Nature Day at Houndiscombe Park in Plymouth, Devon
We have returned to Houndiscombe Park, in Plymouth, nearly 3 years after our visit to this triangular-shaped urban park. Back then it was in a sad state: distressed by empty beer cans, dog faeces and syringes. There was very little flora, just patchy grass and mud. We decided this park needed help and with the support of Green Minds Plymouth, Nature Plymouth and the council’s Infrastructure Team, a complete revamp was initiated in February 2021.
And today, it is thriving. It has its own Friends of Houndiscombe Park group to care for it and monitor the visiting wildlife.
A variety of plants for pollinators and bird and bat boxes have been positioned in the trees.This Borage has attracted two pollinators here. Look at the delicate blue of this tiny Holly Blue butterfly…
So, together with the Friends group, we held a Nature Day there, with the help of the RSPB, University of Plymouth and Tess from Plymouth Food and All Ways Apples, generating ideas for Food Resilience. Tess also brought a generous donation of her home-grown organic plums 😋
We displayed our information standsSet up our handmade Rebel Botanists signs Welcome, Tess wearing her fabulous apron full of cards 😀The Plymouth university Ecology lecturer, James, engaged a young lady in some citizen science activities
And then we set off, discovering the wildplants around the park: those little plants that appear between the cracks of the pavement and the crevices of the walls. 🚶♂️🚶♀️🚶🌿
Look at this beauty growing on the kerb of the busy road… Here it is up closeApparently Native Americans would grind them up and sniff them to rid headaches, but we like to leave them for wildlife 🙂👍The elusive Scarlet Pimpernel Interesting find along the pavement cracks… And here’s a close upDespite this well-known plant being introduced, it is welcome food for many pollinators 🐝🦋🪲🐦Fabulous Latin name for a colourful asterClose up of the New York asters bloomin’ around the park fence Lovely curly leaved fern popping from the wall cracksThis little Japonica plant seems to have escaped from someone’s garden. Let’s take a closer look at this tiny flower 👀And here it is, a pretty yellow flower – look at the interesting shape of the petals…These little outcrops of greenery along the pavements and roads are vital refreshments for pollinators, so please let them grow 🐝🦋The sun shining through the elm leavesThis Sycamore is about 230 years old and just imagine how many insects and birds it has supported during all those years…Ivy, lichen and mosses also live on this tree. Life supporting life 💚Don’t overlook the importance of these amazing living organisms 💚
Rebel Botanists exist to provide free street art education; to raise awareness of the wild plants that support all life on this planet. So let’s keep our soils, water and air free from chemicals to protect all life 💚👍🦋🐝🌿🪲🐦🐛🐞🌼☘️
Hi there ,I love what you are doing,it’s so creative and also simple .it would be really nice to find out about upcoming events , how can I do that please? Many Thanks ❤️
Hi Saffron,
We usually put up a post for upcoming events on Facebook. If you’re not on Facebook and you’d like to be more involved, please email us: rebelbotanists@gmail.com with your phone number, and I can add you to our What’sApp group. Thank you for your lovely comment. 💚🌼
#RebelBotanists 
Awesome job guys. Love what you’re doing.
LikeLike
Thank you Susie 💚🌼
LikeLike
Hi there ,I love what you are doing,it’s so creative and also simple .it would be really nice to find out about upcoming events , how can I do that please? Many Thanks ❤️
LikeLike
Hi Saffron,
We usually put up a post for upcoming events on Facebook. If you’re not on Facebook and you’d like to be more involved, please email us: rebelbotanists@gmail.com with your phone number, and I can add you to our What’sApp group. Thank you for your lovely comment. 💚🌼
LikeLike