Flora & Fauna

Sheep happily grazing above the landscape which includes the former British Nylon Spinners factory at Mamhilad. To the right of the frame, the new agricultural crop, sunlight - one of an increasing number of solar farms springing up. This image highlights the very rural setting of the factory below The Folly. It was opened in 1948 and at the time, boasted the largest factory floor in Europe. It ceased production in 1988. Now it accommodates various light industry units and leased office accommodation.

A flesh fly (Sarcophaga carnaria) on a vegetarian diet of blackberries ((Rubus fruticosus).

A buff tip moth caterpillar (Phalera bucephala ) on the pavement - nearly got stepped on!

Repair work following overnight rain. A garden spider (Araneus diadematus), probably the most common of spiders found in the garden, responsible for the classic orb shaped webs. Also known as cross spider, diadem spider and crowned orb-weaver spider.

Raindrops keep falling on my fir...

A rain sodden fuchsia, already past its prime.

Despite their name, great black slugs (Arion ater) come in black, brown, brick red, orange and grey. This one was edging around a concrete wall. His spiracle for breathing can be clearly seen.

"Bird on a wire". Juvenile starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), their plumage turning adult, on telegraph wires behind the former Mountain Air pub.

A Welsh black cow staring truculently at me. Her fellow cows shuffled off, but she seemed defiantly suspicious of me. Fortunately I was the other side of the gate!

A parasol mushroom (Macrolepiota procera) growing on the path around the western edge of the former Forestry Commission plantation, now the Blaen Bran Community Woodland.

I was not the only hunter-gatherer at the blackberry patch! This orb-weaver spider (Araneus diadematus) was parcelling up a kill, caught in the web. When I got too close, he scuttled off and attempted to "make use of available cover" to conceal himself. Also known as garden spider and diadem spider.

A pair of speckled wood butterflies (Pararge aegaria) in Pettingale Wood.

A little egret (Egretta garzetta) and a black headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) at the water's edge. Taken at the extreme range of my zoom lens.

A little egret (Egretta garzetta) tripping about the shallows. This was at the extreme range of my zoom lens.

A meadow brown (Maniola jurtina) in the Conservation Area of the trail. A common and widespread butterfly.

A parasol mushroom (Macrolepiota procera) growing on a bank along the road.

A garden or orb-weaver spider (Araneus diadematus) effecting web repairs after clearing debris blown on to it.

A garden or orb-weaver spider (Araneus diadematus) having effected web repairs after clearing debris blown on to it, settles back and awaits its next "visitor".