Llanelli Naturalists Newsletter - March 2003 - No 69
Kath Cottingham
(Joint Meeting with the Wildlife Trust for South and West Wales) - Leader Richard Pryce
On a particularly wet day, about eighteen members from both Llanelli Naturalists and the Wildlife Trust met at the main gate of the MoD Establishment for this field meeting which, despite the weather, turned out to be very enjoyable and memorable. We were fortunate to have John Rees in attendance to lead the party around the site. John worked at the Establishment for many years and the party was able to benefit a great deal from his encyclopaedic knowledge of the site’s plants and wildlife.
Areas of dune grassland along the C9 Track were visited before lunch where many notable species were seen. Highlights were numerous Ophioglossum vulgatum (Adder’s-tongue Fern), three Botrychium lunaria (Moonwort), occasional Listera ovata (Twayblade), frequent Anacamptis pyramidalis (Pyramidal Orchid) and a few Dactylorhiza incarnarta ssp. coccinea (a subspecies of Early Marsh-orchid). Also recorded were two plants of Lithospermum officinale (Common Gromwell), Ramalina fastigiata (a lichen on willow), Polyommatus icarus (Common Blue butterfly) and Orthetrum cancellatum (Black-tailed Skimmer dragonfly), these invertebrates being inactive amongst the grass because of the cool and wet weather. The area of tall fen at the south-eastern corner of the Witchett Pool was next visited where Richard waded in to show the party (sensibly remaining on the dry bank) Carex pseudocyperus (Cyperus Sedge), Rumex hydrolapathum (Water Dock) and Utricularia australis (Bladderwort) which were all seen in relative abundance.
After lunch a stop was made at the jetty along the western side of the Pool where a Cetti’s Warbler was clearly heard and Swifts flew very low, giving a superb view. A Grey Heron, House Martins and a pair of Mute Swans with two cygnets were also seen. Crassula helmsii (New Zealand Pygmyweed) was unfortunately in evidence: a very invasive aquatic coloniser and a threat to native plants although here it does not appear to have spread from the site of its original discovery. Lycopus europaeus (Gypsywort), Oenanthe crocata (Hemlock Water-dropwort) and Rumex hydrolapathum were noted at the edge of the fringing Phragmites (reed) bed but no Ranunculus lingua (Greater Spearwort) could be found and Richard fears that it has become extinct at this, its only native location in the county.
The final stop of the day was at the E4 Range where Anagallis tenella (Bog Pimpernel), Dactylorhiza incarnarta ssp. coccinea, Epipactis palustris (Marsh Helleborine) and Carex disticha (Brown Sedge) were frequent. Seven plants of Liparis loeselii (Fen Orchid) were counted and careful note was made of their positions (using a GPS). Plants had suffered greatly in previous years from slug damage and Richard was anxious that they would not have disappeared entirely before he was able to show them to a group of BSBI members a couple of weeks later. In fact, eleven Liparis plants were seen during the BSBI meeting on 30th June, most having slug damage, but it was reckoned that about 15 individual plants had been seen as a result of the two counts. John remembers this area as being much more open and rabbit-grazed with occasional inundations by high tides, and presumably harbouring fewer slugs. The spread of rank vegetation in recent years demonstrates the urgent need for management at this site to keep the sward short and open in order to favour the survival of Liparis.
Despite the rain, following the meeting, John, Richard and I visited the area where Salvia verbenacia (Wild Clary) had been known for several years by the road near Little Burrows Farm and found several plants in flower. This is the only site where the species is known to grow in Carmarthenshire.
The members of the party extend their thanks to both John Rees for his informed guidance and to Yvonne Jackson for facilitating entry to the Establishment.