Slipperfield Grassland | lostnaturalist

Now what gave me the impression that spring was coming?

Sunshine, warm temperatures, plant growth?

I’m not at all sure that any of these things are actually happening that much this year, apart from maybe a couple of weeks in March. So far the sun might shine intermittently, but not often. The temperatures rarely get into double figures, when they do the wind then blows from the Arctic. As for plant growth, what’s that? By this stage of May, many habitats should at least be showing flushes of new growth as the temperatures begin to rise with lengthening day lengths.

Yesterday I went west to see some species rich grassland and fens at Slipperfield, situated just south of the Pentlands Hills and part of a complex of species rich sites between Dolphinton and West Linton. Here there were no signs of spring. The site was distinctly wrapped in winter’s garb of browns and faded greens. There was no new green tinge, that would suggest that growth had begun again, and no signs of those early grasses, such as Sweet Vernal-grass, coming into flower and producing a scattering of golden spikes. Only the hedges surrounding the site with their covering of new leaves, gave any signs that spring should be present.