Here’s another report about wildlife in the orchard e-mailed by Jenny Galton-Fenzi to the Littlehempston Nature Lovers group at the end of April. This group shares information about local wildlife sighting and if you’d like to be included in the e-mail exchanges, do get in touch.
The community orchard is at peak blossom, so do go and have a look if you can. The wildflowers are starting to appear; Lady’s Smock seems to be scarce this year, as far as I’ve seen, but there are a few examples in the orchard, mostly flore pleno (doubles). The Bastard Balm in Grattons Lane is just appearing. We have at least three sorts of speedwell on the community land – Germander, Persian and thyme-leaved. A large stand of teasles has appeared by one of the fallen trees. (The photos show Lady’s Smock, Teasel, and Germander and Persian Speedwell.)
As many of you will know, a lot of time, energy and thought has been given to ridding the community land of some of its docks. Recently there was an article in the Totnes Times about docks by Rebecca Hosking. They haven’t always been looked on as a total nuisance, it seems. The young leaves were once eaten as a vegetable, and used for dying (yellow). They are also known as the countryman’s loo paper, so there might be a retail opportunity there if this situation goes on for much longer! Leaves were also wrapped around butter to keep it cool. Their seed is a food for winter birds, including cirl buntings. They support, according to Richard Mabey in his book ‘Weeds’ THIRTY-FOUR species of moth, some of which are familiar to us from our moth-trapping evenings. Rebecca Hosking is the lady who was instrumental in making Modbury a plastic bag-free zone. I thought I would contact her, and we had an exchange of emails. If anyone is particularly interested in hearing her views I can forward them…
My book of the moment is ‘The Garden Jungle (Gardening to Save The Planet)’ by Dave Goulson, Professor of Biological Sciences at Sussex University, and founder of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. Written with a light touch, but full of wisdom and fascinating facts, including the answer to the riddle as to why a lot of insects are so plant specific.