Welcome to wildflower season (and more recent sightings)

At this time of year, you are able to enjoy a reserve which is vibrant with colour: wildflowers are coming into bloom.

Meandering along the summer trail, as well as enjoying the dragon and damselflies (recent highlights include the four-spotted chaser and azure damselfly), the beauty of the flowers will spark your imagination. Many wonderful species like greater knapweed and red campion are brightening our meadow with shocks of pink and purple. The dainty cuckoo flower, also known as lady’s smock, graces us with delicate rose quartz coloured petals.

As a wetlands centre, we strive to create and maintain great habitats ranging from manmade courtyard ponds to natural scrapes, and so as well as terrestrial flowers, our reserve is alive with aquatic plants during springtime. The soft blue of water forget-me-not can be seen along the edges of ponds in the paddocks. The majestic yellow flag iris is in many of our ponds, including the bog pond in the wildlife garden. Throughout the year, the pond can sometimes look a bit bleak but in the spring months it really outdoes itself with the bright banana coloured flowers coming through and pungent water mint invigorating the senses.

As well as the fantastic wildflowers, highlights include common whitethroat and smooth newt. See below for more.

Written by Jacob Campbell

Recent Sightings 28th May - 2nd June

Feature image of yellow flag iris by Marianne Nicholson

Body image of cuckooflower by Marianne Nicholson

• Share this article