What are these odd things (photos) in my garden

[EnidSinclair]

I have a lot of old yew tress in my garden; underneath one of them is a spread of about 100 of these. They are hard and a bit bendy but brittle and slightly transparent. Some kind of seed case? Or from an insect maybe?

The trees are home to a lot of wildlife, and so is the grass beneath them. Each disc is a cluster of a few stuck together (included 5p for scale!). Anyone have any ideas please?

The patterns on them is the same as on turtle shells so yes, I think it's been solved. How peculiar.

The ‘growth lines’ rang a bell and for once my brain made a connection.
It may not be the right one, because HOW? I guess that’s mystery part 2 😂

Well, they’re pretty good at climbing, but I don’t think they’d last long bumbling around branches!

If you’re near a zoo, wildlife park, someone who owns loads of tortoises or turtles, with supplies of shell-bits, there will be a bird living in your tree with aspirations to be the avian equivalent of Lawrence Llewelyn Bowen.

Hi Op

They look they could be wasps nest larva

I have Google up ,
Not 100 per cent sure though

This is fascinating. I have learned that turtles do indeed shed. I know that turtles are now an established invasive species here in the UK so it's plausible one was eaten in your garden.

This thread has quite made by day. Thank you for sharing, OP and answerer.