QUODITCH EDUCATION DEVON  

QUODITCH MOOR NATURE RESERVE

FIELD TWO

Field two covers an area of about 6.2 acres (2.6 hectares)and is a mixture of heath, culm grassland and woodland.

The field is still coloured by the bleached Purple Moor (Molinia)Grass.

If you look carefully you can spot caterpillars of the Marsh Fritillary Butterfly
Also there are lots of fresh flying insects beginning to appear

You need to look closely into the grass to see what is around. The Spotted Orchids are beginning to show through.
The Lousewort (Pedicularis Sylvatica) has already come into flower, although it won't develop fully until next month.
The Marsh Violets (viola palustris) are beginning to appear. Their leaves are much more rounded than the other violets.
In the woodland the tufts of Purple Moor Grass (Molinia) are beginning to sprout green again.
Also in the woods of field two you can find the Lesser Celandine (Ranunculus Ficaria, (Ranunculaceae)). These are also to be found on the edge of the stream in field six.

 

The hawthorn leaves are beginning to come through as well.
The common dog-violets (viola riviniana) are also making their Spring appearance where the wood has been coppiced.
In the woodland the Hedge Woundwort (Stachys Sylvatica) is beginnning to appear. It has a very strong, and to some people unpleasant, smell, but it was used to heal wounds, hence its name.
This is Alder Buckthorn in its early stages. There are quite a few young trees near the coppiced hazels. There is also the remains of one cut-down tree, which suggests to us that they are all seedlings from the original tree.
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Page updated 6th September 2004

 

  
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