Nature
In a part of the Old Parish Cemetery, a small patch of bright colour caught my eye and, getting down on my hands and knees to investigate, I saw what looked like a tiny little orchid.
The first signs of Spring are the Primroses that grow in abundance throughout the Old Parish Cemetery
There are several varieties of holly (Ilex aquifolium) growing in the Cemetery.
A Fungi Foray was held in the Cemetery on Sunday 22 October. 17 species were identified by Jackie Hart.
The fruit of the rose is a berry-like structure called a rose hip. Dialect names for wild rose hips are more extravagant and include "hedge-pedgies", "nippernails", "pixie pears" and "pig's noses".
This grave looks particularly pretty at this time of year with its low to the ground, yellow Evening Primrose flowers. This photograph was taken as the sun was setting.
We held a Butterfly Walk in the Cemetery on 1 July, and Richard Smout took a small group for a walk lasting just over an hour and a half. Several species of butterflies were spotted, as well as some other insects of interest.
The wild Honeysuckle or Woodbine is very similar to the cultivated variety. It is a robust climber, which can eventually reach a height of 6 metres.
Ryde Cemetery is home to a variety of wildlife and plants. The increased light and sunshine of early spring have taken over from the grey skies of winter.