Obviously it was a mistake to claim that the pond was full on the previous occasion — today it's even more full, as is the moat into which it overflows.

Snowdrops are in full bloom, wild daffodils will be soon, and catkins are festooning the hazel bushes. As well as various other fungi, now mostly dying off, we found one or two freshly growing Scarlet Elf-cup fungi (Sarcoscypha coccinea) at the northern end of the woodland where we've seen them before in early spring in the last two years (see 04 Mar 2024: Spring colours). A surprise though was finding a scattering of seven or eight individuals and small groups in a new area behind the main log stack near the pond. This species has also been spotted recently in the “Sweatford's Woodland” area which is starting to be managed by the Woodland group of Fordingbridge Greener Living.

A pair of mallard have taken up residence. They may be the same pair which visited us last spring. No doubt they are waiting for frog-spawn to appear on the menu, and probably also looking for a suitable nest site is a hidden spot or nearby garden.

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