If there is one place in south Wales where I really hate mossing it's north-western Carmarthenshire. This is a land of exposed plateaux farmed intensively for dairy, cut by beautiful but inaccessible wooded valleys. The heathland origin of the plateaux is visible in the lane banks, where Hylocomium splendens and Pleurozium schreberi are locally prominent, but with the exception of a handful of rushy pastures it's Rye-grass that rules. The only species that seem to benefit are Starlings and Golden Plover.
Scratching 40 bryophyte species from the plateau of SN12M, east of Efailwen, was pretty tough. Highlights were perhaps Cololejeunea minutissima and Pseudephemerum nitidum. This complimented a list of 26 woodland bryophytes I made in the valley at the southern extremity of the tetrad when I was bashing SN12L last year. Getting into the valleys is always difficult in this area because all the footpaths into them run down 1km long farm drives, then through the middle of a farmyard, and then as often as not stop without trace.
Anyway, another VC44 tetrad bites the dust! Only 102 left to visit.
I'm guessing you don't do trespass then Sam! I must confess I can do camouflage pretty well for a lump of a bloke ;-) Saying that I prefer to knock on doors these days if it's easier to go through the farmyard. I usually show my square-bashing map and once they realise I'm a harmless freak they let me loose on their land!
ReplyDeletePS. That habitat looks tough going!
ReplyDeleteI don't do trespass either Barry (not when I'm wearing my BC polo shirt, anyway...)
ReplyDeleteI can see that. I do try to be responsible and on the very rare occasion I get caught I am always very apologetic if I'm in the wrong ;-)
ReplyDeleteI used to trespass in non-work time, but to be honest I just get really scared of being caught now and I just couldn't do it!
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