Primroses and a Fundamental Bench Mark

Wood Violet, Viola riviniana and Primrose, Primula vulgaris

Yesterday I did a tour of Rewell Wood and saw many primroses, some wood violets plus gorse and blackthorn in flower. I also spotted a photographer taking shots of a stone mini monument which he explained was a Fundamental Bench Mark stone. Apparently these were put down in the 1930s by the Ordnance Survey and were a very accurate marking of the height above sea level. There were only 190 created across the country and many have been lost due to redevelopment, road widening and subsidence. This blog gives a good account of them: 

https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/blog/2012/12/keeping-our-fundamental-bench-marks-in-order/

Afterwards I visited Arundel WWT and saw snipe by the Ramsar hide. I also sspotted a caterpillar on nettle by the Sand martin hide. I think it is a moth larva, but with so many instars for each species I haven't yet found a match in my texts or on-line. The nearest I can find is Xestia species. There were plenty of goldfinches at the woodland feeders plus 2 brown rats enjoying the fallen seeds.

Rewell Wood

Rewell Wood

Wood Violet

probably Plaited Door Snail, Cochlodina laminata

Blackthorn, Prunus spinosa

Gorse, Ulex europaeus

Gorse

fundamental bench mark

fundamental bench mark - top

Arundel WWT:

unidentified moth larva on nettle

Goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis

Brown Rat, Rattus norvegicus