Wimalford

Although the day had dawned bright & sunny, cloud swept in by the time we gathered in the shelter of the barn at Wimalford. But it kept dry long enough for us all to enjoy the varied and special habitat of Wimalford's marshes, from a distance a sea of silvery green.

Once in amongst the grasses and sedges, and with guidance from the farmer, Rosemary Parkyn (thank you), we began to discover the plants: Heath Spotted Orchids with differing markings; Bog Asphodels just coming into flower with loads more to follow; leaves of the Marsh St.John's Wort and Marsh Violet; a small round pool full of Bogbean leaves and some seed heads; Round & Oblong leaved Sundews plus some tiny patches of the Pale Butterwort and Lesser Bladderwort to represent the carniverous plant family.  We were able to identify the Bottle Sedge, White Beaked Sedge; Deer Grass, Hare's Tail Cotton Grass & Star Sedge. Rosemary was able to show us plants of an un-common Eyebright, Euphrasia anglica.

Thank you also to Ian Bennalick from the Botanical Cornwall Group who sent a list of plant records, with the species to note highlighted.

A few moths and butterflies were disturbed as we walked through the longer grasses & bracken and signs of a few mammals were noted.
Once the drizzle set in, we walked back past hay fields full of flowers to the barn where Rosemary talked about & showed us some of the prehistoric flints and stone tools dating back to the Mesolithic & Neolithic ages that have been found around the farm.  It was amazing to think just how long the area had been farmed and also so good to see how the present owner valued and cared for this rich habitat.

Photos taken by members of the group: MW, SW, JWB, SM