Recently D and I made a return visit to Castle Bromwich Historic Parklands to look for more wild flower species. It was far too hot though and on top of everything else my bridge camera has started to play up. The macro settings haven't been right for ages which is a pain when you want to take close ups of flowers but for some reason half way through the visit the shutter button seemed to take ages to take photos and consquently I got a lot of blurred photos! I've checked all the settings but I can't find anything that would cause it.
I have a horrible feeling I may have to start using the Olympus dslr and, if so, I would really miss the zoom capabilities of the bridge camera. I will see how it goes.
The good news is that I have now reset the camera with factory default settings and the problem seems to have gone away. Either D or I must have set a feature that was causing it. Huge thanks to Pete from The Quacks of Life blog who gave me so much support and help over this.
Castle Bromwich Historic Parkland is a Local Nature Reserve and was part of the Earl of Bradford's estate. It is now part of the Castle Bromwich Conservation area.
A few years ago restoration work was carried out to improve paths and access to the reserve. The LNR consists of grasslands, woodland, wetland and ponds.
We found our first new species flowering in the car park - Hogweed.
Hedgerow Cranesbill which we had already seen in Leominster.
Ox-eye Daisies
Pineapple Weed
Hogweed again!
Sycamore - the "keys" are already forming.
A grass to id - if anyone has any idea what species this is I would love to know. My grass id skills are not good even though grasses are in some of my wildflower identification books.
Sessile Oak
Elderflower
Pignut - this also grows in nearby Castle Bromwich Historic Gardens and there I have seen Chimney Sweeper moths on the plants.
Foxgloves
Bracken
We didn't go far into the woodlands this time as by now the heat was beginning to really get to me. So we walked back past one of the ponds and back over the grasslands and visited the tearoom at Castle Bromwich Historic Gardens for tea and cake - a lovely Raspberry and Pistachio cake.
New species seen for the 2026 Wild Plant Challenge were:
- Hogweed
- Pineapple Weed
- Sycamore
- Sessile Oak (we've seen oaks before but this was the first time we counted it as I was able to get a photo)
- Foxglove
- Pignut
8 comments:
You are doing well collecting so many different species for the challenge. Glad you were able to sort your camera out, it's a nuisance when a favourite camera isn't working as well as usual:)
Sorry to hear about your camera on the blink, but I hope you can get it sorted out.
I think that grass is Cock's Foot.
How I would love to see Hogweed! Also Pignut, which I have only ever seen once, it is not common here. You are doing well with your plant hunting.
Did you see that the Peacock butterfly was voted the UK's favourite?
Thanks so much Rosie. I was really panicking about the camera but touch wood it seems ok now.
Thanks so much Debbie. After I reset camera to factory default setting it now seems ok - touch wood and thank goodness!
Thanks so much re the grass id.
No I missed the result. Must admit I voted for Orange Tip!
Well done with your additions to the list. I am doing this sort of unofficially, but was so pleased to find a new-to-me plant in the form of Sea Campion - up in the Ceredigion hills miles from the sea!
Thanks so much BB. Well done on Sea Campion - what a find so far from the sea.
Looks like a nice walk and great that you came across more wild plants for the list. Funnily enough I have discovered two clumps of Oxeye Daisies growing wild in the grassland across the road - first for around here - it's not a species you see very much of in this area, I presume it is too hot for it? But I am so pleased it has appeared!
It's a shame it was so hot, that really stuffs up enjoying yourselves outside in summer, doesn't it? However the cake looks like it made up for it!
Thanks so much Mandy. Glad you have discovered some ox-eye daisies near you. I agree about hot weather - I just hate it and the temperatures here today are awful around 33 degrees. It is an effort to do anything but sit by a fan! I am sure you are suffering badly in France too from this heatwave.
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