Day of the triffids

Wedholme Flow National Nature Reserve, North Cumbria

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No, this isn't a self portrait. This is Alasdair, Natural England's Site Manager for the raised bogs of the South Solway Mosses National Nature Reserve. Here, he is demonstrating his knowledge of survival techniques Ray Mears-style. You need never go thirsty on this part of Wedholme Flow where the pitcher plants grow.

Well, actually I joke and Alasdair is playing the fool (not an unfamiliar role), you wouldn't want to drink the contents of one of these pitchers. They catch and digest insects that are attracted to the plants, once inside the pitcher they slide uncontrollably down the slippery tube into the enzyme soup within. The bog is extremely low in nitrogen and other nutrients and this is a crafty strategy for supplementing what little nitrogen they can extract from the bog.

This species (Sarracenia purpurea) is native to North America where it grows in similar habitat. It was first recorded at Wedholme Flow in 1976. It is thought that it was originally planted here by a botanist, as at several other localities in Cumbria. We don't normally uproot plants on our National Nature Reserves, but this is an invasive species which left to itself would spread across hundreds of hectares on the bog. As it is, we can barely contain its expansion. Three years ago this area was cleared of several tons of the plant, but within two years it was back as abundant as ever.

We had a day out today with Alasdair to look at the latest techniques for restoration of damaged bogs. These huge expanses of peatland began to develop after the last glaciation on the clays of the flat coastal plain of the Solway. They are built by bog mosses (Sphagnum species) that hold water and produce a highly acidic nutrient poor environment in which only specialised plants can grow. Over thousands of years, the bogs have grown outwards and upwards, building peat up to a depth of 15 metres or so. Most of the bogs have been damaged by peat cutting and attempts to drain them for agriculture or forestry. But Natural England and Cumbria Wildlife Trust now manage most of the larger bogs in the north and south of Cumbria, and the work of restoring them to an active, growing state is going well.

Many thanks to everyone for your considered and encouraging comments yesterday. Blipworld is a wonderful place, I'm not planning on leaving.