Purple reign

We didn't need hold on for too long, the purple reign has begun.

Hold on

 

Country Joe sang 'hold on it's coming, hold on it's almost here'. Now he wasn't talking about the forests' Heather and Ling, but they are. All over the Forests' expansive heathland heather (Calluna vulgaris) and ling (Erica cinerea) flowers are tentatively emerging; soon our walks, if taken in the open, will be through an ocean of mauve and magenta hues.  It's easy to become complacent and overlook this ubiquitous rough shrub, you need to take a moment to absorb the majesty of the landscape around you though. It can be quite the sight.

Purple reign

 

Every year heather's purple reign is accompanied by the buzzing sounds of enthusiastic activity; heather (Calluna vulgarisis) is very popular with the pollinators, honey Bees (Apis mellifera) particularly love it and you'll often see classic wooden bee hives tucked amongst the gorse thickets to take advantage of natures bounty.

Purple reign

 Purple reign. The heather and Ling are putting on a magnificent show.

Ling

There are three types of heather in Britain, all commonly found in the forest: Ling Heather (Calluna Vulgaris), Bell Heather (Erica cinerea) and Cross Leaved Heath Heather (Erica tetralix). Out of these Ling is the most abundant in the forest, it's the one you'll see the most. Usually just referred to as 'Ling', it's the one of the three heathers most commonly seen in the forest, its delicate soft pink flowers bringing swathes of colour to the heathland and are quite long lasting. It's hardy and durable, living for over 40 years, with woody stems and small waxy leaves, able to tolerate extremes of weather.  The flowers have been used to flavour wines and ales, it's still a common bee plant, with ling honey being priced for it's taste.  You'll often see hives placed amongst the shelter of the heathland gorse to exploit the heathers. The forestry regularly cut heather back to promote vigorous and healthy growth and to stop the heather becoming too woody and a fire risk. They bale it, you see the bales used around the forest for various things, particularly in waterways. Everything gets used in the forest, as it should be.  The heather does look lovely at this time of year.