Category Archives: Dartmoor Wildlife

Bog Asphodel – a remarkable guardian of Dartmoor’s wetland ecosystems

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Bog asphodel
Bog asphodel by Mike Quinn is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.0

Nestled amidst the misty moorlands and boggy mires of Dartmoor, the Bog Asphodel stands as a testament to the resilience and adaptability of life in one of England’s most iconic landscapes. Scientifically known as Narthecium ossifragum, this remarkable plant species plays a crucial role in shaping the unique habitats and supporting the delicate balance of Dartmoor’s wetland ecosystems.

Bog Asphodel Habitat and Distribution

Bog Asphodel is primarily found in acidic bogs, wet heaths, and damp mires, where its distinctive spikes of yellow flowers add a splash of color to the rugged terrain. It can also be grown in gardens as we do at our holiday rental properties. In Dartmoor, these habitats are scattered across the landscape, from the high tors to the valley bottoms, creating a patchwork of wetland ecosystems that are home to a diverse array of flora and fauna.

Physical Characteristics

The Bog Asphodel is a perennial herbaceous plant with narrow, grass-like leaves arranged in tufts at the base. Its flowering stems can reach heights of up to 50 centimeters, bearing clusters of small, star-shaped flowers that range in color from pale yellow to deep golden hues. These flowers bloom from late spring to early summer, attracting pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hoverflies to Dartmoor’s boggy landscapes.

Ecological Importance

As a keystone species of Dartmoor’s wetland ecosystems, Bog Asphodel plays a vital role in maintaining the health and biodiversity of these habitats. Its dense tufts of foliage provide shelter and nesting sites for small mammals, insects, and birds, while its flowers serve as a crucial food source for pollinators during the summer months.

Furthermore, Bog Asphodel plays a significant role in nutrient cycling and soil formation within Dartmoor’s boggy environments. Its extensive root system helps to stabilize the peat substrate, preventing erosion and sedimentation in watercourses and contributing to the overall hydrological balance of the landscape.

Cultural Significance

Beyond its ecological importance, Bog Asphodel holds cultural significance in Dartmoor’s folklore and traditions. In centuries past, the plant’s tough, fibrous leaves were used by local communities for thatching roofs and weaving baskets, demonstrating the resourcefulness of Dartmoor’s inhabitants in utilizing the natural resources of their environment.

Moreover, Bog Asphodel features prominently in the literary and artistic representations of Dartmoor, inspiring poets, painters, and writers with its rugged beauty and timeless allure. From the romantic landscapes of the Victorian era to the contemporary interpretations of modern artists, the Bog Asphodel continues to captivate the imagination and evoke a sense of wonder about Dartmoor’s wild and untamed landscapes.

Conservation Challenges

Despite its ecological and cultural significance, Bog Asphodel faces various conservation challenges in Dartmoor and beyond. Habitat loss and degradation, caused by factors such as drainage, peat extraction, and land conversion, threaten the survival of this species and the ecosystems it supports.

Furthermore, changes in land management practices, including grazing pressure and wildfire regimes, can also impact the abundance and distribution of the plant populations on Dartmoor. As such, proactive conservation efforts are needed to protect and restore the wetland habitats where this species thrives, ensuring the long-term viability of Dartmoor’s unique biodiversity.

“Conclusion: Bog Asphodel

In conclusion, Bog Asphodel stands as a symbol of resilience and adaptability in Dartmoor’s wetland ecosystems, playing a vital role in shaping the landscape and supporting the diverse array of flora and fauna that call this region home. From its humble beginnings as a tuft of grass-like leaves to its stunning display of golden flowers against the backdrop of misty moorlands, Bog Asphodel exemplifies the intricate interplay between nature and culture in Dartmoor’s timeless landscape. As we strive to conserve and protect this iconic species and the habitats it inhabits, we also honor the rich heritage and natural heritage of Dartmoor for generations to come.

Bog Asphodel
Bog Asphodel and heather by Ian Mitchell is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.0

PS if you would like to try growing these at home yourselves, seeds can sometimes be available from this link

 

Dartmoor Wildlife: Not All Guests Are Paying Guests

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grass snake dartmoor wildlife

Being respectful about Dartmoor wildlife means we often get some special visitors. 

It was 2012 when we started work converting Old Armoury Barn from an empty shell to what you see today providing quality rental accommodation.

The design brief included the principles of authenticity, sustainability and locality and we also wanted to be as inclusive as we could.

This played itself out in a “light touch” upon the environment – whilst Dartmoor may be perceived as strong, renewing and timeless it is also true that it is a collection of fragile, interdependent ecosystems. 

The sensitivity for the environment has paid us back with handsome dividends, we have enabled Dartmoor wildlife to become established way beyond our expectations.

The Dartmoor Wildlife You May Experience

Some of the Dartmoor wildlife residents that you may see if you sit quietly for long enough at the right time of day and season may surprise you.  

In the twilight, particularly the evening,  you will see long-eared bats perform high speed acrobatics as they feed on flies and other insects. They roost high up in the eaves of the neighbours houses only a few yards away.

Later after sunset you may hear, and if you are very lucky see, tawny owls hunting field mice, shrews and other small mammals. The tawny owls nest in a tall tree at the far end of St Lawrence Lane and presumably cover a large area of Ashburton but are sometimes seen hunting at the rear of The Armourers Forge.

We have damselflies and dragonflies around the pond that is full of smooth newts that vie for space with the frogs, toads and fish. The gardens are full of frogs – they have been found in window boxes and tubs – and with so many slow worms around Devon unsurprisingly there are a lot to be found in the gardens too.

In August 2020 on a hot sultry day we were surprised to find a grass snake in the pond. They are accomplished swimmers and use water as a fast path to a destination but must also be careful not to become lunch for the fish. The grass snake was seen several times over a week or so and we hope to see it again next year. If you see any amphibians or reptiles please do record them on The Amphibian and Reptile Conservation trust website here.

Jackdaws in Ashburton

You will almost certainly observe “the birds” at some time during your stay, we are often asked what they are and what they are doing. Typically you will see a collection of perhaps one hundred large, black, noisy birds flying in a formation not unlike the patterns that a murmuration of starlings make.

Yet these are not starlings nor crows, they are jackdaws and they live up well to their collective noun – a clattering of jackdaws. It is the jackdaws who litter the town with moss, they turn it over on the rooftops in search of grubs and it tends to roll off the roof and falls onto the pavements.

Dartmoor is the largest and highest upland in southern Britain, and the moors themselves are often exposed to strong winds and high rainfall. The soils are acidic and the area has been relatively undisturbed by intensive agriculture which means Dartmoor National Park can be especially interesting in terms of its wildlife.

By providing quality rental accommodation for our non-paying guests we have supported nature in our local ecosystem which has also helped in the gardens keeping pests under control naturally. 

If you are fortunate to meet any of our non paying guests from the Dartmoor wildlife I hope that you enjoy their company.