May 2011

West Lulworth is verdant with fresh new leaves, and the air is alive with sights and sounds of new life. This verdancy gives a dramatic back-drop to the pale flowers of 'may blossom' or Hawthorn in the hedgerows. The banks in the village are covered with plants such as Greater Stitchwort, Red Campion, Cow Parsley, White and Red Dead Nettle, and the odd Bluebell dotted in amongst these pinks and whites.

Birds such as Chiff Chaffs, Blackcaps, Blackbirds, Robins, Greenfinches and Goldfinches have been filling the air with their song, and flitting back and forth in a 'frenzy' with nest building material. On Bindon Hill and other Chalk Downland sites it is nice to see Wheatears and Whitethroats back. Quite often the white rump of the Wheatear can be seen as it flits shyly off into the distance.

Birds-foot Trefoil, Horseshoe Vetch, Germander Speedwell, and Milkwort (to name but a few) start the succession of flowering Downland plants over the next few months. Also, look out for Early Purple, Green-Winged, and Bee Orchids. At the bottom of Hambury Tout we have seen Brimstone, Holly Blue, Speckled Wood and Orange Tip butterflies. To add to these the Adonis Blue and Common Blue can be seen this month. 

We have chosen Horseshoe Vetch for the plant of May, so called because of the fruits that follow the flower which are twisted into a Horseshoe shape. This is the foodplant of the caterpillar of the Adonis Blue butterfly.