Harvestman at Large
Pyramidal orchid close-up.
Today i went out to one of the least accessible Gwent Wildlife Trust reserves, Dixton Embankment. The reserve was formed when, for reasons best know to themselves, road-builders used limestone soil to build up the dual carriageway next to the river Wye, in a non-limestone area. The result years later is a wonderful pocket of limestone grassland alongside the Wye, straddling the Wales-England border.
Access is as follows. From Monmouth you go up the dual carriageway past the reserve, off at the junction and back down the other side towards the reserve. Then you miss the turning, so have to go around the next roundabout, and back up the dual carriageway for another try. Every time without fail.
Anyway, the reserve is notable for reliable shows of pyramidal orchids, plus bee orchids and common spotteds, and several other notable plants. it also has an excellent population of white-legged damselfly. There will be many more pictures to follow.
I'm starting with the pyramidal orchids, because they were as good as I have ever seen them this year, and because they are almost the first thing you see on entering the site.
Pyramidal orchid close-up.
Today i went out to one of the least accessible Gwent Wildlife Trust reserves, Dixton Embankment. The reserve was formed when, for reasons best know to themselves, road-builders used limestone soil to build up the dual carriageway next to the river Wye, in a non-limestone area. The result years later is a wonderful pocket of limestone grassland alongside the Wye, straddling the Wales-England border.
Access is as follows. From Monmouth you go up the dual carriageway past the reserve, off at the junction and back down the other side towards the reserve. Then you miss the turning, so have to go around the next roundabout, and back up the dual carriageway for another try. Every time without fail.
Anyway, the reserve is notable for reliable shows of pyramidal orchids, plus bee orchids and common spotteds, and several other notable plants. it also has an excellent population of white-legged damselfly. There will be many more pictures to follow.
I'm starting with the pyramidal orchids, because they were as good as I have ever seen them this year, and because they are almost the first thing you see on entering the site.