As would be expected in a Local Nature Reserve, Allestree Park supports a wide range of wild flower species. However, we will have to look for wild plants in the woodlands and grassy areas which are not regularly mown.
Here are photographs of a selection of the wild flowers to be found in Allestree Park, arranged seasonally, with information on when and where you are likely to see them and which insects visit them for pollen and nectar. Indeed, many of our wild flowers are of immense importance to pollinators.
Please do not pick wild flowers. Be content to admire them - often involving getting really close to appreciate their exquisite beauty - and do take photographs!
The photos of plants are roughly arranged in order of the time of year they are to be seen.The vast majority were taken in Allestree Park.
Bill Grange
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Dog's Mercury, Mercurialis perennis
Flowers - February to April Habitat - Woodland Wind pollinated Photos by Bill Grange |
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Coltsfoot, Tussilago farfara
Flowers - February to April Habitat - Disturbed areas including margins of the Lake Visited by bees and hoverflies Photos by Bill Grange
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Lesser Celandine, Ranunculus ficaria Flowers - February to May Habitat - Woodland edges Visited by bees, hoverflies and beetles Photos by Bill Grange
Note: It has another name of 'Pile-wort', owing to its supposed properties in treating haemorrhoids the knobbly roots resembling these! It is an example of 'signatures', where a perceived medicinal use is indicated by some physical attribute of the plant.
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Common Violet, Viola riviniana
Flowers - April - June Habitat - Woodland Visited by bees and some hoverflies Photos by Bill Grange |
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Marsh Marigold Caltha palustris
Flowers - March to April Habitat - Lakeside and marshy areas Visited by bees, flies and beetles Photos by Bill Grange |
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Wood Anemone, Anemone nemorosa
Flowers - March to April Habitat - Woodland clearings and woodland edges Visited by bees, flies and beetles Photos by Bill Grange |
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Wild Aum, Cuckoo Pint, Lords and Ladies, Arum maculatum
Flowers - April to May Habitat - Woods and Shady hedgebanks Visited by tiny flies Photos by Bill Grange
Note: What might appear as a flower is, in fact, a modified leaf, (called the spathe), enclosing a club-like stucture (the spadix). The actual flowers are tiny and borne as a cluster around the base of the spadix ,contained within the bulbous base of the spathe.
Minute moth-flies, also known as owl midges, are attracted by a smell resembling that of decaying meat, produced by the spadix. The flies are then temporarily trapped inside the spathe base only released after they have pollinated the flowers.
There is a learned article on this. Click on the link:
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Lady's Smock, Cuckoo Flower, Cardamine pratense
Flowers - April to June Habitat - Moist Meadowland Visited by bees and flies Foodplant of the Orange-tip Butterfly caterpillar Photos by Bill Grange |
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Wood Sorrel, Oxalis acetosella
Flowers - April to July Habitat - Woodland Visited by bees and flies Photos by Bill Grange |
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Jack-by-the-Hedge or Garlic Mustard, Alliaria petiolata
Flowers - April to June Habitat - Hedgerows and Woodland margins Visited by beetles and flies Photos by Bill Grange The main foodplant of the Orange-tip Butterfly caterpillar
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Bulbous Buttercup, Ranunculus bulbosus Flowers - May to July Habitat - Meadows Visited by flies and beetles Photos by Bill Grange
Note: Can be told from other buttercup species by the srongly bent-back (reflexed) sepals. |
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Red Campion, Silene dioica
Flowers - May to June Habitat - Woodland edges and clearings and 'rough' grassland Visited by long-tonged bumblebees and hoverflies Photos by Bill Grange |
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Great Bitter Cress, Cardamine amara
Flowers - April to July Habitat - Marshes, moist meadows,side of streams Visited by flies and beetles Foodplant of the Orange-tip Butterfly caterpillar Photos by Bill Grange |
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Bluebell or Wild Hyacinth Endymion non-scriptus Flowers - April to June Habitat - Woodland, hedgebanks, shaded pastures Visited by bumblebees Photos by Bill Grange
Threatened by the introduction of Spanish Bluebells (a different species) See article at: https://www.friendsofallestreepark.org.uk/articles-special-features/20-spanish-bluebells-the-creeping-menace-by-bill-grange.html |
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Red Campion, Silene dioica
Flowers - May and June Habitat - Woodlands and hedgerows Visited by bees and hoverflies Photos by Bill Grange |
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Germander Speedwell or Bird's Eye, Veronica chamaedrys Flowers - March to July Habitat - Grassland (mainly), woodland edges and hedgerows Visited by hoverflies and bees Photos by Bill Grange |
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Dandelion, Taraxacum officinale Flowers - March to October Habitat - Meadows, pastures and roadside verges Visited by hoverflies, bees and butterflies A very important plant in providing nectar for bees and butterflies, etc., emerging in early spring when there are few other flowers. Photos by Bill Grange |
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Cow Parsley, Anthriscus sylvestris
Flowers - April and May Habitat - Meadows, roadsides, woodland edges Visited by beetles and many species of flies Photos by Bill Grange |
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Bird's Foot Trefoil, Lotus corniculatus
Flowers - May to October Habitat - Dry meadows, Visited by bees Photos by Bill Grange |
