Fen drain and flowers

Most of the day was spent surveying several fen drains in Cambridgeshire. Although surrounded by intense arable, these ones were fed by groundwater from the gravels, so were clean and clear with a very rich flora including many rare and local species such as Water Violet, Shining Pondweed, Flat-stalked Pondweed and Whorled Water-milfoil. Highlights of the day were finding a thriving colony of Great Tassel Stonewort, a very rare fenland species. The emergent vegetation supported a wide range of shiny metallic Reed Beetles and Alex and I spotted a large grass snake swimming along one of the drains. A nearby gravel pit had a huge colony of Sand Martin. So much biodiversity in an area that many would simply pass by, considering it devoid of nature.