfly. It is a migrant species, but it is only in recent years, with milder winters, that they have managed to overwinter here. It can be one of the last butterflies to be seen on the wing.

Small Tortoiseshell

A well-known butterfly, that commonly overwinters in sheds, outbuildings, ivy covered trees etc. In fact, there is a large roost of them in Eccleshall Church tower!

Comma

Another common overwintering species. It can be seen quite early in the year if disturbed, or if we get a warm spell. This, sadly, as is the case with all hibernators, can be fatal, as it takes a lot of energy to go back into hibernation and at that time of year, there is little by way of nectar for them.

Migrants

Three species that can be seen in autumn, but which will not survive the winter; a butterfly, a moth and a dragonfly.

Painted Lady

A well-known migrant that arrives here in spring, and autumn, from Africa. Recent work with radar, has proved that they make a return migration, which is just as well, as they can't survive the cold here.

Migrant Hawker

If you see a large dragonfly at this time of year, it is likely to be a Migrant Hawker. It is smaller than most other hawker types, and as the name suggests, it's a migrant. It now breeds in southern UK, but may do so further north as things warm up.

Hummingbird Hawk-moth

Many of you have told me that you have seen one of these superb moths in your garden. They are migrants, and rarely overwinter here. There are still a few to be seen (at the end of September), so keep an eye out and let me know if you see one.

Gardeners - don't be too tidy!

Now is the time gardeners start to tidy up their borders for the winter. But, try to leave some areas untouched, as many insects, like this Seven-spot Ladybird, will overwinter amongst dead leaves etc.

Similarly, if like ours, your roses have aphids, try and leave some, as birds, like this Chiffchaff, will happily feed on them for you.

Finally, one sure sign of autumn, is the sight of spider webs, covered in dew - real works of art.

One of the commonest species, is the Garden Cross Spider... Their webs can make negotiating the border a risky business for insects!