The Wildflower Meadows have been looking at their best in the recent sunny weather, with a compliment of flowers in bloom: Meadow Crane's-bill, Ox-eye Daisy, Ragged Robin, Red Campion, Brown Knapweed, Hawkweed, Bird's-foot Trefoil, Tufted Vetch, Red and White Clover and Buttercup, to name but a few. The effect of also planting Yellow Rattle among them is showing clearly, as it inhibits the growth of lank grasses thus allowing the wildflowers to thrive.
Wildflower meadow in Discovery Zone.
Meadow Crane's-bill with Yellow Rattle and Buttercups.
Ox-eye Daisy and Brown Knapweed abundance showing the effect of introducing Yellow Rattle to the meadow.
In the planted arable field, further along the path, Wood Woundwort and Fodder Radish are starting to flower.
Wood Woundwort on the edge of the arable field.
Presently a number of Bumble Bees, Butterflies, Moths, Damselflies and other small insects are utilising these meadows and fields.
Red Admiral in the arable fields.
Ringlet are particularly prominent in the wildflower meadows.
Large Skipper in the arable fields.
Wall Brown on the edge of the Discovery Pool.
Bumblebee sp. - possibly Common Carder Bee, on Wood Woundwort.
Clearwing Moth sp. on vegetation along the path.
Carpet Moth Sp. also along the path.
Bumblebee sp. on White Clover
Also on sunny days, Damselflies: Common Blue, Blue-tailed, Azure and Large Red, can be seen from the Dipping platform, mating or ovipositing on the vegetation in the water. The surface of the pool is alive with other pond life, too - making the area an extremely fauna-rich habitat.
Common Blue Damselfly male on Discovery Pool.
Female Blue-tailed Damselfly on floating waterplant leaves.
Azure Damselfly ovipositing in tandem.
Large Red Damselflies on dock leaves .
Further along the path through the meadows, a pair of Swallows, having made the long journey here from Africa to breed, were making use of this abundance of food. Lining their recently fledged family up along one of the lower branches of the Old Broken Willow Tree in the pond, they were busily sweeping the meadows surrounding them and feeding their catches to the five eager juveniles they had produced.
Swallow family on Old Broken Willow.
Swallows hawking for insects over surrounding meadows.
Swallow family spread out along Broken Willow branch.
Adult delivering either a damsel or a cranefly, of which there were numerous in the area around.
Delivery in flight.
A smaller insect catch this time.
It's pot luck who gets the next catch - or is it!
"What about me!"
This is just a snapshot of how careful habitat management can benefit a small part of Nature's ecosysterm - and in doing so here, we are also provided with the pleasure of being able to view its components at close-hand!