Caged

Another of our rare plants. This one is Spiked Speedwell ( Veronica spicata).
Mrs. K. and the local National Trust Wardens are working together to protect it on the lower slopes of Arnside Knott.
Here it is flowering inside a cage. Without that it is in danger of being nibbled off by rabbits and deer before it can get to the seed setting stage.
There are only three sites in the north of England where it grows. Two are in South Lakeland and one in limestone country in North Yorkshire.
It has stronger populations in the South West but even there it is relatively rare and is nationally protected.