As the days begin to lengthen and the temperature rises, nature starts to come back to life. On sunny days, there’s nothing better than a walk in the countryside, admiring the multitude of spring blooms – each day seems to bring a new species! Devon is renowned for its wildflowers and you won’t need to look any further than the nearest hedgerow to spot a wide variety of them in all their beauty. The diverse landscape of Dartmoor allows hundreds of varieties of plants to thrive, some of which are unique to the area.
The upper reaches of the moors are covered by blanket bogs, which are dominated by bog mosses and sedges. In June, this landscape is punctuated by the white splashes of flowering cotton grass. Lower down, the slopes consist of grass moorland, although there are also some areas of heathland containing heathers and gorse. On a sunny day, the coconut smell of the gorse flowers can be almost overpowering!
Dartmoor also contains some areas of enclosed farmland, where the soil is often slightly less acidic than on the rest of the moors. Here, grassland areas are full of colour in the spring and early summer, with species including both the heath spotted and greater butterfly orchids, eyebright, black knapweed and oxeye daisy. Damper areas near watercourses are often rich in marsh orchids and devil’s bit scabious.
Dartmoor’s woodlands are classed as temperate rainforests – in areas such as Wistman’s Wood or Black-a-tor Copse, mature oak trees are covered in a thick layer of mosses and lichens, while ferns and bluebells carpet the woodland floor. If you’re a bluebell lover then a visit to the area around Meldon Viaduct, just the other side of Okehampton, is a must. The whole hillside is absolutely covered in them and it’s a spectacular sight. They’re even visible from the town! Another good place for bluebells, and lots of other wildflowers, is Lydford Gorge (https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lydford-gorge).
Further afield, Braunton Burrows (https://www.northdevonbiosphere.org.uk/braunton-burrows.html), up on the north coast, is a good place for wild plants. It’s the largest sand dune in Europe and has been designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It’s home to more than 500 species of flowering plants, including bee orchids.
Staying coastal, the 4-mile section of the South West Coast Path between East Prawle and Prawle Point, near Salcombe, is one of the best walks in the county for wildflowers. The walk takes in farmland and country lanes as well as part of the coastline. Some sections of it are quite steep but the views are spectacular. In the same area, Slapton Ley National Nature Reserve (https://www.slnnr.org.uk), is a unique environment, well-known for its interesting plant life.
Inland, Meeth Quarry Nature Reserve (www.devonwildlifetrust.org/nature-reserves/meeth-quarry) has a mix of habitats, including lakes, woodland and grassland. There are marked walking trails to explore, which are lovely when the spring flowers are out. The 3-mile Meeth Quarry Wild Walk is a good one to start with. Halwill Junction Nature Reserve (www.devonwildlifetrust.org/nature-reserves/halwill-junction) also has good displays of wildflowers. It’s only a small site, but links into Cookworthy Forest, if you would like a longer walk.
