All these wild flowers and grasses I photographed last June in a similar unimproved grassland location some two miles from a meadow under threat from house building. Read about it below.
Broomrape
Bee Orchid
Emerging Pyramidal Orchid's
Geass Vetchling against a Goats-beard
Bee Orchid
Quaking -grass
Under the title “ Battle Brewing”
in the 15th March edition, the Langport Leveller reports
on the way in which local residents have explained their opposition
to a planning application to build 36 houses on “unimproved
meadowland that has recently been used for grazing. With the extended
flooding on the levels and moors in the last 12 months such grazing
land is urgently required by Somerset farmers.
The site itself is described as good
quality agricultural land and is a habitat frequented by roe
deer,badgers,foxes, barn owls, bats and grass snakes. Other recent
and close by housing developments have demonstrably caused, for
example , the disappearance of moths and the range of wild plant
species they feed off. For many species it has been claimed that the
field is their sole local home.An official Peripherals Study prepared
for the South Somerset District Council in 2008 identified the land
as having the “ highest landscape sensitivity “ and “highest
visual impact” when compered to other parcels of land in the
study.
There are many other points of
objection raised during two local Council meetings. A respected local
naturalist John Bebbington asked the Council to take into account
the beautiful and rare wild Orchids and butterflies found there
including the Brown Hairstreak butterfly.
It any other support was needed to
prevent a change in the usage of this agricultural land then the
Royal horticultural Society is holding its London Orchid and
Botanical Art Show on 12-13 April.
Many people these days grow cultivated
orchids in their homes but here in Somerset we have our own beautiful
wild plants which we should do everything we can to conserve. Plant lovers can admire in detail some of the worlds best botanic art in London this month.
Look at : www.rhs.org.uk/londonshows
