Red, yellow, white and blue - Colours of Spring

By Laurence -
The world seems full of colour so far this year and I have found it difficult to know quite where to point the camera sometimes! We have Poppies, Oilseed Rape, Wild Garlic, and Bluebells, all seen in profusion around the county. We sure live in a beautiful world!




Once considered a weed of arable fields, the development of intensive agricultural practices has resulted in the decline of the Common poppy (also known as 'Corn poppy') in the wild. This familiar, showy flower is now most likely to occur as part of intentional wildflower seeding, or as the result of the disturbance of soil containing old seed banks. Its strongholds remain roadside verges, scrub, waste ground and farmland. 
The pictures here however, were taken in a field near home which had another later crop growing in it. Some years I guess they are killed off, but 2011 was a good year for them.


The same field which had the Poppies in it, also has this pungent Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus subsp. napus) fairly frequently. 
The Daily Mail ran an article which makes you think, even if it was a tad dramatic. 

"But this agricultural love affair with rape has come at a heavy price. Oilseed rape needs much help to grow, in the form of nitrogen-rich fertilisers. 
That means that the run-off from fields of oilseed rape into water supplies is polluting streams, rivers and underground aquifers. 
Back in 2004, a report from the Office for National Statistics revealed that each year, a single oilseed rape crop receives an average of three sprayings with herbicides, two of fungicides. 
However, it is thought the plant may now be developing resistance to some agricultural chemicals. 
And it gets worse. Oilseed rape is also very vulnerable to attack by insects — which means it needs to be regularly sprayed with chemical insecticides as well. 
These include the notorious neonicotinoids, known to be causing a decline in many species of bees. 
Ironically, those gaudy, yellow, nectar-rich flowers are irresistible to insects. 
In the words of Steve Benbow, author of The Urban Beekeeper, oilseed rape is like crack cocaine for honeybees. But if the plants have recently been sprayed with chemicals designed to kill insect pests, the bees may then be poisoned, as Benbow himself has witnessed." 


If you’re walking through a patch of countryside where wild garlic grows your nose will alert you. The garlicky scent is hard to miss. Wild garlic grows across the UK from late winter until the end of spring. The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked and taste milder than shop-bought garlic. We have several areas where it grows on a regular basis. There is a moderate sized area not far from where the poppies and rapeseed grow in our village. 


Well everyone notices Bluebells don't they. Again, several local displays near to home and despite having witnessed many years of Bluebells growing, I still look forward to spotting the first ones! 




And so to another few images on the same topic. 


Poppies against the beautiful sky 



Blackthorn in all its glory. 


Comments

Laura Bush said…
Thanks for writing this great article. i am very happy to read your post. If you are looking for Seed Banks in Canada then visit the website to find the same.
16 October 2020 at 00:31
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The hidden history of Little Wenham

By Laurence -
Image
Little Wenham is a small village in Suffolk, England. It is part of the civil parish of Wenham Parva (the ancient name for Little Wenham) within Babergh district. A village with no public roads but fortunately some rights of way. Its most famous building, Little Wenham Hall, is largely hidden from view. To quote Sir Nikolaus Pevsner from his “The Buildings of England” series, “The house was built c.1270 - 80, probably for Sir John de Vallibus and his successor Petronilla of Nerford. It is of great historical importance for two reasons. The first is that it is built of brick, and represents one of the earliest uses of home-made brick in England. Flint is used only for the base of the walls and stone for the much rebuilt buttresses and dressings. The second point of outstanding interest is that the house is a house and not a keep. It is fortified of course, but it is in its shape and appointment on the way from the fortress to the manor house and so ranks with Stokesay and Acton Bu
Read more

The lost Pubs, Inns and Taverns of Hadleigh

By Laurence -
Image
Having been photographing some of the many Listed buildings in Hadleigh, I was surprised at the number of inns, taverns, pubs etc which have been in the town over the years. Then I came across a site called `The Lost Pubs of Hadleigh` and was taken by the idea of photographing all that I could find; bearing in mind that some have been demolished and some are noted, but there is no certainty as to where they actually were situated. There are 21 in total that are listed here, but I understand that there are others of more uncertain nature which may have been inns or pubs. However, here is my effort, starting with what to me was a big surprise! - the ex Council Offices. The Anchor - Bridge Street This pub / beer house managed to go through a few names in its time:  Between 1661 & 1835 it was called the Standard** Between 1837 & 1871 it was called the Barley Mow** Between 1871 & 1927 it was called the Anchor** One landlady was named as Elisabeth Scrivener, and is recorded at th
Read more

Flatford - floods and frost

By Laurence -
Image
Two visits to Flatford in different weather conditions. The first series of photgraphs are taken on the 9th January, after the torrential rains that poured over large parts of the country.The second set are taken (10 days later) in the same area, now largely covered in frost although a fair amount of water remains in the fields. So first the rain. This the start of our normal walk toward Dedham - `not today` we thought! Bridge Cottage, where you can see the `normal edge` to the path under water. Flatford Mill with torrents of water where there is normally a placid flow! The dry dock - somewhere under here. Days later the area is covered in frost! Bridge Cottage and tea rooms looking rather splendid in the frost morning light. Woodfarm Barns at Flatford Frost along the riverside paths Willie Lott`s cottage through the frosty grass. The riverside as you join the footpath leading across the fields. Altogether a period of dramatic weather which was well worth capturing. Home
Read more