Wild flowers

The different flowering periods of each plant create wonderful changes in the way the landscape looks, especially if there is a change in colours.

On the lowland heath nature reserves of Burlish Top and the Rifle Range, the biggest change is still to come when the yellows of the hawkweeds are replaced with the purple and pinks of the heathers.

It will probably be another six weeks before this happens.

Not all wild flowers change the landscape, as some don't occur with enough frequency.

It was one of these which caught my eye on Burlish Top on a recent visit. Growing close to the ground along the edges of the paths, I found the candyfloss pink and white flowers of the field bindweed.

This is a common enough plant, but it looked absolutely fabulous brightening up some of the duller paths on this nature reserve.

Usually, as soon as I mention bindweed I get a few scowls from farmers and gardeners as this plant has a fearsome reputation as a weed.

In bygone days it even accrued some less than congenial local names like "snakes meat" and "devil's gut". The reason for this is bindweed grows by twisting in an anti-clockwise direction around other plants, which it uses for support. Although it doesn't strangle them, it can cut off the light to them. It is also a prolific grower.

A new plant is able to regenerate from the smallest fragment of root.

The roots of this plant are also highly resistant to weed killer making them a pest when they are unwanted.

In bindweed's favour, its flowers are among some of the larger and more attractive wild flowers. Some gardeners actively sought to use this plant and even imported new species.

Bindweed flowers provide a welcome source of nectar for many bumblebees.

Some moth and fly species also depend heavily on the flower as both a source of nutrition and as a shelter from inclement weather.

This is a bit of a selfless act on the part of the bindweed as its flowers are rather useless with only the occasional flowers being successful in producing a seed.