For my walk ... U3A Nature Explorers: February 2023

 

U3A Nature Explorers - Harcombe Lane

10.00 - 12.00 Wednesday 1st February 2023

Twenty two of us gathered at Snobrook Cross to walk east along Harcombe Lane to Knowle House. It was overcast with some sunny intervals but although the weather forecast indicated it was warmer than recent days it did not feel it to me in the chilly wind!

This is a walk of two halves. The first stretch along the lane has hedgerow shrubs, trees and the brook to the left (north side) and a high bank with hedge to the right (or south). Although only a few feet apart these form two very different habitats and so gives double the interest and enjoyment. The most noticeable feature for me was that the shady, north facing bank had countless fern plants of five species; common polypody, hart's-tongue, male-fern, broad buckler fern and a small patch of hard fern. These were far less evident on the other side of the road.

In February there is little sign of flowering plants on the bank but on the other side there are already plants in flower which include, as one might expect this time of year, hazel and alder catkins. The presence of areas of dog's mercury is evidence that this was once woodland. Whilst not in flower there are many other plants appearing in leaf now with navelwort (aka wall pennywort) obvious at the start of the lane walk. 

With leaves still not yet on the various hedgerow shrubs and trees it is a good time to look for mosses which I find very attractive plants but very difficult to identify with any confidence but cypress-leaved moss and rough-stalked feather moss, both very common species everywhere, were undoubtedly present. I may be able to add a couple more species to that list once I have looked at my photographs in a bit more detail.

The second half of the walk starts after one reaches a cattle grid at the entrance to the Knowle House estate. Here the landscape opens up into 'amenity' pasture and the hedgerow and bank cease. This gives a marked change of flora as the woodland species are, in general, less evident and common weeds of cultivation become apparent. 

Generally grazed and cut grassland like this is not very productive for flora but to the left of the path as it slopes down to the brook it is very damp and there are signs that this could be interesting in a couple of months time, especially close to the brook where hemlock water-dropwort is established and this is always popular with a range of bees, wasps and flies. One or more moles have been busy digging around here too.

The more formal garden area near the house reveals snowdrops in flower and extensive areas of lesser celandine with the first flowers appearing among them now. The vanilla scent from a patch of winter heliotrope was very noticeable.

Close to the house gate is a tree, unidentified but possibly some form of fruit tree, which is covered in lichen with Evernia prunastri or oak moss (yes, it is a lichen despite the name) being dominant but there are a number of other species including Xanthoria parietina, Ramalina fastigata and Parmelia caperata.

Although we were looking for signs of spring there are still a few remnants of last year to be found with 'fruits' on stinking iris, black bryony and ivy 

The disappointing feature of the day, and most days now it seems, was the lack of birds; it really is a concern. There were a number of singing robins, of course, a pair of courting dunnock and an enthusiastic 'singing' great tit all indicating spring is on its way.

The total count, excluding flora just in leaf, for the walk was thrifty-eight species but that may increase after a bit more research. The full list can be seen here: 

https://www.sidmouthnature.uk/diary-data/Harcombe%20Lane-2023-02-Feb