Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcasts Episode 2.36 - Hawkbit Bites and Tree Tombs
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Sep 6, 2025 Join the hosts as they wander through High Ash Farm, celebrating the arrival of autumn with the vibrant autumn hawkbit and the striking Viper's bugloss. Discover the mysteries behind partridge populations and the unusual noppergalls affecting local oak trees. Hear captivating listener tales of nature's oddities like robin’s pincushions and tardy tadpoles. The episode blends personal anecdotes with vibrant descriptions of the changing landscape, all while emphasizing the importance of community engagement and the joys of seasonal transformations.
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Autumn Hawkbit's Seasonal Role
- Autumn hawkbit carpets close-grazed pastures in September like mini-dandelions with high vitamin C and antioxidants.
- Chris Skinner links its seasonal bloom to past medicinal use for eyesight despite the name origin being a mistaken hawk 'bite'.
September As A Changeling Month
- September acts as a changeling month with plants rapidly shifting as daylight shortens toward the autumnal equinox.
- Chris notes falling chlorophyll and early colour tints (e.g., Norway maples) signal larger seasonal changes ahead.
Viper's Bugloss Biology And Defences
- Viper's bugloss (Echium vulgare) thrives on alkaline soil and displays pink buds that open to cobalt-blue flowers with bristly leaves.
- Chris explains seeds resemble viper heads and the plant's prickly hairs and mild toxicity deter grazing animals.
