Flowering Plants
Adding individual species is a work in progress. Go here for the full list of species in PDF format to download
Black Knapweed - Centaurea nigra
Black Knapweed is also known as Hardheads. Many different types of insects visit the flowers for nectar. The seeds are dispersed by wind.
Common Centaury - Centaurium erythraea
Depending upon the conditions in which it grows the size of the plant can vary. Before this was realised different sized plants were considered different species.
Common Mouse-ear - Cerastium fontanum
Rosebay Willowherb - Chamerion angustifolium
This flower likes disturbed ground and can often be found where there has been a fire - hence its other name Fireweed.
Fat-hen - Chenopodium album
Opposite-Leaved Golden-Saxifrage - Chrysosplenium oppositifolium
This flower turns the beck sides yellow in spring.
Enchanter's Nightshade - Circaea lutetiana
Creeping Thistle - Cirsium arvense
Melancholy Thistle - Cirsium heterophyllum
Marsh Thistle - Cirsium palustre
Spear Thistle - Cirsium vulgare
Wild Basil - Clinopodium vulgare
Found along the boardwalk near to the lake feeder.
Pignut - Conopodium majus
The white flowers cover the far moor in summer before the seeds turn the area red.
Dogwood - Cornus sanguinea
The red stems of Dogwood can be seen behind the easy access hide.
Hazel - Corylus avellana
The catkins begin to form in late autumn and can open as early as January followed by the tiny red female flowers. By late summer the Hazel nuts are fully formed.
Cotoneaster - Cotoneaster frigidus
New Zealand Pygmyweed - Crassula helmsii
Hawthorn - Crataegus monogyna
"Never cast a clout till May is out!" The blossom or the month?
In autumn the red berries provide food for Blackbirds, Redwings and Fieldfares.
Smooth Hawk's-beard - Crepis capillaris
Marsh Hawksbeard - Crepis paludosa
Beaked Hawk's-beard - Crepis vesicaria
Found in profusion at the far end of the obstacle course.
Crosswort - Cruciata laevipes
Hybrid Orchid (Common Spotted x Northern Marsh) - Dachtylorhiza fuchsii x purpurella
Common Spotted Orchid - Dactylorhiza fuchsii
These beautiful orchids can be seen from mid May through to early August. Over the last three years they have spread their range.
Early Marsh Orchid - Dactylorhiza incarnata
The fourth of our orchids. Only a few flower spikes can be found but they are spreading.