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Wood Forget-me-not, Myosotis sylvatica
Flowers - May to September Habitat - Damp woodland Visited by bees and long-tongued hoverflies Photos by Bill Grange |
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White Dead-nettle, Lamium album
Flowers - May to December Habitat - Disturbed ground, hedge bottoms and woodland edges Visited by bees Photos by Bill Grange |
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Yellow Pimpernel, Lysimachia nemorum
Flowers - May to September Habitat - Woodland edges, especially where damp Visited by flies and beetles Photos by Bill Grange |
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Creeping Buttercup, Ranunculus repens
Flowers - May to August Habitat - Grassland, particularly where frequently mown Visited by flies and beetles Photos by Bill Grange |
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Meadow Buttercup, Ranunculus acris
Flowers May to July Habitat - Meadowland Visited by flies and beetles Photos by Bill Grange |
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Bush Vetch, Vicia sepium
Flowers May to August Habitat - Meadowland and hedgerows Visited by bumblebees Photos by Bill Grange |
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Ramsons or Wild Garlic, Allium ursinum
Flowers - April to June Habitat - Damp woodland Visited by flies and bees Photos by Bill Grange |
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Ivy-leaved Toadflax, Cymbalaria muralis
Flowers - May to to September Habitat - Old walls Visited by bees Photos by Bill Grange |
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Ground Ivy, Glechoma hederacea
Flowers - March to May Habitat - Woodland and woodland edges Visited by bees Photos by Bill Grange |
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Town Hall Clock or Moschatel Adoxa moschatella
Flowers April nd May Habitat - Woodland and Hedgebanks Visited by bees, flies, nocturnal moths Photos by Bill Grange |
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Hogweed or Cow Parsnip, Heracleum sphondylium
Flowers - June to September Habitat - Woodland and woodland edges, grassland and roadsides Visited by flies and beetles Photos by Bill Grange |
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Common Lady's Mantle, Alchemilla vulgaris
Flowers - June to August Habitat - Moist Grassland Visited by flies and small beetles Photos by Bill Grange |
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Ragged Robin, Lychnis flos-cuculi
Flowers - May to August Habitat - Moist grassland and marshes Visited by flies and bees Photos by Bill Grange |
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Bugle, Ajuga reptans
Flowers - April to July Habitat - Damp Woods and Meadows Visited by bees Photos by Bill Grange |
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Self-heal,Prunella vulgaris
Flowers - June to September Habitat - Short grassland and woodland clearings Visited by bees Photos by Bill Grange |
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Yellow Archangel, Galeobdolon luteum
Flowers - May and June Habitat - Woodlland Visited by bumblebees Photos by Bill Grange
NOTE: There is a garden variety of this plant which is invasive and has spread through many woods in Britain to the disadvantage of native flora. Fortunately it has not yet got a hold in Allestree Park, though some plants have been introduced into the Park through the illegal dumping of garden refuse. It can be told from the native Archangel by having white blotches on its leaves. SEE: https://www.plantlife.org.uk/uk/discover-wild-plants-nature/plant-fungi-species/variegated-yellow-archangel |
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Yellow Iris or Yellow Flag, Iris pseudacorus Flowers - May to July Habitat - Lake margins, marshes and ditches Visited by bees Photos by Bill Grange |
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Rose-bay Willow-herb, Chamaenerion angustifolium
Flowers - July to September Habitat - Woodland Margins and Clearings, especially where previously subjected to fire.Visited by bees, butterflies and moths Photos by Bill Grange
NOTE: This plant is famous in colonising bomb-sites, in London andother citiies, following the Blitz of the Second World War. It has, appropriately, the alternative name of Fireweed. It is the foodplant of the caterpillar (the one with the false eye-markings) of the Elephant Hawk Moth. |
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Dog Rose, Rosa canina Flowers - June to early July Habitat - Woodland Margins and hedges Visited by bees, flies, beetles and Butterflies Photos by Bill Grange |
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Lady's Bedstraw, Galium verum
Flowers - June and July Habitat - Grassland, except on acidic soils, hedgebanks, etc.. Visited by small flies and beetles Photos by Bill Grange |
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Himalayan Balsam or Policeman's Helmet, Impatiens glandulifera
Flowers - June to September Habitat - Damp places, including lakesides and streams Visited by bees Photos by Bill Grange
Note: As one of its common names indicate, this is a native of the Himayan region. It was brought to Britain in Victorian times as a garden plant. Unfortunately, although an annual, it is a menace out in the countryside becasue it readily germinates and grows to a large size in a few weeks, shading out other plants.
Much effort has been put in by the Friends of Allestree Park over the years to pull out the plant and it now much less common around the Lake - but is still a problem elsewhere in the Park. The plant must be pulled before the seed-pods form because when these are ripe, they explode, throwing out the seeds in all directions.
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Small Balsam, Impatiens parviflora
Flowers - June to November Habitat - Woods and shady places Visited by hoverflies Photos by Bill Grange
Note: Like its larger cousin, above, this plant is also an alien, originating from central Asia and Siberia. It, too, is invasive and can cover large areas of woodland.
