Rose-ringed parakeet, Psittacula krameri. Despite it’s beautiful plumage and silhouette in flight, the rose-ringed parakeet (or ringneck parrot) has a hard time winning hearts. Maybe it’s that screechy voice. When it began to establish itself in the UK there were concerns that it would have a detrimental effect on our native wild birds. Recent research suggests their impact is not significant. They […]
Enchanter’s nightshade, Circaea lutetiana. It has small pinky white flowers between June and August. it’s a ‘hairy’ plant with hairs seen on the leaves (both sides) and leaf stalks (petioles). Despite its name, enchanter’s nightshade is unrelated to other nightshades. It actually belongs to the willowherb family. WT. Photo: Stephen Middleton
Canadian Goldenrod, Solidago canadensis. As its name suggests it is native to northeastern and north-central North America. It forms colonies of upright growing plants, with many small yellow flowers in a branching inflorescence held above the foliage. It is an invasive plant that was imported to be grown as an ornamental in flower gardens. It is highly popular with a […]
Pyracantha. Pyracantha is a genus of large, thorny evergreen shrubs in the rose family Rosaceae. They are native to an area extending from Southwest Europe east to Southeast Asia. They have a white rose flower and resemble and are related to Cotoneaster, but have serrated leaf margins and numerous thorns (Cotoneaster is thornless). On Parkland Walk it is certainly a […]
Hairy-footed flower bee, Anthophora plumipes. This species is one of the first solitary bees to emerge in spring (as early as February) and people often confuse them for small bumblebees, although their quick darting flight motion is a good way to tell them apart. Males and females look very different from each other. Although they are solitary bees (with no […]
Common Valerian, Valeriana officinalis. It bears sweetly scented pink or white flowers that attract many fly species, especially hoverflies. It is consumed as food by the larvae of some butterflies and moths. Valerian has been used as a herb in traditional medicine since at least the time of ancient Greece and Rome. Hippocrates described its properties, and Galen later prescribed […]
Seven spot ladybird, Coccinella septempunctata. Probably the most well known beetle in the UK. The red body with black spots acts as a warning to predators that they taste awful. They feed both on aphids and scale insects and vegetation matter and fungi. There are 6,000 known species of Ladybird. The UK seven spot is becoming vastly outnumbered by another […]
Wild strawberry, Fragaria vesca. The Wild Strawberry is not actually the ancestor of commercial strawberries but it does have an excellent flavour. Its white flowers appear from April to July and the small but very tasty fruits follow soon after. WT
Bittersweet nightshade, Solanum dulcamara. Purple flowers with yellow stamens give way to bright red berries, edible for some birds, which disperse the seeds widely, but the berry is poisonous to humans and livestock. WT
Herb Robert, Geranium robertianum. One of the commonest wildflowers on Parkland Walk, coping admirably through dry spells and in dry, gravelly or stony ground. Herb robert is a food plant and nectar-source for many invertebrates including bees, hoverflies and the barred carpet moth. It was traditionally used as an antiseptic, as well as to treat stomach upsets and nosebleeds. Its […]
