June
June (updated on Saturday 19 June)
June was the fourth month of the old Latin calendar and is thought to have got it‘s name in honour of the Roman goddess Juno.
Like may before it so far June has been sunny but with some cold northerly winds. We have had a few wet days but so far June has been kind compared with the last few years!
Postbridge Hay Meadows
On Friday June 18 I led a Hay Meadow walk at Postbridge for Dartmoor National Park Authority, conditions were cloudy but dry (see picture top left).
This type of hay meadow habitat is Crested dogs’ tail - black knapweed neutral grassland (National Vegetation Classification, MG5). There are less than 6000 hectares of this left in England of which just 20 hectares survives on Dartmoor. On Dartmoor these grasslands have benefited from past management through application of limestone slag and manure which raised their productivity. In the modern era, however, they are more likely to have been ’improved’ or abandoned to be colonised by scrub and woodland. Even when properly managed as traditional hay meadows there is still a conflict of interest between the farmer who wants an early cut for hay and the botanist who wants to see as many flowering heads as possible with a late cut!
The meadows at Postbridge consisted of a delightful range of species including greater butterfly orchid (see picture, top right), common twayblade (see picture, bottom left), southern marsh orchid, heath spotted orchid, masses of yellow rattle and many others. The greater butterfly orchids were only just coming into flower compared with last year probably due to a combination of the cold winter and dry spring. The whole walk was rounded off by an excellent cream tea at Beechwood B&B (www.beechwood-dartmoor.co.uk).
Forest On The Hill Walk
The next walk is on Saturday June 26 starting at 11.00 hours from the Haytor Information Centre. A five hour leisurely walk (please bring packed lunch) exploring the local features and characters described in Eden Phillpotts Edwardian novel of 1912. During lunch we have the chance to look at archive photos of scenes from the 1920’s just after the novel was written (see picture below, bottom right).
Charge is £8.00 per adult – children under 16 free).
Further walks (for up to six people) can be arranged on request. Please see the Events page for details of more walks.
For further information please ring Phil Page Tel: 0785 8421 148
June was the fourth month of the old Latin calendar and is thought to have got it‘s name in honour of the Roman goddess Juno.
Like may before it so far June has been sunny but with some cold northerly winds. We have had a few wet days but so far June has been kind compared with the last few years!
Postbridge Hay Meadows
On Friday June 18 I led a Hay Meadow walk at Postbridge for Dartmoor National Park Authority, conditions were cloudy but dry (see picture top left).
This type of hay meadow habitat is Crested dogs’ tail - black knapweed neutral grassland (National Vegetation Classification, MG5). There are less than 6000 hectares of this left in England of which just 20 hectares survives on Dartmoor. On Dartmoor these grasslands have benefited from past management through application of limestone slag and manure which raised their productivity. In the modern era, however, they are more likely to have been ’improved’ or abandoned to be colonised by scrub and woodland. Even when properly managed as traditional hay meadows there is still a conflict of interest between the farmer who wants an early cut for hay and the botanist who wants to see as many flowering heads as possible with a late cut!
The meadows at Postbridge consisted of a delightful range of species including greater butterfly orchid (see picture, top right), common twayblade (see picture, bottom left), southern marsh orchid, heath spotted orchid, masses of yellow rattle and many others. The greater butterfly orchids were only just coming into flower compared with last year probably due to a combination of the cold winter and dry spring. The whole walk was rounded off by an excellent cream tea at Beechwood B&B (www.beechwood-dartmoor.co.uk).
Forest On The Hill Walk
The next walk is on Saturday June 26 starting at 11.00 hours from the Haytor Information Centre. A five hour leisurely walk (please bring packed lunch) exploring the local features and characters described in Eden Phillpotts Edwardian novel of 1912. During lunch we have the chance to look at archive photos of scenes from the 1920’s just after the novel was written (see picture below, bottom right).
Charge is £8.00 per adult – children under 16 free).
Further walks (for up to six people) can be arranged on request. Please see the Events page for details of more walks.
For further information please ring Phil Page Tel: 0785 8421 148
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