Arable Wildflowers - Longfield - 04/05/17
I've surveyed the fields on the Gallops at Longfield a few times over the years and one might reasonably expect that there would be nothing new to see. These fields had been left fallow for a couple of years up to recently, so were full of arable wildflowers normally sprayed out of existence. The fields have a new owner and rumour abounds on social media as to the impact this will have. My main concern was the rumour that the farmer will be growing crops for supermarkets - thus leading to intensive fertilising and spraying on the poor chalk soils. so far this hasn't happened, the field has been tilled and nothing else. As a result, there's been an explosion on some plants there, as follows. Fumaria densiflora This sea of purple stretched for about a kilometre! It comprises of millions of Fumitories, the ones I examined found to be Dense-flowered Fumitory. Just to confuse, Common Fumitories were mixed in, I wonder if they hybridise? I expect so!