Sidmouth Nature

U3A Nature Walks - Harcombe Lane 10.00am Wednesday 19th April 2023 It was the best part of ten weeks ago that the U3A nature explorers group visited Harcombe Lane so it was an ideal opportunity to see how spring had progressed when the nature walks group met there for their April outing.  The weather was a bit grim as we gathered with overcast skies, a chilly wind and some light rain but thankfully it improved considerably as we made our way along the lane with the sun coming out and bringing some warmth which encouraged a few insects to emerge from hiding. The northern, or sunny, side of the road is a continual stream of wild flowers along its length from the cross roads at the start to the cattle grid near Knowle House and with the trees yet to come in to leaf many were taking advantage of the light available to them before conditions become more shaded. As a result woodland species were in evidence with considerable amounts of dog's mercury, wood anemone, greater stitchwort, les...

  Photo: Peasland Knapp (not taken on the day hence blue skies) The Knapp and the Cemetery On the morning of Wednesday, 2nd November 2022, I joined my first outing with the Sidmouth U3A (University of the Third Age) nature explorers group. We met at 10.30 in the Knowle car park under overcast skies and with a very blustery wind. Mercifully the rain help off for our walk only setting in once we were all safely back at home! We set off up Peasland Road and entered the Knapp through the gate to the reserve and then climbed the steps encountering a fine display of fleecy milkcap fungi near the top. On a brief detour on to the Peasland Knapp wild flower area we found the 'iconic' toadstool, fly agaric, under the birch trees. It was good to find a specimen in pristine condition. Moving on we walked down through the orchard stopping to admire the impressive array of lichen growing on the older fruit trees and then along the woodland path to the gate into the cemetery. The best area fo...

U3A Nature Explorers - Lockyer Observatory Grounds 10.00am Wednesday 5th April 2023 After a series of sunny, dry days it seemed almost inevitable that we would awake to the return of the rain for the monthly nature recorders walk! Despite the rain sixteen of us ventured on to the Lockyer Observatory Estate in search of anything living that we could name. Mercifully the rain was mainly light and more of an irritation than making the conditions impossible. When entering the grounds of the Observatory you cannot help but notice the extensive lawns that surround the main buildings. Although they are kept mowed and tidy they should not be overlooked for plants of interest. There were a good number of common dog-violets amongst the grass and field woodrush was flourishing in places.  The grass had been cut but from one or two areas that had been missed by the mower it was obvious that annual meadow grass has a good foothold here, indeed it may be the dominant grass present. Amongst the g...