April Flower Walk

The intrepid 'Flower Hunters set off in the wind, drizzle and cold to record the flowers that were braving the weather in the reserve.  Whilst hunting for some colour, the information Jez had given us about conifers was put to good use as we tried to identify them for ourselves.  This is a Grand Fir and when touched smells of citrus - it did!

Plants are making the most of any warmth and sun to open their flowers.  From being just one or two willow flowers around the reserve, now there are several yellow coloured trees breaking up the grey leafless backdrop.  On closer inspection these are the male flowers that produce pollen. These flowers provide food for any early bees and butterflies on the wing.

Coltsfoot, Dandelion, Primrose, Gorse, Elm and Common Daisy were some of the flowers added to the list and then a bud of Wood Sorrel was seen.  But under the strict rules of the flower walk it had to be 'in flower' and it was not.  Careful searching turnrd up one single open flower so to the list it was added!

Records from the flower walk are added to the data base of species and we are able to compare one year with another.  When last year's list was read out it was rather disappointing that so few flowers had been been recorded this April. 

Nature is amazing and it was pleasing to see that areas that had been disturbed during the winter had a variety of green leaves poking through the bare soil.  Soon this will all be covered with plants.

And finally although cold and drizzly there was still beauty to be seen.

Data from the flower walks could not be collected without our volunteers, thank you to everyone who helped.