Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2010 | Page 83

country life

Island Life - October/November 2010

Fly agaric

Old Mans Beard
Known by many as Travellers Joy, it is easily
recognisable this time of year by its fluffy
seed heads that are an attractive feature of
the autumn and winter landscape. It is more
commonly found on chalk and limestone
soils, scrambling untidily over hedges, scrub,
banks and high up into the branches of
trees.

Probably most peoples idea of a
poisonous mushroom, looking every
bit, the part of the villain. Many fables
of myth and magic are associated with
the fly agaric, witchcraft especially.
Found in woodlands and copses, often
near or under, birch trees, singularly
and in clumps from late summer to late
autumn.

Dogwood

A common and dense hedgerow shrub,
found all over the island. For most of
the year it sports dull non-descript dark
green leaves, but having entertained us
with clusters of creamy/white flowers
followed by black berries, it’s leaves
now turn a delicious deep red wine
colour, helping set alight our native
hedgerows.

Showcase date for
Gilten Market

2011 IW Hedgelaying Competition
Sharpen your bill hooks, ‘The
Isle of Wight Hedgelaying
Group’, have given plenty
of notice about the next
hedgelaying competition. It
will be held on Saturday 26th
February, along the Newbridge
to Calbourne Road, by kind
permission of Tony and Sally
Chaucer of Calbourne Mill.

The last competition saw a
record number of competitors,
(45), battling it out in one of
three categories. With other
awards for ‘best laid hedge
using only hand tools’ and
‘straightest line of stakes’! For
more information: www.iwhg.
org

This year's Isle of Wight Gilten
Market, show and sale, will
be held at Brickfields on
Monday December 6. The
event takes place annually
and is the showcase for some
of the best Isle of Wight
beef cattle and sheep. The
judging will be carried out

by Mr David Westmore, with
exhibits coming under the
hammer of Southern Counties
Auctioneers. Local butchers
and retailers support the event
with some keen bidding,
looking to fill their shelves with
something a little bit special for
their Christmas trade.

Discover the Island
the easy way…
The new edition of Wight Winter
Walks is now available to pick
up for free from Libraries, Tourist
Information Centres and Help
Centres, or as a pdf download from
www.iwight.com/walks. The packed
programme of coast and countryside
events runs from October 1st 2010
to 31st March 2011. It features a
wealth of guided walks and great
activities, so why not get out and
about and enjoy the best of the
Island’s Autumn/Winter seasonal
wildlife and landscapes!
Visit our new website - www.visitislandlife.com

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