Walking over Knocking Hoe on Saturday I was reminded of my entry last week when I noted that Hawthorn is in flower all over the place. As mentioned they are generally remnants of old hedgerows.

 The ancient hedge lines defined small fields and many were grubbed out to create expanses of arable, others were neglected. Some still form boundaries as is the case with the perimeter of the nature reserve. This hedge is possibly still maintained by traditional hedge laying from time to time or at least given a flaying every now and then. The Hawthorns are shrubby rather than tree size. 

 Hawthorn will self-seed where conditions allow. This one is some distance from the nearest hedgerow, presumably not planted in isolation. 

 These Hawthorns have spread to become a mini-wood near the entrance of the reserve. Actually this can present a challenge where nature conservation is concerned. Left to its own devices much of our island wants to revert to woodland i.e. "succession" where open ground becomes scrub becomes trees. 

 In a sense that is desirable from an ecological point of view. Then again Knocking Hoe is a treasure trove of species whose natural habitat is chalk grassland. Historic agricultural practises created this niche and in our time it is maintained as a conservation based environment.

 An English scene. Looking from Knocking Hoe towards Knocking Knoll, the remains of a long barrow. A chieftain is said to be buried here. As I took this photo a hare bounded across the landscape.

 The Burnt-tip Orchid (Neotina ursulata) is one of the rarities found at Knocking Hoe nature reserve where the north Chilterns descends into Bedfordshire. It is a species made rare by the severe decline of its habitat- grazed grassland on chalk and limestone. The slopes of Knocking Hoe are a haven for numerous common and uncommon wildflowers of calcareous ground.

 There seems to be a certain amount of variation from plant to plant even in close proximity. For example the one pictured in the top photograph has a tall poker-like inflorescence and a distinct two tone colouration. The second is lower growing with a more bulbous flowerhead pure white with the strongly contrasting burnt tip.

 These were outliers of the main cluster which I regret to say was not photogenic. This area has been cordoned off with posts and chicken wire and the position of each specimen marked with a bright red flag on a stick. From the spectators point of view the sense of the Burnt-tip Orchid in its landscape is lost. 

 There is a difficult balance to be struck with nature conservation. Areas have to be managed with both protection and open access in mind. I think the balance has perhaps swung towards over caution in this case? Nature reserves are administered and maintained by very dedicated people -generally on a voluntary basis- and that is a real boon for occasional visitors like me. 

 So this is a valid strategy for preserving an endangered species. However I do think roping off a circle of rods might be sufficient to make the point not to trample the area? A well used track runs along the perimeter of the reserve and that is the route taken by dog walkers, hikers, mountain bikers etc. Very few visitors venture onto the footpath through the reserve itself. 

 Today for example I spoke to 4 or 5 people in the course of several hours. They were all wildflower enthusiasts. Indeed I think they were specifically orchid aficionados, certainly they seemed very knowledgable on the subject. This locale is near my home town of Hitchin but they had all travelled considerable distances to seek out the orchids of Knocking Hoe and would surely respect an unobtrusive boundary.

 Nonetheless it is good to know that the Burnt-tip Orchid and other rarities have a safe haven in this beautiful place. They are cared for in their natural habitat and cherished by those who come to see them. 

 Travelling in and out of London by train the past few weeks I see bursts of white blossom all across the Hertfordshire landscape. These are Hawthorn in flower, sometimes called the May Tree or May Flower. Mostly they will be remnants of old hedgerows. 

 Such boundaries are now largely superfluous in the huge fields of arable monoculture. Those that remain are fragments not maintained except for the occasional flaying from a tractor. Various native species especially Hawthorn and Blackthorn were the main constituents of traditional agricultural hedges. They were kept in shape by periodic hedgelaying i.e stimulating regrowth by cutting part way through the stems, bending them and layering horizontally along the line of the hedge.

 Crataegus monogyna and Crataegus laevigata can be large shrubs for hedging purposes but left to their own devices they become small trees and sometimes spread by self-seeding to form thickets of scrub. Thus the May Tree illuminates the countryside and catches the sun like bright white flares exploding near and far. 

 I'm seeing Red Valerian (Centranthus ruber) all along railway lines at the moment. The clinker provides the well drained stony ground that this Mediterranean species thrives in. Furthermore Red Valerian is a prolific self-seeder and the seeds are spread by the wake of speeding trains.

 A nice photo of the garden taken by my neighbour Emma. A bunch of us were sitting outside on Sunday evening after the Open Garden event in my neighbourhood. The photography in the diary is invariably my own but this one captured the moment relaxing after a busy day so I asked Emma if I could include it.

 The garden was open to the public on Saturday 10-2 and Sunday 2-6. I didn't keep track of numbers but I imagine something like 60-80 people each day. It was great but tiring meeting and greeting so many visitors.

 I remember the first time I took part back in 2016 there was a mixture of appreciation and bemusement at the "wild" garden approach. This time round pretty much everyone I spoke to was interested in the ethos of the garden and the plants selected.

