This reserve has two large ponds and a variety of habitats; an area of coastal dunes, beach and extensive calcareous meadows. A view of one of the coastal flower rich meadows below Bloody Cranesbill very prevalent.
Our botany Field Trip in early July had fine weather and many flower species were on view, if some of them took a while to locate. I include photographs of noted species such as Dyer’s Greenweed (Genista tinctoria). It was flowering in large drifts by the main path. It is an important food plant for moths and the flowers produce a yellow dye. It has declined recently due to habitat loss.
Growing among the Greenweed was a patch of Marsh Helleborine (Epipactis pallustris) a very handsome plant.
This Orchid had a strong clove scent. It proved to be Clove scented Orchid (Gymnadenia conopsea),
whereas, Marsh Fragrant-Orchid (Gymnadenia conopsea ssp. densiflora) had a delicate garden pink scent.
The Lesser Butterfly orchid (Platanthera bifolia) was eventually found in another field. There were a few specimens nearly finished flowering, but still beautiful. Once plentiful across England this species is now regarding as vulnerable.
Other orchids included Spotted Orchid, in great numbers and Common Twayblade with green but intricate flowers.
The list of other plant species include: Sand Sedge, Mouse-ear, Meadow Vetchling, Tufted Vetch, Birdsfoot Trefoil, Common Centaury, Ladies Bedstraw, Crosswort, Fairy Flax, Prickly Sowthistle, Perennial Sowthistle, Rough Hawkbit, Catsear, Meadowsweet, Yellow Cinqufoil, Wild Carrot, Great Willowherb Amphibious bistort, Solidago gigantea, Goatsbeard, Hemlock, Hemlock Water Dropwort, Upright Hedge Parsley, Pepper Saxifrage, Purple Milk Vetch, White Campion, Rest Harrow, Hard Rush, Hypericum Pulchrum, Sea- Buckthorn Marsh willowherb, Commom Milkweed, Cut leaved Cranesbill, Thyme-leaved Sandwort, Euphrasia of various kinds.
I did not find Sneezewort, Hounds Tongue or Storksbill. Zig-zag Clover (Trifolium medium) made a lovely carpet across the meadow with Silverweed leaves.
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