NATURAL WALNEY ISLAND
It is within this section of the site that
the natural aspects of Walney Island will be displayed, albeit in a vastly reduced form,
as for me to list every last form of life and flora of the island would be far
to time consuming. That said I hope that you won't be to disappointed by what is
represented. If you do feel strongly enough that something should be displayed
that isn't please feel free to mail me your thoughts. If it's detail you
desire than I can recommend nothing better than Tim Deans publication ' The
Natural History of Walney Island' an extremely concise book - ISBN No. 0 948558
04 0.
Walney has two recognised nature reserves,
that of North Walney and the other of South Walney and both of which are
administered by the Cumbria Wildlife Trust.
South Walney Reserve became
designated as such during 1963 and is probably most famous for having the largest mixed ground-nesting of herring and
lesser black-back gulls in Europe. South Walney has a number of purpose built
trails, clearly marked for visitors to follow . There is are observation hides
positioned around the reserve where visitors can view Walney's wildlife.
North
Walney Reserve has been considered as being populated by
man from prehistoric times due to a number of archaeological findings including
Mesolithic, Neolithic, bronze and iron age. As well as flints and pottery a rare
stone axe has been discovered. Mans last disturbances of the area for working
were done so by McLung's gravel works, which operated until its closure
in the early 1970s and also by the towns shipbuilders Vickers Shipbuilding
& Engineering Ltd (now better known as BAE SYSTEMS Submarines) until the
late 1980's. The area of the reserve covers almost the entire north end of
Walney with the exception of just two fields, which are still being used to this
day. The area consists of sand dunes,
slacks, wet and dry heath, salt marsh, and grassland. There are also many rare
plants can be found in the area including dune and green-flowered helleborine,
seaside century, coralroot orchid and variegated horsetail. The wildlife can
consist of knot, redshanks, ringed plovers oystercatchers, dunlins, curlews,
pintails, shelducks and red-breasted merganser. Also the area caters for as much
as a 25% of the UK's entire natterjack population.
A B
C D E
F G H I
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FOXGLOVE
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(Digitalis
purpurea).
Foxglove is common throughout the
British Isles
, especially in woods and scrubland from June to September,
often becoming the dominant plant when damaged or cleared areas are
regenerating. The Foxglove, known in Somerset as ?Fairy Bells? are a tall downy biennial herb with a stem reaching 500mm to 150mm
high. The plants leaves are soft and hairy and its flowers are produced in
a long tubular to narrow bell shape. Each flower are approximately 40mm to
50mm long and are displayed as mauve with dark purple spots ringed with
white inside.
The Foxglove is also cultivated commercially as a
field crop for the pharmaceutical industry in for production of the drug
digitoxin. As a note: Digitoxin is highly poisonous but is used as a heart
muscle steroid which is taken to increase the heart beat to cure /
alleviate heart failure The toxicity of the plant is unaffected by drying,
storage or boiling.
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GLASSWORT
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(Salicornia
europaea) sometimes referred to as samphire or poor mans asparagus
An annual light green, fleshy plant which almost takes the form a
miniature cactus, growing up to a Height
of approximately 30cm. flowers appear between August ? September
time at stem junctions. Typical of salt marsh location the plant will
tolerate immersion in saltwater.
If you collect them when still
very young and tender, just 5cm or so high and steam them (not for long,
they're best eaten almost raw) you will have wonderful ?salty? tasting
plant.
Please be careful when picking though, if you snip a few bunches
with a pair of scissors and are careful not to uproot it, for your own use
as has been done traditionally, then you won't be subject to a potential
?20000 fine for harming the flora in a site of special scientific
interest (SSSI). I doubt however that this will be the case if you
are intending to farm it in large quantities?
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HOUSE SPARROW
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The male house sparrows plumage is
best described as brown with grey underside, white cheeks, grey crown and
black bib, which signifies the males ranking within its society, the blacker
the bib the more dominant the bird is considered. Females are slightly
more plain than the male with a buff coloured underside, pale band behind
eye and buff coloured wing-stripes make them more distinguishable. The house
sparrow is normal abundant wherever there are humans present i.e. towns,
villages and countryside. Although still a common bird in many areas,
recent decline is considered enough of a serious proportion to be worrying.
