Report of
guided walk around Newditch Plantation Nature Reserve by Ashley Arbon of
Whittlesford on Sunday June 16th 2013.
Written by Shirley Wittering
Points made –
Along the Causeway there is an English Field Maple, Acer campestre var. campestre, this is
not the same as most Maples sold in nurseries – those are Acer campestre var. leiocarpum which come from abroad and which
support very few insects.
The Dame’s Violet or Sweet Rocket, was at its height and
looked and smelt wonderful. http://wildflowerfinder.org.uk/Flowers/D/DamesViolet/DamesViolet.htm
Along the Newditch Ashley pointed out that nettles, cleavers
and Alkanet were all growing together, they were all indicators of old
cultivation. Nearby the Dog’s Mercury is
an indicator of old woodland. He also
pointed out the Stinking hellebore which is a garden escape.
He explained the difference between the male and female
flowers of the stinging nettle. He
pointed out that the stinging nettle urtica
dioica is not the same as the annual nettle Urtica urens which is found in gardens and has male and female
flowers on the same plant. Both are food
plants for many caterpillars of butterflies.
Ragwort – Ashley recommended cutting the plants down rather
than pulling them up as the bare earth resulting in pulling encourages the
ragwort to further colonisation. It may
take several years to completely eradicate it but will in the end.
The white helleborine grows on beech leaves, Ashley
recommended putting up a barrier between four beech trees to encourage it to
grow. He would be happy to come and
help.
He was very taken with the meadow and its chalk flowers,
although the dry weather has resulted in a rather parched look. There was Ground ivy as well as Self heal
growing there.
He did not know the ornamental tree with the pretty leaves
and white flowers, I have sent him a
couple of pictures of it.
