A Langley Vale morning

Night-flowering Catchfly - hanging on in a field ear-marked for tree planting
Catmint - just the one plant where many appeared three years ago
Cut-leaved Dead-nettle, widely distributed across the farm
Quinoa - remnant of game cover, alongside plenty of Millet
Another alien, one that I'm calling Common Amaranth

Dwarf Mallow, understated and one of my favourites

Comments

Derek Faulkner said…
Never ceases to amaze me the number of flower species that you manage to find on your patches, many I've never seen before. I quite like the more delicate Musk Mallow. Nice to see the Quinoa and millet still growing and providing winter seed for the birds, we get large flocks of Linnets and Reed Buntings on those patches here in the winter. At the moment the set aside, seed strips on the farmland here are full of sunflowers, looking really colourful.
15 August 2017 at 05:41
Mick Lacey said…
Presumably the dust has settled now on the big " hoo ha" of spring with respect to the development of this site? Is it business as normal Steve, or did it make a long term difference?
15 August 2017 at 09:49
Steve Gale said…
Not all botanists are keen on them, but I like coming across such 'intoduced' plant species Derek
15 August 2017 at 11:20
Steve Gale said…
Well Mick, I would say 75% positive. Some plants will undoubtably go, such as the Night-flowering Catchfly on Downs Field that is due to be planted with trees. However, there have been working parties set up to identify and monitor the other fields that are good for arable plants, and so far this summer most are doing well. The Woodland Trust have embraced them as a valuable part of the reserve, and I hope that it continues.
15 August 2017 at 11:24
Simon Douglas Thompson said…
Shouldn't put that quinoa picture up, the area will be invaded by upper middle class Southerners looking for breakfast
15 August 2017 at 18:13
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