 

 Sometimes called Fringed Flowered Campion Silene fimbriata is a woodland relative of our native Red Campion [see last entry]. This species hails from the East: Turkey, Caucasus and Iran. It will grow and spread in shady spots including dry shade. A pretty little thing not often grown in UK gardens, quite a few visitors asked about it when I took part in my neighbourhood's Open Garden event today.

 There are a lot of Campions in the Silene genus which comprises about 900 species. That includes forty four natives of this island- White Campion, Moss Campion, Sea Campion and Bladder Campion to name but a few. Another common name is Catchfly. For example the Sand Catchfly, the Night-flowering Catchfly and the Nottingham Catchfly. 

Red Campion (Silene dioica)

 Two good reasons for buying this particular plant. Firstly, it's a species I've been looking out for. Secondly, this is a very robust and healthy looking specimen. I saw it on a stall last Saturday at the annual visit of the Plant Fairs Roadshow to my local community centre. These are a group of small scale growers who put together a series of plant sales every year at various venues. Rather like a Farmers Market only for plants.

 This is Motherwort (Leonarus cardiaca), native to southeastern Europe into Asia and naturalised here and there in the UK. Actually I have rarely seen it growing wild or in gardens so I was pleased to find this one. Sometimes you come across a pot grown plant which seems to have the vigour of a wild thing.

 I don't really investigate the medicinal properties of plants in this diary but I note that L. cardiaca features heavily in herbal lore across the ages. The common name Motherwort alludes to its reputation as a treatment for various female conditions; the Latin cardiaca pertaining to ailments of the heart and stomach. All the ills it is said to cure would be a very long list, including warding off evil spirits. However, the whorls of pink/purple/lilac flowers definitely attract bees in profusion.

 I'll leave the final word to the 17th. century herbalist Nicholas Culpepper: "There is no better herb to take melancholy vapours from the heart, strengthen it, and make a merry, cheerful, blythe soul".          

 A striking white flowered Columbine, possibly Aquilegia vulgaris 'Nivea' or some near relative. Bought at a plant fair on Saturday, still in the pot when I photographed it, planted soon after. 

 Knocking Hoe is speckled with Speedwells at the moment.

 Sometimes called Germander Speedwell, sometimes known as Bird's Eye Speedwell, Veronica chamaedrys in the Latin. The dainty blue flowers can be prolific in grassland, tiny but lovely.

 Speedwells were dotted among Cowslips over the knolls of Knocking. On the village green in nearby Pirton another combination: Speedwells, Daisies and Buttercups.

 Sit spot. A good walk needs a good sit down at some point. Whether by accident or design this tree stump is in an ideal location to rest the feet and take in the view...

 

 A woodland edge in South London. Except there isn't a wood. The border on the southern side of my garden is shaded by mature trees and a block of flats. Woodland species are sometimes well suited to the part shade/part sun of urban gardens.     

 

 Something stirring in the undergrowth- hedgehogs. Go back a few decades and the garden of the family home had a lawn and herbaceous borders. My father still lives there and by a mixture of accident and design it has become a "wild garden". The trees that were small have grown tall, the shrubs have become bushier. The lawn and the borders have given way to species that prefer the shadier conditions, some planted some self-seeded. A haven for wildlife albeit in the middle of town.

 Yesterday evening I was sitting on the patio with a gin and tonic when I heard the huffing and chuffing of some unknown animal. Just before I went to bed I looked out again and spotted two hedgehogs. A few minutes later they had shuffled off but I could hear them in the patch of nettles seen above. A bit of late night research confirmed that I was hearing what is sometimes referred to as the 'hedgehog mating dance'. According to the charity Hedgehog Street "Males attempt to woo females in lengthy encounters that involve much circling and rhythmic snorting and puffing".

 There have always been hedgehogs in the garden but it's rare to see them. As the garden has grown wilder it has become even more suitable as a habitat. When I went to bed I heard the hooting of an owl for the first time in a while. Owls have been another regular visitor to the garden over the years. Not one but two hedgehogs and an owl -what a night! 

 Our native Bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta is mostly a woodlander -as seen here in Wain Wood- but this is a species that can adapt to circumstances. As noted in my entry on Sunday I walked on to West Wood which has a large area of conifer plantation that is nonetheless carpeted with Bluebells. 

 The conifers must be modern but the Bluebell population ancient given how prolific they are. Most likely an area of ancient woodland was cleared sometime in the twentieth century. A great deal of conifer planting took place after the First World War in "unproductive" woods and open land to restore the country's timber reserves. At that point tree cover amounted to about five per cent of land use.

 Walking from Wain Wood to West Wood there were plenty of Bluebells in the hedgebanks. I think the fields hereabouts were probably created centuries ago by tree felling. In some cases a sliver of original woodland was retained to form a boundary hence the presence of Bluebells.

 Indeed the footpath between two fields to West Wood was lined with Bluebells growing in completely open ground. The trees they grew under are long gone but the Bluebells persist. 

 Speaking of Cowslips I saw this churchyard last week in St. Paul's Walden. The grass is probably cut from time to time but not too often so the Cowslips don't get shaded out by tall grasses nor cut down in their prime.   

 Cowslips (Primula veris)