Around the town

Ten Practical Outdoor Activities for Ecological Understanding

1. Investigate Plant Adaptation on Coastal Habitats 

Visit the Seafront or Jacob's Ladder to observe halophytes (salt-tolerant species). Look for specific adaptations mentioned in the sources, such as leathery or waxy leaves (to reduce water loss) and deep roots (to hold onto unstable ground). Try to identify plants like Sea Campion, Sea Beet, or Yellow Horned-Poppy. Noting where these plants thrive, such as on nutrient-poor shingle or cliffs, helps illustrate how specific species cope with challenging environmental conditions.

• Source Principles: Adaptation to high salt concentrations, unstable ground, and nutrient-poor habitats.

• Relevant Sites: Seafront/Beach Garden, Jacob's Ladder.

2. Survey Biodiversity in Built vs. Natural Structures 

Examine the difference in flora supported by built environments compared to soil habitats. Specifically, visit the Parish Churchyard to observe lichens, mosses, and ferns growing on old, lime-mortar walls and gravestones. Look for Pellitory of the Wall, which thrives in lime mortar joints. This demonstrates how materials from past human construction can create niches for diverse non-flowering plant species.

• Source Principles: Niche creation on built structures; specific requirements for non-flowering plants (lichens, mosses, ferns).

• Relevant Site: Parish Churchyard.

3. Analyse the Impact of River Fortification 

Walk along the Lower Sid stretch of the river. Note how extensive human intervention—such as straightening the river course and fortifying the sides with concrete in the late 1700s—has created a hostile environment for most species due to fast water flow. Identify the few resilient species, such as water figwort, that manage to survive growing out of the wall along the riverside walk.

• Source Principles: Hostile environments created by extensive human intervention ('brownfield' classification).

• Relevant Site: Lower Sid.

4. Conduct an Insect and Wildflower Survey on Productive Slopes 

Visit the flowery banks of Jacob's Ladder or the grassy slopes of West Hill, both noted as productive sites for species. Spend time identifying the specific insect life recorded there, such as the Gatekeeper or Small Copper butterflies, or the metallic green Rose Chafer. Relate the presence of these insects to the abundance of specific host plants like Silver Ragwort or wild flowers.

• Source Principles: Importance of productive grasslands; insect reliance on specific flora.

• Relevant Sites: Jacob's Ladder, West Hill.

5. Monitor and Map Invasive Species 

The sources highlight the challenge of invasive non-native species. Visit West Hill to see the rampant Alexanders, noting its abundance on the slopes. Then, observe areas like Glen Goyle or Fortfield to map the presence of the troublesome Three Cornered Leek or the dominant Winter Heliotrope. This activity helps visualise the scale of management challenges presented by specific flora.

• Source Principles: Challenges of invasive species overwhelming native ecosystems.

• Relevant Sites: West Hill, Glen Goyle, Fortfield (within Parks and Gardens).

6. Search for Indicator Species in Old Grasslands 

In autumn, visit the Bowling Green lawns within the Parks and Gardens area. The presence of Waxcap fungi (such as the Pink Waxcap) in these lawns is noted as an indicator of old grasslands. Locating and identifying these specific fungi can provide insight into the history and quality of the site's habitat.

• Source Principles: Indicator species revealing historical land use/habitat quality (old grasslands).

• Relevant Site: Bowling Green (part of Parks and Gardens).

7. Compare Biodiversity in Highly Managed vs. Restored Sites 

Visit Connaught Gardens and note its high degree of maintenance and landscaped 'outdoor rooms'. Compare the number of species recorded here (72) with the diversity recorded in the historically neglected but now restored Glen Goyle (over 100 species recorded). Observe how volunteer efforts (like those by FOGG in Glen Goyle) focus on clearing invasives and replanting native flora.

• Source Principles: Tension between recreational use and ecological value; influence of maintenance intensity on diversity.

• Relevant Sites: Connaught Gardens, Glen Goyle.

8. Study the "Outdoor Rooms" and Microclimates of Landscaped Gardens 

Take a focused walk through Connaught Gardens. Observe how the sheltered walled areas create distinct "outdoor rooms". Follow the Tree Trail and look for exotic species, such as magnolias and palms (part of the Cretaceous Arboretum project). This activity illustrates how human design and location (western cliffs) can create specific microclimates that support a collection of non-native species.

• Source Principles: Creation of distinct microclimates through design; collection of exotic and native species.

• Relevant Site: Connaught Gardens.

9. Identify Bird Specialisation Across Habitats 

Perform a focused bird watch, comparing species seen at the coastal areas with those in the parks. Look for specialist coastal species like the Cormorant (seen fishing offshore or resting on rock islands) or Oystercatcher (seen on East Beach or rock islands). Then, move to a town park (like Blackmore Gardens or Fortfield) to identify common garden birds, such as House Sparrow, Blackbird, or Wren. Note that the Herring Gull is common across both.

• Source Principles: Distinct species distribution based on habitat (coastal specialists vs. urban generalists); importance of the coastline to bird species diversity.

• Relevant Sites: Seafront/East Beach, Town Parks and Gardens.

10. Investigate Urban "Weeds" and Their Success Strategies 

Focus on understanding the concept of plants associated with cultivated and disturbed land. Search uncultivated corners of parks and gardens for species like Thale Cress, or observe how 'weeds' survive by fast growth and seed setting (e.g., Hairy Bittercress). Look for species originally introduced to gardens that have spread, such as Ivy-leaved Toadflax (adorned on many walls) or Green Alkanet (which survives by being attractive).

• Source Principles: Adaptation of plants to disturbed/cultivated land; plants that survive urban management.

• Relevant Sites: Town Parks and Gardens.