Nashenden Down, April, part 2.

The M2 over a field of Oilseed Rape, Brassica napus.  Nashenden Down Nature Reserve, 14 April 2012.

This is what you see if you turn round and look away from the Nature Reserve.  Athough it is so close to major roads and a couple of towns, we saw very few people out there; just a couple of dog walkers, probably locals.

Greater Stitchwort, Stellaria holostea.  Nashenden Down Nature Reserve, 14 April 2012.

This fresh-looking flower grows abundantly in the hedgerows.  It's common all around this area.  It's a close relative of a garden weed, Common Chickweed, but bigger and more showy.

Sun Spurge, Euphorbia helioscopia.  Nashenden Down Nature Reserve, 14 April 2012.

I like Euphorbias, with their understated yellow or green flowers and unusual symmetries.  This one grows abundantly in the grass at the edge of the field you can see in the top photo.

On the inner side of the hedgerow, the path borders the main fields of the reserve, which are severely fenced off.  It would be interesting to look at some of this grassland later in the year, and apparently there are spots where you are allowed in.

Remains of Mullein from last year.  Nashenden Down Nature Reserve, 14 April 2012.

Several plants were made noticeable by the remains of last year's growth.  These are Mulleins; I don't know which Mullein.  This year's growth is only at the leaf rosette stage:

Rosette of Mullein leaves.  Nashenden Down Nature Reserve, 14 April 2012.

There were bluebells in the woods; not many, but much more mature than those I have seen up to now.

English Bluebell, Hyacinthoides non-scripta.  Nashenden Down Nature Reserve, 14 April 2012.

Along the path at the bottom of the main field were some inconspicuous, but rather beautiful, Field Pansies.  This is an annual plant, so it has come up from seed to flowering quite fast and early.

Field Pansy, Viola arvensis.  Nashenden Down Nature Reserve, 14 April 2012.

The views were taken with my Ixus 100; the closeups with my EOS 60D with 100mm lens and ring flash.

Some of the group walking up a hill; this is where the Field Pansies grow.  Nashenden Down Nature Reserve, 14 April 2012.