Treats and terrors

Today's walk was back to Ross Priory and the walk past the old Buchanan family graveyard and on through to the loch behind the golf course. It was a real jungle today. Lots of meadowsweet, burdock, brambles, columbine and the willow herb just beginning to appear above everything else. There are also lots of wild raspberries that were sweet and delicious - a real treat. In one place they formed an arch of raspberry canes which we needed to go under.

There was one terror we noticed as well - a specimen of giant hogweed. This is a spectacular plant but one that is very nasty and can cause severe burns to the skin - to be avoided at all costs. It spreads along rivers and watercourses and can be clearly seen spreading along burns in the Carse on the road to Stirling. Although attempts are being made to get rid of it, it is very strong and persistent. Ecoscope have produced a very useful leaflet describing Giant Hogweed and eradication methods.

By the time we reached the shore in front of Ross Priory it had started to rain quite heavily but we were not deterred as one of the reasons for the walk was to see the orchids in the meadow nearest to the Portnellan boundary. We were not disappointed. There were one or two along the path but the field was covered with them. There appeared to be several varieties but I haven't been able to identify them all. See today's picture for the one I can identify. We were pretty wet by now but spent several minutes admiring and photographing the profusion of orchids there.