At that time of year when the clamorous young rooks are just taking to flight the foxgloves are looking their best. They do not appear to like the darker reaches of the wood but grow in great numbers in clearings and toward the margins of the trees. The statuesque plants stand tall in pink purple and yellow amongst the cranesbill and bracken. There are a great many new and revived varieties of foxglove available today which look great in the garden but it is difficult to beat these plainer indigenous ones that can be seen across the British countryside. The large leaves of the sycamores completely obscure the view of the rooks' nests by now and plunge the ground into a deep shade where growth is cut to a crawl.
Hens make dust baths in the cool, dry earth and little thrives bar nettles and bracken.
It is difficult to see into the wood at this time of year because of the contrast in light levels which is just as well really. There is little of merit for the gardener. Ivy clambers up the trees, providing shelter for pigeons and squirrels, and the dogs hunt for undiscovered hens nests amongst the weeds. The ground is covered with decaying leaves which will rot down to form excellent leafmould. Dead bracken litters the area.