2010 is International Year of Biodiversity and the height of summer is the perfect time to experience the richness and beauty of Bridgend’s countryside.
The wildflowers at council-run Bryngarw Country Park, Brynmenyn, Bridgend are blooming and the meadows and woodlands are alive and buzzing with the sound of insects living and foraging among the wild grasses and flowers.
The wildflower meadows at the park are sensitively managed for biodiversity, creating the perfect conditions for wildflowers to flourish. The rangers were aided in this important work recently by pupils from Cowbridge Comprehensive School, as part of the Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship (ESDGC) scheme.
The visit to the park was to learn all about the important conservation work carried out by the rangers. After an introductory tour of the park, the pupils and teachers took part in some hands-on conservation work, by assisting the rangers in a ‘bracken bash’ in the wildflower meadow.
Ranger Dan Lock explains: “Bracken is a highly invasive plant which had begun encroaching on the meadows’ margins. Here it chokes out the delicate wildflowers and can quickly overwhelm large areas. It has the potential to be a real problem but with a few good sticks and lots of enthusiasm, the pupils have managed to make a real difference for the good of the meadow.
“Over 97% of the UK’s wildflower grasslands have been lost in the last century due to changes in land use and management. These habitats are vital to our native wildflowers, as well as to the bees and other insects which depend upon them. As well as being of crucial importance to insects and other animals, these wildflowers are part of our cultural heritage and were once held in much higher regard than they are today. Learning more about some of our common native plants can help re-forge that connection between people and nature to the benefit of both”.
This is the perfect time for visiting the wildflower meadows at Bryngarw Country Park. The meadows are a wonderful summer attraction for the park so visit today and make the most of this wonderful scenery.
Here are some plants to look out for on your visit:
Ribwort Plantain – Its nutritious brown seeds are a valuable food source for birds. Its leaves have antiseptic properties and were once widely used in the treatment of wounds – better than dock leaves for stingy nettle stings.
Yellow Rattle – The ‘conservation champion’ of the wildflower meadow. This plant is a hemi-parasite, drawing it’s nutrients from the roots of grasses and clover; this helps to hold these more vigorous plants in check allowing the more delicate wildflowers to flourish. The seeds ‘rattle’ in their pods at the end of summer and were once seen as the herald of the hay-making season.
Eyebright – So-called because it was once widely used in folk medicines to treat eye conditions. The plant is visited by wasps and bees – the purple ‘nectar guides’ on the flowers pointing the way to the nectar source.
Foxglove – It was once thought that wily foxes would put the flowers of this plant over their paws to make their footsteps even quieter when sneaking up on chickens. Another possible origin for the name is ‘folks gliew’ – folk meaning the ‘fairy folk’ and gliew being an Anglo-Saxon instrument with many small bells. A firm favourite of bees; the flower has a large ‘landing pad’ and narrows to enclose the visiting bee as it seeks the nectar, so ensuring pollination.
Ox-eye daisy – The name daisy was originally ‘day’s eye’ meaning the sun, a fitting description of the appearance of this flower. Once used medicinally to treat chest complaints, the ox-eye daisy is a valuable plant to a range of insects including many beetles and hoverflies.
The rangers at Bryngarw run a series of events throughout the year aimed at giving a deeper appreciation of the borough’s natural environment. Call the rangers office on 01656 725155, email: [email protected] or visit: www.bryngarwhouse.co.uk for details.
