Wildflower Survey

Last year I registered with Plantlife to take part in their Wildflowers Count Survey. There have been a few changes this year as the Count has been incorporated into the National Plant Survey Scheme. Last year there were just 99 species to look for during the survey but the list has been extended this year and species are arranged by habitat type so I was looking for around 200 species. Luckily, I keep the same 1 km grid square as last year. The survey will help various botanical organisations learn more about where wildflowers are growing, measure the condition of the UK's wildflowers and their habitats and advise Uk and national governments on the state of the natural environment using plants as indicators.

Again this year I've elected to survey by following a Wildflowers path where you work out a 1km walk through the grid square and record the plants you see from the list of 200 within 2 metres to the side of the path you are following and make a note of the different habitats.


My 1 kilometre route starts in Brueton Park, Solihull, where the start of the work includes a lake and amenity grassland. I then follow a public footpath through woodland and alongside the River Blythe, past grassland and scrub, through more woodland and past meadows and finishing off in another section of wood. Apart from the constant drone of the nearby M42 you feel as though you are in the heart of the countryside even though its only a mile from Solihull Town Centre.


A very muddy footpath through the woods!

The River Blythe - most of the time it runs more than 2 metres from the path.

Leaving the woodland to walk past buttercup-filled meadows.

On this photo you can see how close the M42 is at this part of the walk.

Cow parsley and hawthorn line the path.

Photos of a few of the species I saw


Garlic Mustard

Cow Parsley

White Dead-nettle

Buttercup and beetle! There were two species of Buttercup along the walk - Meadow and Creeping

Wood Avens

Buttercups (again)

Wild Garlic (or Ramsons)

Red Campion

Yellow Archangel

Hawthorn

Cow Parsley and Buttercup Meadow

I spotted 33 species that were on the list and still have quite a few grasses, ferns and sedges to identify. I shall return again in 6/8 weeks time when more species should be in flower to re-survey.

A few species that aren't at the moment on the list (2014 is a transition year for the survey and more changes will be made for 2015).

Horse Chestnut

Speedwell

Dandelions

Ivy-leaved Speedwell

The first part of the walk is close to back gardens and quite a few plants are garden escapees such as this Purple Toothwort

and Fringe Cup

I didn't take my binoculars as I wanted to concentrate on flowers but there were quite a few damsel and dragonflies too far away to identify plus this Drinker Moth caterpillar

Spider of unknown species - my spider id skills are more or less non-existent!

Banded Snail

Tiny beetles on a buttercup flower

For those who enjoyed Edith Holden's "Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady" and "Nature Notes" she often used to walk along this stretch of the River Blythe. One of these days when I have more time I will return to finish off the series of posts I did on the areas where she used to walk. There are still quite a few locations I haven't yet visited.



For more information on Plantlife and the survey please visit www.plantlife.org.uk




Thanks to Tony for help on Fringe Cup and Dave (via Twitter) for help with identification on plants and tree saplings not yet in flower

Wildflower Survey Part 2

I've registered with Plantlife this year to take part in their Wildflowers Count Survey. There are three different types of survey you can do - Wildflower Path, Wildflower Plots or Super Surveyor level. I've decided to do the first option (the easiest!!) which involves a walk of one kilometre through your allocated one kilometre square counting the species on the survey form that you see within a two metre strip each side of your path.

I visited the allocated square a few weeks ago to get to know the route and do a habitat survey.

About 60% of the route goes through broadleaved woodland/scrub,



following the River Blythe





with about 25% consisting of grassland/meadow.



The M42 motorway is within about quarter of a mile of the footpath I followed and the constant drone of the traffic was the only downside of the walk.

The rest of the habitat comprises small sections of marsh and road verges.

Of the 99 species of common plants on the list I managed to see the following:

Bluebell
Ivy
Common Nettle
Ribwort Plantain
Herb Robert
Indian Balsam
Marsh Thistle
Red Campion
Bramble
Cleavers
Cow Parsley
Daisy
Hemlock
Ramsons
White Dead-nettle
Wood Anemone
Creeping Buttercup
Marsh Marigold
Meadow Buttercup
Tormentil
Bracken
Ash
Beech
Scots Pine
Hawthorn
Holly
Rowan

You only need to do one survey but can do as many as you wish so I shall return later in the summer and do another one to try to add to the list above.

Wild Garlic



Hawthorn is coming into flower





Red Campion



Cow Parsley



Buttercups, Cleavers and Cow Parsley



Wild Garlic (Ramsons) and Bluebells.



Some species I saw were not on the list such as Greater Stitchwort



Yellow Archangel



and Speedwell (Germander?). My grandfather used to call Speedwell Bird's Eye due presumably to the resemblance to a blue eye!



One of the beautiful sights of early summer - meadows full of buttercups









This beautiful area, part of Brueton Park LNR, is less than a mile from Solihull Town Centre. Apart from the drone of the motorway you feel as though you are in the heart of the countryside.

I got talking to a lovely couple who kindly retraced their steps to show me an unusual plant they had seen growing in a damp area amongst the roots of a tree. If you do happen to visit my blog - thank you again :) As we surmised at the time it is parasitic - an obligate parasite which means it is totally dependent upon other plants to survive. Its Purple Toothwort (Lathraea clandestina) which is a non-native introduced in the second half of the nineteenth century and it has now become naturalised. It grows wild in Belgium, France, Spain and Italy. There is a similar native species in Britain called Common Toothwort - the flowers of which are paler in colour.

Edit - I promised to let the couple mentioned above know if I found out about the Opening Dates for Monkspath Meadow to see the wild orchids. Have just discovered the meadow will be open this weekend 8th and 9th June 10.00 - 4.00 and also, I believe, next weekend 15/16th June 11.00 - 4.00. Entrance through Notcutts Nursery. Please ask at Information Desk if unsure as in the past it hasn't been that well signposted!

Purple Toothwort






I saw quite a few butterflies on the walk - Small White, Orange Tip, Red Admiral and Peacock but none stopped long enough for a photo.

I found this interesting notice by the river as I was walking back to the car



and luckily I didn't bump into a real one of these whilst I was by the river and marshes :) !!





Badger Update

I promised to keep Chris from Las Aventuras who lives in North America up to date on what is happening with English badgers. The Opposition Day debate took place earlier this week but unfortunately the Labour Party's motion opposing the cull was defeated by 299 votes to 250. It should be pointed out though that a 3 line party whip was in operation and when a free vote took place last October MP's voted against a cull.

I'll continue to post updates at the end of each post as and when there is any news.