Nature Trail - Board 5

This area of ‘wildflower meadow’ is near the end of the watercourse that runs much of the length of the park along a ‘wildlife corridor’. The flowers planted here are great for producing nectar – encouraging lots of bees and other pollinators to keep the local ecosystem healthy.

Poppy

The Poppy is a beautiful and distinctive red flower, most famous today due to its association with Remembrance Day when people wear poppies to remember those who died in wars. The reason for this comes from after the First World War when poppies grew across the battlefields of Western Europe – which happened as poppies grow best on freshly disturbed earth. We like to grow them at Moss Wood as they are also excellent at providing pollen which feeds the bees and other insects at Moss Wood, which is necessary to keep the whole of our ecosystem happy and healthy!

Blackbird

Listen for the sweet song of the Blackbird – a common sight in British gardens, woods, and parks, as well as here at Moss Wood. Males are unmistakable with their jet-black feathers and bright yellow beaks. Females and juveniles are brown with speckled chests. Blackbirds love digging in lawns for worms and enjoy berries too. You can often see them around some of the many plants on the park at Moss Wood that provide food and berries – or if you’re lucky you might spot one of them managing to pull up worms from the ground, especially after a bit of rain!

Red Admiral

Spot the bold flashes of red and black as the Red Admiral butterfly graces the park around Moss Wood. This striking migrant arrives from warmer climates each spring, filling the air with vibrant colour. They love to feast on the nectar of buddleia bushes and wildflowers. Look around areas of Moss Wood where there are a lot of flowers in the summer and you can sometimes see dozens of them all at once! Not only are they lovely to watch but they also do an important job of pollinating the plants around the park – just like bees do.

Corn Chamomile

Corn chamomile (Anthemis arvensis) is a cheerful addition to Lancashire’s fields and roadsides. Its daisy-like flowers feature white petals radiating from a yellow center where it provides food for the many pollinators we need to keep the ecosystem healthy at Moss Wood. This annual plant thrives in disturbed soil, very much like the poppy, which makes it common to see around agricultural areas. Look for its delicate blooms in summer months. While not as fragrant as other chamomile varieties, corn chamomile has been used in traditional herbal remedies. Enjoy its beauty as you walk Lancashire’s trails!