Bluebell.


(Photography : Andy Karran)


Early Purple Orchid. (Photograph: Andy Karran)


WOODL AND SPRINGTIME FLORA BY GWENT WILDLIFE TRUST’S SENIOR CONSERVATION ECOLOGIST ANDY KARRAN.


After the long dreary winter, the first blooms of spring are just what we need to brighten things up. There are no better places to head for flowers at this time of year than our woodlands, as the plants race to flower before the leafy canopy closes above their heads.


Our woods are full of wildflowers, from the carpets of Bluebells, to the tiny obscure Moschatel. We will take a closer look at 14 of these that you can go searching for this spring, some common and some that might take a bit more effort, but will be well worth it. So, Covid-19 rules permitting, head out on a hunt! (Please observe the Countryside Code and never pick any, and also be careful where you stand so as not to trample these delicate beauties.)


BLUEBELLS To start, a woodland classic that everybody knows. Widely regarded as our favourite wildflower and little surprise as they can be spectacular, turning whole woodland floors in to a sea of blue. We have half of the world’s population here in the UK. Where: Can probably be found in all of our Trust’s woodland reserves, try Prisk Wood at Penallt and Springdale Farm near Usk for particularly good displays.


EARLY PURPLE ORCHID Blooming at the same time, or hot on the heels of Bluebells, the Early Purple Orchid is our first orchid to flower here in Gwent. As its name implies it is purple, however you can get pink and white varieties. Apparently when it first opens it has a fantastic scent, this


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Andy Karran


LIVE24-SEVEN.COM


GWENT WI LDL I F E TRUST WOODLAND SPRINGT IME F LORA


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