Blue sky, autumn trees.

 

 I sometimes get a glimpse of deer when walking in the Hertfordshire countryside. There are Fallow Deer as seen here. 

 Also Muntjac Deer, an escapee from Woburn Park in Bedfordshire in the early 20th. century having been bought over from China. Muntjac bred and increased rapidly across southern England and their range continues to expand. They are considered to be an invasive species with a detrimental effect on woodland understory due to their grazing.

 Having said that Fallow Deer were introduced by the Romans, died out then were reintroduced by the Normans. Apparently several thousand deer parks were created at the behest of the aristocracy in England, Wales and Scotland circa 1200-1350. Few remain but the deer have naturalised. 

  Deer occasionally enter urban areas, for example they are apt to chew some choice perennials at the music school. I have never seen them so I don't know whether they would be Muntjac or Fallow. The grounds are large enough that they might even be in residence but deer are very shy of humans. The herd in the photo took flight when they became aware of my presence even though I was a long way away.     

 Common Ivy (Hederae helix) is the last wild flower of the year to flower en masse. And there's a lot of it! Not to mention Atlantic Ivy (Hederae hibernica) in the west and Ireland. Actually Gorse is also autumn flowering but not as ubiquitous as Ivy. 

 As such Ivy is a great source of pollen and nectar for the gamut of pollinators still on the wing: bees, butterflies, wasps, flies, hover flies et al. 

 

 Perfect day for an autumnal walk; a bracing chill in the air, sky blue, bright sunshine. Accordingly I followed one of my favourite routes via three pubs (and three pints). The 1140 bus from Hitchin stops outside the Strathmore Arms in St. Paul's Walden at midday. In other words: opening time. Had a pint of Side Pocket then walked along a stretch of the Chiltern Way.

 Turned left at Hill End Chalk Pit towards Preston.

 Ambled through the silent stillness of Hitch Wood. Leaf litter underfoot, in spring these slopes will be carpeted with Bluebells.

 As Ray Davies and the Kinks once put it: "We are the Village Green Preservation Society". Pint of Citra at the Red Lion in Preston which is owned by the villagers.

On to Wain Wood, another ancient woodland noted for its Bluebells.

 And out into open countryside back to Hitchin. Pint of Landlord at the Half Moon.

 Autumn leaves, none more fiery than Virginia Creeper. The rampant Parthenocissus quinquefolia is the species most usually seen in UK gardens though native to North America. Perhaps better to plant the slightly more restrained P. henryana aka Chinese Virginia Creeper which hails from Asia.  

 

 The bee keepers at Benslow harvest Ivy honey in the autumn. Ivy in flower is the last big hit of nectar for bees (and other insects) to forage on. The honey is noted for its deep, aromatic flavour.

 Cyclamen hederifolium in one of the courtyards at the music school. An invaluable coda for the shade garden by virtue of flowering in early autumn rather than spring. Tolerant of deep shade and drought. 

 Hailing from the southern Mediterranean it will naturalise when it likes the conditions as is the case here. Known as the Ivy-Leaved Cyclamen the leaves do indeed resemble Ivy albeit smaller and variegated.

 When C. hederifolium has spread the leaves make a decent ground cover over winter. The flowers attract bumblebees still on the wing...