Harvest Time

Well, July has certainly been a hot month and because of it, farmers have been busily harvesting their crops of corn, vegetables and hay, and some have already started ploughing and reseeding. Sadly, the Foot and Mouth Crisis is continuing on in other parts of the country and many of our farmers are very anxious about the situation and hoping it will die out quickly in the country and not spread to the southern counties.

Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)

During August numerous flowers are still blooming and insects are feeding on them.One to look out for is one of our largest butterflies, the Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia). These are bright orange-brown with black lines and spots on their fore-wings, whilst on their underside they are a magnificent olive-green with silver streaks that distinguishes this butterfly from any other and gives it its name. The Silver-washed Fritillary only have one brood during the summer and lay their eggs on tree trunks in an area where there is an abundance of Violets.Violets are the food plant of these butterflies when it is a caterpillar.

Another butterfly to look out for, is the Silver-studded blue (Plebejus argus). The males have blue fore-wings whilst the females, forewings are brown. However, their undersides are similar with numerous black spots and an orange band. A number of these spots have silver margins to them and are a key identification feature for this species. The best place to see these butterflies are on sunny areas of heathland, although they can be found on downland. This butterfly has two broods a year, the first in late spring and the other from mid summer to late summer. They lay their eggs on the caterpillars' food plants, which are Gorse, Bird's-foot Trefoil and Ling.

Iping Common

Heathland is a habitat that really comes into its own this month with the heather sweetly blooming. It has numerous associated species, but to be classed as a heath it has usually needs to have Heath or Heather growing on it. In Sussex there are three species of Heather to look for. Firstly, there is the pink-mauve Ling (Calluna vulgaris) and this is the true heather. It is one of the last plants of the heathland to come out in flower.

Ling (Calluna vulgaris)

Its Saxon name "Lig" means, "fire" and was so named because it was used as fuel. The name "Calluna" has the Greek meaning, "to brush", and tells us another use for this plant. It was used, and to some extent is still used today, to make brooms or "besoms". In the wild the birds feed on the seeds and the bees feed on its nectar. Many beekeepers like to have their hives on heathland because of the delicious flavour that comes from heather honey.

Bell Heath (Erica cinerea)

The second type of heather to look for is the bright red-purple flower of the Bell Heath (Erica cinerea). This is associated with drier parts of the heathland, so it is well worth the effort to identify this one correctly to keep your feet dry as you walk across the mosaic of wet and dry patches that you find on heathland. The main characteristic of this plant, apart from its colour, is the "bell shaped" flower it has.

Cross-leaved Heath (Erica tetralix)

Another one to look out for is the pink flowered Cross-leaved Heath (Erica tetralix). This plant has groups of four leaves shaped like a cross if you look directly down the stem. These crosses go all the way up from the base of this plant to the cluster of flowers at its top. Cross-leaved Heath is always associated with damp or wet areas.

One of the strangest plants to see on heathland is the Dodder (Cuscuta epithymum). It has been given other names like "Hellweed" and "Devil's guts" because it resembles red intestines. The seeds of this plant germinate and root in the ground, but almost immediately, it produces a shoot that twines around its host, usually on Heather in Sussex. It can be found growing on Thyme or Gorse elsewhere in the country. Suckers are produced that penetrate the stems of the Heather and soon after the roots of the Dodder die off. This plant then becomes parasitic to the host it is attached to. It can sprawl all over the Heather feeding on a number of host plants and as it matures it produces pretty pinkish-white flowers.

Adder or Viper (Vipera berus berus)

Whilst out on heathland be aware that reptiles could be basking in the sun or shade. One such magnificent reptile is the zigzagged marked snake called the Adder or Viper (Vipera berus berus). This is Britain's only natural poisonous reptile. It is a protected species and it is illegal to kill one or any other reptile. The Adder feeds on shrews, voles, mice, small birds, lizards, slow worms, frogs, newts and large slugs. The young who are born at this time of year will feed mostly on insects and worms. If you are out walking and worried about snakes, then make plenty of noise and they will soon disappear.

Next month, September, I will talk about migrating birds and plants of the hedgerow.