soon becomes unpleasant however. Where: Equally at home in grasslands as well as woodlands, however It is always nicest to search one out in a woodland, Prisk Wood and Springdale Farm are both good sites.
SWEET VIOLET They flower earlier in the year than the more familiar Dog Violet, there should still be some around however. Its flowers can be either purple or white, and it is called “sweet” because it is the only one of our violets with a noticeable scent. Interestingly there is a legend that you can only smell a Sweet Violet once in your life. This isn’t true of course, however there is some truth to it as one of the chemicals in its scent is ionine, which deadens your smell receptors for a while. Where: Violets of one sort or another can be found in all of our woodland reserves, try Strawberry Cottage Wood near Llanvihangel Crucorney for Sweet Violets.
RAMSONS Also known as Wild Garlic, in some woods it forms white carpets to rival the Bluebells, where this occurs your nose will become aware of its presence long before you see it. Where: Can be found in quite a few of our woodland reserves, try Springdale Farm and Piercefield Woods near Chepstow.
WOOD SORREL Its leaves can be eaten like Sorrel and have a distinct apple-like taste. It is one of the few flowers that manages to persist in the deep, dark shade of coniferous plantations. Its clover-like leaves are responsive to the weather and fold up in the rain and after dark. Where: Can probably be found in all of our woodland reserves, try Priory Wood at Bettws Newydd and Croes Robert Wood near Trellech.
WOOD ANEMONE A really good indicator of Ancient Woodland as they spread so slowly (6ft in 100 years!), therefore if the woodland is full of them they must have been there an awful long time. Anemone derives from the Greek for “Windflower”, reflecting how the petals move in a breeze. Where: Can probably be found in all of our woodland reserves, try Springdale Farm and Piercefield Woods.
LESSER CELANDINE These cousins of buttercups flower very early and probably peak in March, coating woodlands and path edges with their shiny, bright yellow petals. Where: Can probably be found in all of our woodland reserves, however they are an early flowerer so don’t leave it too late.
RED CAMPION Coming in to flower as the Bluebells begin to fade, the Red Campion is common in hedgerows, verges and woodland glades. A local name for it is “Batchelors Buttons”, perhaps once worn by
unmarried men to jazz up their attire. Where: Can probably be found in all of our woodland reserves.
PRIMROSE A classic spring flower, the sight of a Primrose means spring is surely on the way. Its name derives from the Latin Prima Rosa, meaning first rose, although it is not a rose! Where: Can be found in many of our woodland reserves, Strawberry Cottage Wood and Priory Wood are two good sites.
YELLOW PIMPERNEL Later flowering than many of the other woodland spring flowers, not in bloom until May and peaking in June. Where: Can be found in many of our woodland reserves, it likes damp ground and the wetter parts of Croes Robert Wood are a good site.
WILD DAFFODIL The national symbol of Wales, the native daffodil is more diminutive than most of the garden varieties. To quote Wordsworth “I wandered lonely as a cloud, That floats on high o'er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils”. Where: If you would like to see a host of golden daffodils then visit our Margaret’s Wood Reserve, early April is a great time, although it can vary from year to year.
LORDS AND LADIES This distinctive plant has many evocative names such as Cuckoo-pint, Devils and Angels, Adam and Eve, Wild Arum, Snakes Head and Jack in the Pulpit. Look out for the spike of orange or red berries later in the year. Where: Can probably be found in all of our woodland reserves.
MOSCHATEL Also known as the Town Hall Clock because the flower head is cube like with a flower on each side face, there is also a fifth one on the top. Where: This tiny, unobtrusive plant doesn’t leap out at you, it can probably be found at a few of our woodland reserves however, and certainly at Strawberry Cottage Wood.
HERB PARIS A distinctive looking species, closely related to garden Trilliums. The Paris in its title has nothing to do with France, it relates to the word par, as in equal, referring to the symmetry of the leaves. Where: A scarce species but can be found at Prisk Wood and Croes Robert Wood if you are lucky and you get your eye in, they are distinctive but easily blend in with the rest of the woodland flora.
Happy searching!
To find out more about the nature reserves mentioned and the work of Gwent Wildlife Trust visit:
www.gwentwildlife.org
We rely on the hands-on support of volunteers and donations from our members, charitable trusts, the
public and local organisations to manage our 33 nature reserves in Gwent as havens for wildlife and people. I’d love to hear from you if you would like to help us. Email
info@gwentwildlife.org or find us on
facebook.com/gwentwildlife and
twitter.com/gwentwildlife.
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GWENT WI LDL I F E TRUST WOODLAND SPRINGT IME F LORA
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