Neath Valley Highlights

Did the standard hike with Hipkin, Naylor and Tew on the Biology field course around the waterfalls including the impressive Sgwd-yr-Eira. Amongst the interesting organisms seen were Sulphur tuft fungus (Hypholoma fasciculare), a hoverfly that looked like a bumble-bee (Volucella bombylans), the bobbing chick of a Dipper (Cinclus cinclus) and a busy Grey wagtail (Motacilla cinerea).

Farewell to Fairwood?

I went along with the Biology level 3 field course to Fairwood with Charles Hipkin and Dan Forman et al.  As the University is selling the site, this may be the last visit. Amongst the highlights were explanations of plant diversity using transects and a nice specimen of a Heath spotted orchid ( Dactylorhiza maculata). There were also Common blue damselflies (Enallagma cyathigerum), a nice mating display by Poecilobothrus nobilatus flies, some interesting pond-dipping catches, lots of tiny Common frogs (Rana temporaria) and an otter spraint.

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Lots of activity around Loughor. Tutsan (Hypericum androsaemum), Enchanter's nightshade (Circaea lutetiana) and Common poppy (Papaver rhoeas) were in flower. The controllers of hedges simply blitzed the vegetation. Noted a canniblastic Flesh fly (Sarcophaga carnaria) as well as being visited by a Light emerald moth (Campaea margaritata) and an Ichneumon fly (Amblyteles armatorius). A Six-spot burnet moth (Zygaena filipendulae) was a road traffic victim on Loughor Bridge.

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Lots of flowers out after the rain. In Bynea, viewed Orange hawkweed (Hieracium auranticum), Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa), Sea beet (Beta vulgaris) and Rosebay willowherb (Epilobium angustifolium). In Penclacwydd, noted Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), French figwort (Scrophularia canina), Dog rose (Rosa canina), Hairy tare (Vicia hirsuta) and Slender thistle (Carduus tenuiflorus). The sloe fruit of the Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) were also evident here. Wild privet (Ligustrum vulgare) was seen in Loughor.

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In Loughor, the green berries of Lords and ladies (Arum maculatum) are well established and Field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) is in flower. In Bynea, Common sea lavender (Limonium vulgare) is coming into bloom.

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Ragged robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi) was abob, bob, bobbing in Bynea.

The Gardener's Legacy

One reason for the decline of UK biodiversity has been the fashions of using decking in gardens as a 'low maintenance' development and even replacing gardens as parking areas for cars (http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/jun/08/gardens-without-greenery). The first was encouraged by TV gardening programmes and one must note that commercial bodies (e.g. garden centres) have been keen to sell such relatively expensive solutions to desires for increased human living space. It is worth noting on the charge sheet that gardeners have also been responsible for many of the introductions of problematical plants to these islands. The replacing of gardens to create places to park cars can be seen as reducing maintenance and being commercially astute in some inner city locations (they can be rented). Both developments can be clearly implicated in land drainage issues.