Tag Archives: Ecology

Spring flowers

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Despite a cold spring the flowers are now in full bloom around the park and looking wonderful.  Some have already gone over while others are on the cusp of bursting forth, a trait of nature which ensures that plants take advantage of the right conditions.   A comment at our recent AGM has prompted me to post about seasonality and natural conditions and the way we are working within this to enhance the natural beauty of the park rather than turn it into a manicured, controlled space such as you would get in most urban towns.

The carpet of bluebells in the woodland area has been wonderful but as the canopy closes over and light reduces, these plants know they’ve had their time.  IMG_1336Within the areas of open grassland, however, which get full sunlight, plants can continue to thrive much later in the year.  The number of wild flowers throughout the park is increasing year on year, largely due to the few but nonetheless effective grass cuts we have managed to organise over the last few years.

Plants have a fantastic ability to wait until the conditions become more suitable to them, remaining in the seedbed below ground, then emerging and taking advantage of the new conditions.  So all the species we are now seeing around the park have just been biding their time. Continue reading →

Is it spring yet?

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Have you noticed that the days are getting slowly but steadily longer? Have you managed to drag yourself out of the house into the muddy, windswept and bitterly cold outdoors long enough to spot the first signs of life such as the intrepid snowdrop? If you have poked your head out from beneath your cosy parka hood long enough you will have been rewarded by the first signs of life around you.

The park may look a little muddy and windswept at first glance with very little to get excited about, but on closer inspection, you will notice that things are beginning to awaken, if you look hard enough.

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Snowdrops budding near the sheep fold entrance

It is with the expectation of springtime, daffodils and birdsong, apple pies and butterflies, that I invite you to join the friends as we embark on another project to enhance the little patch of land that we call Parkinson’s park. A popular suggestion by the friends has been the planting of a traditional orchard. Once common, they are now under serious threat and many varieties of fruit are becoming endangered. They are now listed as a Priority Habitat under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. As well as the loss of fruit varieties there is also the wildlife associated with the traditional orchard which needs protecting from funghi and lichen to invertebrates, mammals and birds. Continue reading →

Springtime in Guiseley

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Walking through the park this week you will no doubt have spotted the new flowers which are opening up daily.  Spring has finally sprung and plants which have been shivering and clinging onto life for months have been rewarded with warm, nurturing sunshine.  There has been very little rain over the last few weeks, which could become a problem if the dry conditions continue, but at the moment the plants are thriving.The most stunning area of the park has to be the woodland path from Greenshaw Terrace, which is carpeted with beautiful wood anemones and celandine

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There are still some cheerful daffodils around the park although the striking display along Jubilee walk has now gone over. Continue reading →

Parkinson’s Park Now ‘Officially’ Part of The Great British Story

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We are thrilled to hear that Parkinson’s Park has been successful in our application for a Heritage Lottery Fund ‘All Our Stories’ grant to explore the history – geological, cultural and ecological – of Parkinson’s Park. A key feature of receiving the grant is the involvement of local people in the research – the output will include, information boards, leaflets, schools materials, and maybe even a film,  to help local people pass on and understand the area’s heritage. Continue reading →

Flower spotting in the park

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After a walk in the park today I felt inspired to write a post on what I had seen. It feels as if the park has really blossomed over the last few weeks, no doubt helped by all the recent rain!

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Heath bedstraw on Great Brow

I headed first down the steep slope of Great Brow and towards the marshy area near the Bellway estate. The soft green hummocks of red fescue (Festuca rubra) and sheep’s fescue (Festuca ovina) grasses are peppered with swathes of the delicate white flowers of the heath bedstraw (Galium saxatile), a good indicator of acid grassland.

Honeysuckle (Lonicera) is creeping its way along the ground on the verge of bursting into flower alongside the tall spikes of common sorrel (Rumex acetosa).

Further along the slope is sheep’s sorrel (Rumex acetosella), a more delicate version of sorrel with tiny red flower spikes along with the feathery yellow flowers of tormentil (Potentilla erecta), both of which are found in acid conditions. Continue reading →

Wild about Wildflowers: Sunday 15 April 2012

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Today the rain just held off for the latest project to take place at Parkinson’s Park. As part of the RHS Britain in Bloom launch celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the beginning of National Gardening Week, a small band of volunteers sowed a 10 m square patch of prepared ground near the farm gate with a packet of cornfield annuals donated by the environmental charity Landlife. The seeds in the seed mix include corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas), corn marigold (Chrysanthemum segetum), corn chamomile (Anthemis arvensis), corncokle (Agrostemma githago) and cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) and should create a bright and colourful display. Councillor Latty came along to support the event and got his hands dirty!

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Scattering the seeds

In this photo (from left to right): Jane Blake, Josie Brooks, Nicola Denson, Chris Parapia and Councillor Graham Latty. Photo taken by Barbara Winfield

In the UK our wildflower populations are in serious decline with an estimated loss of 97% of the wildflower meadows between 1930s and 1980s. This is having a knock-on effect on the rest of the food chain. When wildflowers are lost the insects which feed upon them are lost too in many cases. Insects pollinate our plants, control other pests and provide food for birds and other animals. Continue reading →