Summertime
in Totteridge
Shakespeare said: “summer’s
lease hath all too short a date”
(Sonnet 18), so enjoy it while you
can.
A walk down perhaps our loveliest
country path, from Pink Cottage to
the Folly Brook, will be enriched
by Foxgloves, Lords and Ladies with
its red berries in their protective
hood, yellow Herb Bennet, pink Enchanter’s
Nightshade, and purple Bitterswett,
all shade lovers. On either side the
meadows are additionally managed by
grazing or haymaking. The beautiful
panorama of Meadow Grass, Bent, and
other golden brown grasses will have
been harvested by now. By contrast
a walk down the parallel Warren Path
usually shows us, along the field
edges, characteristic arable weeds
such as Chamomile and Field Pansy.
The fields near Ravenscroft School,
which were farmed until about 30
years ago, also have occasional
Fodder Burnet, White Mustard, and
Corn Mint. Guelder Rose with its
clustered red berries is characteristic
of wet clay soil and not common.
There is one in Totteridge Fields
Nature Reserve and three in Totteridge
Valley beside the Folly Brook. The
related Wayfaring Tree, which flowered
earlier, has red berries which turn
black when ripe. There is one in
Totteridge Lane just down from Pine
Grove. Other red-berried roadside
trees are Whitebeam on the way to
the station, and Rowan. Dogwood,
with red bark and black berries,
is found in several old hedges.
August, “fairest of months,
ripe Summer’s Queen”
is illuminated by Feverfew, Willowherbs
(including the local white variety),
Mallow, and Yarrow (often dark pink
round here). At night the very rare
Glow Worm can still be found glowing
near Copthall Stadium. On St Bartholomew’s
Day, August 24th, you must feed
your bees with honey. “St
Bartholomew brings the cold dew”.
So does St Matthew, Sept 21st. As
autumn approaches the shadows lengthen
and the dew being out of the sun
lies later. Cuckoo spit, like whisked
up dew drops, is produced by the
Froghopper Spittlebug.
Newcomers here comment on the number
of ponds at high level along the
Lane. These are characteristic of
a pebble drift ridge over London
clay. The best patch of the famous
Totteridge wet meadow flora lies
to the west of the Long Pond and
includes Lesser Spearwort, Celery-Leaved
Crowfoot, Bog Stitchwort, Marsh
Bedstraw and Water Plantain, Water
Mint, Gypsywort and both Bur-Marigolds
grow around Warren Pond.
Plants which are more noticeable
after flowering because of their
unusual large seed heads are Teasel
and Burdock, both occasionally found
near footpaths. Other rather inconspicuous
flowers out now are the Persicaria
family such as Bistort and Redshank,
and Docks and Sorrels in the fields.
In rough places are Plantains, Mugwort,
and Goosefoots like Fat Hen.
Though less common that its red
sister, White Campion is scattered
about. Cladder Campion grows at
Wykeham Rise. Our second rarest
wild flower, Great Burnet, can be
found on the Green where Jack-go-to-bed-at-Noon
also flourishes. Its flowers close
at midday but by now it will be
represented by its large fluffy
seedheads which give it its other
name of Goat’s Beard.
“The day becomes more
solemn and serene when noon is past
– there is a harmony in autumn”
(Shelley).
From Nature Notes by Diana
Griffiths |
