Nature Audit

The end of a busy period of home improvements, leading up to another busy period of work, and the blog slowed while life accelerated. I’m still very much here though; dreaming and creating. Today’s post is a summary of a nature audit last month.

Audit is perhaps a rather grand term for what it was. Just me, in my element, discovering a wild area within the grounds of a local school. At some point, the staff team hopes to use the location for forest school type activities. I offered to have a look at the area to see what I could find. Within a couple of hours of exploring, I’d noted plants, insects, and other mini beasts. Doubtless a fraction of what was actually living there, but enough for an initial report.

Rather than list everything, I’ve picked out a few things I found particularly interesting when researching my discoveries.

Battlefield Herbs

Common yarrow and black medic (sometimes spelt medick) fall into the category of battlefield herbs. That is, they were used in times of conflict. Yarrow offers relief from inflammation and infection. Black medic fights inflammation, and is also used to help blood to clot.

Bombweed

Rosebay willowherb is also known as bombweed and fireweed. Both names are down to the plant’s ability to grow in places where land has been ravaged.

During and after World War II, willowherb grew on bombsites across London and other parts of the UK. This restoration of life among the devastation of war led to the affectionate nicknames bombweed and fireweed. Bombweed even lends its name to a novel about life during World War II. Not one I’ve read, but it’s now on my list.

 

 

Reflex Bleeding

Reflex bleeding is an anti-predator technique used by ladybirds and some other insects. I knew ladybirds secrete a noxious yellow substance when threatened, something which tastes bad, smells bad, and stains. This is aimed primarily at deterring birds, but ladybirds will also release the liquid if they don’t appreciate being held.

What I hadn’t realised was that this substance is in fact blood, which comes from the leg joints of ladybirds. Details of post-reflex-bleeding recovery processes are limited; it is an area of ongoing interest to entomologists.

Gall

The creeping thistle was one of a couple of different types of thistle within the area. I was intrigued by the swelling on one of the stems. Further research revealed the swelling to be a gall caused by the larvae of the thistle gall fly.

After the fly lays its eggs on the thistle, the larvae hatch and crawl into the stem. There they feed until late summer, overwintering in the gall and pupating during this time. The next generation of flies emerge in early summer.

Flowers With Lips

Common toadflax grew in the water meadows near where my grandparents lived. When I spotted the  yellow flowers among the grasses within the nature area, I imagined I heard my grandmother’s voice “toadflax”.

Interestingly, the flowers on toadflax have evolved to be closed completely. They open when a bee lands on the flower lip, and forces its way in to the nectar. Only bees of a certain weight are able to access the flower in this way, including garden bumble bees and common carder bees. There were a number of carders buzzing from one flower to the next while I explored.

I found over thirty identifiable plants within the nature area. In spite of the cool air and intermittent drizzle, a number of insects were also visible. It was an enriching afternoon spent learning and observing; a much needed opportunity to stand and stare.