#meadowbathing

On day 357 of 365 Days Wild I walked along newly mown meadow paths beneath cloudy skies. The sky was sullen and overcast, and a strong, chilly wind blew, but I wandered the new paths with a sense that summer was finally growing near. Flowers have started to bloom all around the meadow, and the insect life is thriving. Now all we need is a bit of warmth to bring out the rest. How have you been…

On day 337 of 365 Days Wild I wandered out in the early evening sunshine. It might have looked like a beautiful May day, but appearances can be deceptive. The day had been characterised by chill winds and punctuated by sleet showers. It felt more like January than May. When the clouds parted, the light was beautiful though. What’s it like where you are? Let me know in the comments below.

warm sun on my face, birdsong in my ears, peace settled in my soul: what more could I need? On day 327 of 365 Days Wild I walked down to the dandelion filled nature project. The birds were singing in the hedgerows, bees were meandering between flowers, and butterflies were flying their patrols around the space. I spotted the first of the Speckled Wood butterflies, newly emerged in the…

Among the Flowers Day 326 of #365DaysWild

find me there among the flowers, where the bees and the butterflies dwell, engrossed in the song of the season, at peace with the pace of the earth, for in each breath of wind is a wild spirit, unbound from the cares of the world and in each beam of light is a hope, made for a future in nature’s embrace This post is for day 326 of 365 Days Wild.

It was a bit of a dull afternoon when I headed out for day 55 of 365 Days Wild. I spotted a blue butterfly…

…and identified a Burdock plant…

… but little really caught my full attention until I sat down on one of the benches alongside one of the meadow paths. That’s when I spotted the lichen. I didn’t move on for quite some time!

a solitary figure, she stands:

wild spirit encapsulated in a

flair of individuality, greater

for her innovation; lonely all

the same – she awaits amity

This single, lonely flower stem stands at the meadow’s heart. It is Greater Knapweed (Centaurea Scabiosa), the more flamboyant cousin of the Common Knapweed that dominates the NW end of the meadow.

This was for day 47 of 365 Days Wild.

Dame’s Violet

This first plant I have tentatively identified as Dame’s Violet (Hesperis matronalis). I spotted a single little stalk tucked away in the corner of the meadow, in amongst the long grass. My initial thought was Cuckoo flower – which I’m sure I’ve photographed in previous years – but the flowers appear to be much flatter than those. If anyone has an alternative id, I’d love to know.

Field Forget-me-not

The Field Forget-me-nots (Myodotis arvensis) have been largely absent from the meadow this year, but I’ve now spotted two separate plants at opposite ends of the meadow.

Tufted Vetch

The Tufted Vetch (Vicia cracca) is growing particularly strongly in a number of large patches around the edge of the meadow. They’ve used their curling tendrils to pull themselves above the thick growth at ground level in order to get the light levels they require.

Kidney Vetch

I was quite pleased to see a few patches of Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria) still in bloom. There was lots of this about in early June, but most of it has now died back for the year.

Common Poppy

The Common Poppy (Papavee rhoeas) is a flower that hasn’t done very well in the meadow this year, but there is one little plant now in flower in the corner near the main entrance.

Common Yarrow

The Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), on the other hand, is doing particularly well this year. There are lots of little pink and white flower heads about.

Self-heal

The meadow paths are edged with a sprinklings of Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris) flowers, popping up amongst the red and white clover that continues to bloom.

Field Scabius

The Field Scabius (Knautia arvensis), which at first was only growing down along the bottom edge of the meadow, near the little woodland, is now growing in lots of little clumps all around the meadow.

Ragwort

There are lots of Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris) plants popping up around the meadow. These often demonised wildflowers (they’re toxic to cattle and can be deadly if they find their way into dried feed, though the beasts will avoid eating from a growing plant) are a great late summer food source for the bees.

Hogweed

The Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium) has passed its best, now. Most of it is turning to seed, but there are still a few flowers about.

Cinquefoil

This Cinquefoil (Potentilla reptans) is growing just outside the hole in the hedge. Hopefully it will make its way to the other side soon.

Chamomile

We’ve had Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) in the meadow previous years, but this year it is absent. It is, however, growing around the entrances to several fields along Plot Lane.

  This was day 46 of 365 Days Wild.

The meadow is dominated at the moment by the Knapweed, whose purpley pink flowers are always covered in bees and insects. There’s also lots of low-growing Red- and White-Clover and Birds-foot Trefoil, as well as taller bursts of colour with the delicate pink shades of Musk Mallow and the bright yellow of composites such as Cat’s Ear, Hawkbit and Hawks-beard. Then there are also the sprays of white Hedge Bedstraw, a few patches of yellow Lady’s Bedstraw, and sprigs of both pink and white Yarrow. All in all, it’s a beautiful sight.

Whilst I was in the meadow I also spent some time hunting for bugs. I’ve tried to identify as many as I can. Just hover your cursor over, or click on, the gallery to see what they are …or might be. I’m definitely no expert, so if you have any corrections or additions, please do let me know!

6-spotted Burnet Moth

But – possibly of Miridae family

Hoverfly – possibly Helophilus pendulum (the Footballer)

Bush Cricket

Red Bug

Honey Bee

Squashbug

Possibly Leptopterba dolabrata

Small Skipper Butterfly

6-spotted Burnet Moth

Possibly Common Green Capsid

Soldier Beetle (possibly Catharis flavilabris)

Soldier Beetle (possibly Rhagonycha fulva)

Mating pair of beetles (possibly Mealworm beetles)

Immature Common Blue Damselfly

Spider

Red Admiral butterfly

I also took some more pictures of the pale bee – whose species I still haven’t really managed to identify! I’m currently playing with the idea that it might be a Shrill Carder Bee, but I’m not at all confident in that identification…

I’m going to finish off my National Meadow’s Day post by sharing about an odd square patch of short grass and meager growth in the middle of the meadow that always makes the historian in me a little bit excited. It was particularly noticeable during April’s dry weather but remains clear even now.

One of the methods that archaeologists use to find the remains of old buildings is to look at crop marks, especially during droughts. The presence of a buried stone feature (such as the floor of a building) becomes visible above ground as the roots of plants are unable to delve deeply enough to obtain enough water and nutrients to promote thick growth.

Conversely, the presence of a ditch can be seen in thicker growth, as the loose soil that has filled the space allows roots to delve deeper, which in turn allows growth to flourish. It might be interesting to note that there was also a straight line of lush growth right down the middle of the meadow, pretty much dividing the field into two, during April’s dry weather – suggesting the presence of such a ditch.

The person who owns the land has informed me that she was told about a tannery that once existed in the next field along the lane (now a paddock), which may have stretched into what is now the meadow. This possibly explains the presence of a ditch, as water was a necessity of the industry. It’s possible that any buildings in the field could also be connected with it. Going back even further in time, she was also told of the possibility of a bronze age settlement in the vicinity. I particularly like the thought that the square could be a sign of an bronze age building, but this is rather unlikely. The remains of structures in this part of the world from that time period are generally ’round houses’,  with solid earth floors, not stone, and evidence of them is usually post holes. Ah well. What I really need to do next is to look into the local history. Maybe there’s an old map somewhere that can tell me whether anything was ever built on the site…

This was day 34 of 365 Days Wild.