And Venus was her name

8th September 2024. Exploring wetland and wild meadow habitats…

A few weeks ago, I received a tip-off from a fellow enthusiast in a bird hut - after I explained that I wasn't there for the wild wings (lovely though they are), but for wildflowers. As is typical for people using the lookout, we had just spent a companiable 45 minutes of silence contemplating the view and then burst into conversation, the minute one of us decided to break rank and risk polluting the air with a question or comment. The interruption was mine and concerned the pressing matter of whether to close a window or not, since I was about to leave. The reply then prompted a convivial 15 minutes or so extolling the virtues of the mere and nature – and the recommendation that I visit somewhere called 'Venus Pool' . So, one Sunday later, I did.

Venus Pool Nature Reserve is located 6 miles south-east of Shrewsbury and covers almost 66 acres of wonder in the form of water, islands and shoreline, willow scrub, woodland, hedgerows and grasslands. And I am happy to report that it was much easier to find than my bird-hut friend had suggested, thanks to the satnav on my phone, which has not only started to talk to me (after 18 months of silence), but which is also very efficient. My destination was indeed on the left when it said so.

The site has been managed and developed by Shropshire Ornithological Society since 1986 and now includes five hides for viewing the wildlife (three for non-members). At least 25 different types of birds have been sighted on the reserve, but I must confess my total ignorance here and say that I just saw ‘lots of birds’ when I went. The guidebook sitting on the ledge below the windows was well-thumbed though, so I suspect I am not the only one struggling to discern my curlews from my snipes at a distance.

After a very pleasant start at the main hide and intermittently leaning out of the windows to photograph the everlasting sweet peas beneath, I then – slowly – made my way around the reserve, exploring each type of habitat. Although I love my local hedgerows, it was brilliant to be somewhere different because different places provide the opportunity to find different types of plants. Like one of my field guides says, the composition of individual habitats varies in all manner of factors like geology and topology, climate and human influence, and thus in the diversity of species that occupy them. With a wetland, meadow, woodland and grassland at my disposal, I was completely spoilt for choice. Barely a plant new to me had been identified and photographed, before another one popped up begging for my attention. Devil’s-bit Scabious has been on my wish list of plants to see for a while, so you can imagine my joy at seeing so many examples in one place – alongside the extraordinary number of bees undeterred by some fool with a DSLR and wide grin.

Chicory

The Giraffe aka Field Pansy

Devil's-bit Scabious

My favourite and most memorable plant of the day, however, was the Field Pansy. Maybe because it epitomised what I adore about my botanical adventures. The energising effect they have on me and the wonder they elicit. Just as I had decided to call it a day and was heading back to my car, I happened to notice a small white flower close to the ground and immediately recognised it as something new. It was so low to the ground, that I had to lie flat out to photograph it - and then so beautiful, that I lost another hour trying to capture the best angle and sharpest shot. All thoughts of hunger, thirst and tiredness vanished in an instant and were devoted to this little Venus (Pool) of (botanical) desire. See you next week and enjoy this little earworm of nostalgia inspiring today’s blog title - whilst you read about two of the other flowers I saw.

Lucerne: is known as a city in Switzerland amongst geographers but as a member of the pea family amongst botanists… or as Alfalfa by our North American neighbours. In the 1950s, it was grown extensively for its protein rich properties – in a period when protein was otherwise scarce – but it has in fact been cultivated in Britain since the seventeenth century and well before that on the continent, via the ancient Greeks and Romans. This protein prize, derived from its seeds and leaves has made Lucerne an important fodder crop across the globe and it can be processed for human consumption too, e.g., as sprouts in salads and sandwiches. However, my notes are cautionary for those with weak immune systems, pregnant women, breast-feeders, diabetics or those on medication. Luckily, the plant is alternatively useful as green manure, hay and silage - and notable for its deep root system, which helps to stabilise soils.

Musk Mallow: has been described as the ‘Cinderella of the mallows’ because it is more delicate and prettier than some of its relatives – and the reference to prettiness recurs in Greek mythology. Musk Mallow was connected to Aphrodite and the capacity to increase beauty and fertility. The flowers, which are seen in July and/or August, are roughly 3-6cm in size and streaked with veins that act as signposts for pollinators. Its common name refers to its scent, which is faintly detected during the day but becomes stronger in the warmth and evening. Although Musk Mallow is typically used for ornamental purposes, it also has several practical uses. The stems, for example, can be used to make twine for nets and baskets; the compounds it contains have anti-inflammatory properties or can be used to make a yellow dye, and the leaves have the potential to make a digestion-soothing tea.

References

Audio and Lyrics (2018) [YouTube Video] Bananarama – Venus (Lyrics) https://youtu.be/QtngIWazfT0?feature=shared

Chris Daniels (2020) Venus Pools. https://www.birdingplaces.eu/en/birdingplaces/united-kingdom/venus-pools

Sarah Raven (2011) Wild Flowers. Bloomsbury Publishing; Great Britain

Shropshire Ornithological Society (2024) Venus Pool Nature Reserve.  https://www.shropshirebirds.com/index/guide-to-birding-sites/venus-pool-reserve/

Sophie Lake, Durwny Liley, Robert Still and Andy Swash (2020) Britain’s Habitats. A Field Guide to the Wildlife Habitats of Great Britain and Ireland. Princeton University Press; Woodstock

Wild Flower Web (2024) Musk Mallow. http://www.wildflowerweb.co.uk/plant/305/musk-mallow

Wikipedia (2024) Alfalfa. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfalfa