Meanwood Ridge, Leeds

This weekend we walked up to Headingley and onto Meanwood Ridge which forms part of the Meanwood Valley Trail. Having not been for a while it was apparent that the Meanwood Ridge Action Group working in association with Leeds City Council are doing a thorough job of managing the woodland.

Broadleaf species such as Oak, Beech, Sycamore and Ash predominate with some ornamental species such as Rowan, Laburnum, Sweet Chestnut, Viburnum which are a throwback to its previous incarnation as a public park in late Victorian times. Images of the park feature on the interpretive boards installed along the Ridge.

On the edge of the woodland the fruits of the Guelder Rose (Viburnum opulus) shine like jewels and the serrated leaves turn a wonderful rich red colour. The berries are popular with Mistle Thrush and Bullfinch which we saw for ourselves on a visit to Kirkstall Valley Nature Reserve last September. 

On our wander we saw Jay, Wren, Robin, Blue Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Great Tit, Magpies, Wood Pigeon, a Moor Hen on Meanwood Beck, heard a Nuthatch, and spent some time dodging acorns from Grey Squirrels overhead.

A view of backlit bracken stems attached to the branches of a Hawthorn

As befits this time of year, we encountered a number of interesting fungi which I'll follow up in my next post. I thought I'd try to give the fungi a rest for at least one post!