Plant Group
Plants are the start of all life. They take in and use carbon dioxide from the air, which is why we are all being encouraged to plant trees. But it isn’t only trees that capture carbon; all plants do that, and the awareness, knowledge and recording of what grows where is important on any scale, and it’s beginning here on a very small one.
The parish is lucky to contain such a large nature reserve as Langford Heathfield, owned by the Somerset Wildlfe Trust, containing many different woodland and open areas. It is one of the few sites in the county for Petty Whin, and probably the only site for the Pale Dog Violet. We hope to involve as many people as possible in some mapping and recording of these when they are in flower.
A wild flower recording group
To join this group click here to email me at ChristineLoudon@gmail.com.
We’re hoping for a photo archive, so please add to the many that have come in already, which could be used to help anyone with remembering names.
Can you tell the difference between the Common Spotted and Heath Spotted Orchids?
Hover over the photograph to find out.
For the wildlife and flower recording groups, a WhatsApp group is the best method of sharing records but not essential for those who prefer email. With Whatsapp be aware that your mobile number will then be available to others in the group although otherwise the app is end-to-end encrypted - i.e. very safe for messages, less so for data. (We may move later to Signal, which is more secure).
This is a great opportunity to share your finds with others or ask for help with identifying them. It would be wonderful if children began to join in and eventually took over the project.
We will collate all relevant records in forms that can be shared on WhatsApp, on this website and in Round About.
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Plans for 2022
Thanks to everyone who contributed to the 'first flowering' recording last year, particularly for those who kept going in the summer when I have to admit I wilted a bit!
So many plants are flowering now in this mild winter that I decided to list any flowering in the first week of the year separately as it doesn't make sense to include them in a main list. So let me know if you see any.
I hope to keep the record table updated more often this year so that it can be seen here at the click of a link button from WhatsApp.
Another project, perhaps involving more people, might be something like a map showing where there are bluebells in the parish. Everyone knows a bluebell and i love maps.
Help with any of these would be very very welcome!
Early flowerers in the first week of January should appear HERE
Using the smartphone apps iNaturalist and Seek, anyone can contribute to our steadily growing biodiversity map of the area.
Take the best close up photo that you can of an interesting animal, plant or other wildlife, and use the Seek app to identify it. The Seek app then lets you upload it to iNaturalist, a global library of wildlife observations.
You can explore an interactive map of these observations either on your home computer or smart device, via the iNaturalist website and app.
We have plant and wildlife WhatsApp groups too - great for identifying mysteries like the local wild wallabies!
Smart phones are great for instant photos and communicating, but you don’t need one to enjoy and learn about flowers or anything else. Send your sightings to us in any form!
Christine Loudon
