New Forest wild flowers - an introduction
Wild flowers brighten even the dullest day. Snowdrops in the midst of winter tell of better weather to come, whilst lesser celandines are one of the first signs of spring. Even late-flowering November blooms help hold at bay the prospect of shorter days and longer, colder nights. And of course, all the wild flowers in-between have their own special magic.
Amongst them in the New Forest are some real corkers. There’s the wild gladiolus, which in Britain is found nowhere else, and the tiny bog orchid is almost as rare. Then at the other end of the abundance scale are the heathers, plants that gloriously carpet the mid and late-summer heaths with extravagant colour.
These pages provide an overview of some notable New Forest wild flowers. Many are common and widespread; others take a bit of finding. Most, as will be seen, have been used in herbal medicine, a countryside art based on natural ingredients that pre-dates today’s modern pharmaceutical industry, and many would say, heals just as effectively.
Find out more about New Forest wild flowers
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Some notable New Forest wild flowers
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Sadly, 58 animals were killed - 35 ponies, 13 cows, 8 donkeys and 2 sheep, whilst a further 32 were injured - 3 pigs, 9 donkeys, 11 cows and 9 ponies.
(Forty-three accidents occurred in daylight, 15 at twilight and 101 in the dark. Twenty-seven accidents were not reported by the driver involved).
Here's just one horrific example - Three donkeys killed in collision with van at notorious New Forest blackspot (Advertiser and Times)
Lesser celandine blooms illuminate woodlands, and heathland edges.
Fallow deer remain in single sex herds, the bucks at this time always separate from the does.
Curlews return from the coast to breed in and around the New Forest's wetter areas.
Red admiral butterflies are increasingly seen on bright, sunny days.
April
Redstarts are amongst the first returning long-distance migrant birds that arrive in April.
Large red damselflies take to the wing, the first of many such species that will soon be seen in the New Forest.
Bluebells blossom, sometimes in good numbers in ungrazed woodlands.
Badger cubs usually first appear above ground towards the end of the month.
