Machrihanish to Southend

 

Section 6 of the Kintyre Way (Machrihanish to Southend) has probably the wildest feel to it. Walking on a grass track over the hills of Largiebaan and Ballygroggan, across the open moor of Amod hill. Due to the extreme weather conditions and lack of shelter not all plants and animals will be able to survive, only the hardy and tolerable ones will make it. These types of plants tend to be slow growing and low to the ground, only the brave will reach out to try and touch the sky. Because of these harsh conditions the plants has less competition will nettles and thistles meaning there is a greater diversity to be found. From a distance it can seem like an empty wilderness, lifeless, look a bit closer and you shall find a whole different world.

 

On my travels round Largiebaan and Ballygroggan I came across some beautiful looking flowers. The Heath Spotted Orchid, a plant that is easily seen among the grasses and heathers, with its full head of small flowers looks like cotton candy. The ‘Spotted’ part is to do with the leaves, they have distinctive purple spots on the upper side. Its flowers are quite delicate, and look as if they come from the amazon rainforest, ready to engulf anything that dares take its nectar.

 

Bog Asphodel, its name giving away the habitat in which it lives, with its yellow star like flower heads clumped together at the top of a tall thin stem it is one of my favourite plants.   

 

 

As well as these two plants a whole list was found including 3 species of Heather, round-leaf sundew, blaeberry (with ripe berries), cotton grass and tormentil.

Day out with the School

Myself and Sharon took pupils from Carradale and Drumlemble Primary along part of the Kintyre Way as part of one of their projects. Full of enthusiasm we all set out from Carradale with our eyes and ears open to see and hear the magic of nature. We came across loads of different plants, deer tracks and fantastic views of Carradale and Arran. The biggest plant we came across was the predominant rhododendron with their pink/purple flowers and waxy leaves. Originally from the Himalayas, it was brought to this country as an ornamental plant for gardens. They were mainly planted on the road in to Estate Houses; it told all the visitors how much money the laird had, this is the same with exotic trees such as Grand Firs and Monkey Puzzle trees.

One of the most impressive plants that we came across, not for its size or looks, but a reason not so common to British flora: Butterwort. Without a flower it looks like a bright green star that has fallen from the sky. Its delicate purple flowers rising from the centre of the star has a fascinating shape. It looks like it is sticking its tongue out. This plant is one of the few that has become carnivorous, its leaves covered in sugary liquid that is irresistible to small flies. These flies, lured into a false sense of sugary goodness, are soon trapped and digested for the nutrients.

One flower that has just come out in the past week is the Foxglove, a beautiful looking deep purple, bell shaped flower head making a bold statement amongst the green grass.