Breeding often in colonies, mainly in small crevices of buildings and also
is known to thieve nests of species. |
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NATTERJACK TOAD
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(Bufo
calamita) The
natterjack's most common feature is that of a distinctive yellow stripe
which runs down the length of its back. It is accepted that the average
Natterjack can grow to between 60mm to 80mm (approx 3") and
that females are the larger of the species.
Natterjack's are mostly nocturnal although it is possible for them to be
found resting under large stones, or in crevices and burrows during the daylight
hours. Contrary to popular belief these toads would prefer to run rather than
jump, due to the shortness of their limbs, hence calamita,
which is Latin for 'Running Toad'
This breed of toad likes to
inhabit sea level areas with sandy
soils where it can easily burrow and where shallow pools for breeding,
such as those found on Walney can be easily accessed.
Coming out from hibernation around about March adults will feed on insects;
moths as well as spiders would be their preference although woodlice, snails and
worms would not be omitted from the menu. The Natterjacks breeding season is
from April to July, with the female laying c3500 eggs.
Since
c1900 the toads preferred environment has become more and more scarce, mainly
due to mans ever increasing desire to build and develop, which in itself is
blamed for a serious decline in the Natterjack's population, so much so that the
Natterjack has now been declared an endangered species within the UK allowing it
to become a recognised priority for conservation action/s.
Although
Natterjack?s can live for approximately 14 years they have many predators,
which mean that only a few would survive to this age. It is worth
noting that the
Natterjack is now protected through Law, (1981
Wildlife and Countryside Act) therefore it is
illegal to disturb, or harm this toad, or to damage or destroy its habitat in
any way, shape or form.
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OYSTER CATCHER
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(Haematopus ostralegus) Resident and
widespread, with a further influx from Europe during the winter this
distinctive black and white plumaged wader with a red bill and its
considerable noisy piping call draws all the attention. Mainly considered a
shorebird by many, it isn't a rarity to see the oyster catcher breeding
inland by rivers, lakes and similar, although in winter it tends to stick
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COMMON RAGWORT
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Generally considered a
wasteland and pasture weed that is found growing everywhere throughout the
United Kingdom, this species natural habitat is sand dunes, but is also
prevalent on certain light and airy soils and over-grazed grasslands,
further, as it can't tolerate cultivated soils it is rarely a problem in
arable fields. This weed frequently grows at roadsides, paths and on manure
pastures such as those at the now abandoned south Walney landfill site.
Plant numbers have been noticed to suddenly increase or decrease for no
'apparent' reason. It is possible that a recent decrease in the ragwort may
be associated with very hot / dry summers? |
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SEA HOLLY
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(Eryngium maritimum)
A
distinctive perennial of coastal areas, the Sea Holly thrives at North
Walney because of it's abundant sandy and shingle beaches although there is
little trace of this species to be found at the south of the island. The Sea
holly has a greenish-grey leaf and blue flowers during July to September. |
COMMON SEA LAVENDER
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(Limonium vulgare) These widespread
perennial plants are common place at salt marshes around the England and
Wales coast line, growing to a height of approximately 30cm and flowering
between July to September, its leaves take on a spoon like stalked shape,
with lilac flowers borne in branched, arching sprays of flat capped heads,
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VIPERS BUGLOSS (TBC)
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Need of help with this. Can you
identify this plant? It grows somewhat similar to a foxglove, not quite
having the same flower makeup as that of the Viper Bugloss as it is takes on
more of any open star formation. Maybe a varient? |
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WALNEY GERANIUM
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Sanguineum
var. striatum (formerly G. s. lancastriense)
Originally discovered on Walney Island during 1732 it consists of dark-green leaves covered
with attractive pale-pink saucer shaped flowers veined with a darker pink.
Blooms June - September and can grow to a height of 20cm (8"). |
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YELLOW HORNED POPPY
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(Glaucium flavum) Has a desire for
the Sun. Its almost phallic looking seedpods, the ?horns? become the
equivalent of very female-looking round pods of other poppies and can grow
up to 30cm long. They grow out from the flowers centre and when they are
ripe, they split open to release their seeds. Although it does not
like to get too cold this poppy is a native of European coastal areas such
as
Walney
Island
. Its latex is very harsh and was once used to eat away warts; it does not
contain any opiates. The seeds in the past have been used to provide
long-burning oil for lamps and although this plant is a perennial, it is
often grown as an annual, as the flowers will appear within its first
year.
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See also:
English Nature and
North Walney Nature
Reserve
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? Copyright Walney Webs. All rights reserved.
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