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Skullcap, Scutellaria galericulata
Flowers - June to September Habitat - Stream and lake margins Visited by long-tongued bees Photos by Bill Grange |
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Foxglove, Digitalis purpurea
Flowers - June to September Habitat - Woodland edges and clearings Visited by bees Photos by Bill Grange |
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Teasel, Dipsacus fullonum
Flowers - July to August Habitat - Woodland edges, stream banks, rough pastures, etc. Visited by bumblebees, moths and butterflies The seeds are attractive to goldfinches in autumn and winter. Photos by Bill Grange |
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Marsh Thistle, Cirsium palustre
Flowers - July to September Habitat - Marshes and moist grassland. Visited by bumblebees, moths and butterflies Photos by Bill Grange |
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Hedge Woundwort, Stachys sylvatica
Flowers - July and August Habitat - Woodland edges, hedge bottoms Visited by bumblebees and honeybees Photos by Bill Grange |
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Oxe-eye Daisy, Chrysanthemum leucanthemum
Flowers - June to August Habitat - Undisturbed grassland Visited by hoverflies, bees and butterflies Photos by Bill Grange |
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Spear Thistle, Cirsium vulgare
Flowers - July to October Habitat - Fields and waysides Visited by hoverflies, bees, butterflies and moths Photos by Bill Grange |
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Lesser Knapweed - Hardheads, Centaurea nigra
Flowers - June to September Habitat - Undisturbed Fields Visited by bees, flies, moths & butterflies. Photos by Bill Grange |
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Yarrow, Achillea millefolium
Flowers - June to August Habitat - Meadows and pastures Visited by bees, hoverflies, moths & butterflies. Photos by Bill Grange |
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Nodding Bur Marigold, Bidens cernua
Flowers - June to August Habitat - Lakeside and along streams Visited by bees and flies Photos by Bill Grange |
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White Climbing Fumitory or Climbing Corydalis, Corydalis claviculata Flowers - June to September Habitat - Woodland and other shady locations Visited by bees Photos by Bill Grange
Note: Mainly of western distribution in Britain and not too common. It occurs sporadically in Big Wood. |
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Common Hemp Nettle, Galeopsis tetrahit Flowers - July to September Habitat - Open areas in woodland Visited by bumblebees Photos by Bill Grange |
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Great Hairy Willow -herb, Epilobium hirsutum
Flowers - July to August Habitat - Lakesides and streamsides Visited by bees and flies Photos by Bill Grange |
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Common Ragwort, Senecio jacobaea
Flowers - June to October Habitat - Grassland Visited by a large numer of different insects, including bees, hoverflies, moths and butterflies Photos by Bill Grange
Note: This plant is of enormous importance as a nectar and pollen source for bees, butterflies and many other insects. Unfortunately, it has, in recent years, been subjected to an adverse publicity campaign because it can cause poisoning to horses and other grazing animals if eaten in quantity. However, this is only a problem when ragwort is incorporated into hay as animals won't eat growing ragwort unless pastures are poor in grass.
There have been cases of ragwort being pulled up by some Allestree Park visitors, recently. This is actually illegal, without the landowner's permisiion (i.e. Derby City Council) and, within a Local Nature Reserve this isn't good, as it only helps to diminish further the populations of insects.
For further information, please read an article on the subject, reached by this link:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/smxjd1goa9i86c6/Ragwort%20Article.pdf?dl=0 |
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Heath Bedstraw, Galium saxatile
Flowers - June to August Habitat - Grassland Visited by flies and beetles Photos by Bill Grange |
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Heath Speedwell, Veronica officinalis Flowers - May to August Habitat - Short Grassland Visited by bees, hoverflies and butterflies Photos by Bill Grange |
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Branched Bur Reed, Sparganium erectum
Flowers - June to August Habitat - Lake, emerging from water Wind pollinated or self-pollinated Photos by Bill Grange |
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Tufted Vetch, Vicia cracca Flowers - June to August Habitat - Long grass and hedges Visited by bumblebees Photos by Bill Grange |
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Meadow Cranesbill, Geranium pratense Flowers - June to September Habitat - Meadows and roadsides Visited by bees Photos by Bill Grange |
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Creeping Thistle Cirsium arvense Flowers - July to September Habitat - Meadows and roadsides Visited by bees, hoverflies, butterflies and moths Photos by Bill Grange |
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Great Burdock Arctium lappa
Flowers - July to September Habitat - Woodland edges and rough grassy areas Visited by long-tongued bees, bee flies and skipper butterflies Photos by Bill Grange |
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Harebell, Campanula rotundifolia
Flowers - July to September Habitat - Dry grassy places Visited by bees Photos by Bill Grange |
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Wild Angelica, Angelica sylvestris Flowers - July to September Habitat - Damp grassy areas Visited by bees, flies, beetles Photos by Bill Grange |
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If you want to take your enjoyment of wild plants further, This book is highly recommended.
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For further study of the wild flowers of Derbyshire, this book is indispensible.
PISCES Publications |
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