Garway Hill Common - Plant Life

Plant Life on Garway Hill

There is a lot of bracken on Garway Hill. Recent events have made this the plant species which dominates the eye and it has the immediate effect of shading out other plant life. The leaf litter too can choke out weaker species. However, there are moves afoot to reduce the bracken cover and let the other native plant species recover and shine through, to restore the full diversity of the habitat.

The native turf is described as "acid grassland". Species such as Heath Bedstraw (Galium saxatile), Tormentil (Potentilla erecta), Common Bent Grass (Agrostis capellaris), and Sheep's Fescue (Festuca ovina) prosper in a slightly acidic soil. Commons, which have avoided being ploughed, fertilized and re-seeded have become important havens for this kind of plant environment.

Bluebells are a common sight in Spring, and a local speciality is the Meadow Saffron (Colchicum autumnale), which shows its pink blooms at the end of summer. The many springs and wet flushes on the hill are home to plants like the Lesser Spearwort, Water Mint, and Brooklime. A complete rarity, Stonewort (Chara globularis) has also been recorded, possibly uniquely in Herefordshire.

	More information:
	Birds 70 different bird species have been recorded on Garway Hill		Butterflies Garway Hill is an excellent natural habitat for many species of butterflies
	Reptiles and Amphibians The Black Pool on Garway Hill is a breeding area for rare Great Crested Newts		Plants The native species include Bluebells, Meadow Saffron and Stonewort, unique in Herefordshire
	Miscellany Other species of interest		Sheep and Horses Local farmers still use the Common as valuable grazing ground for mountain horses and sheep

Garway Hill Common Home .................................................
Garway Hill Location and Description .................................................
About The Commoners .................................................
Garway Hill Management Plan .................................................
Flora and Fauna .................................................
Archaeological Investigations .................................................
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