Stanmore Common Nature Trail
Return trail post 4: This is Pynding Mersc. This is the lowest point of the reserve and all the streams flow to here. A dam that carries the horse ride has created a wetland delta used by many animals including dragonflies, damselflies, frogs, toads, newts, water beetles, herons, mandarin and mallard ducks as well as Daubenton's and soprano pipistrelle bats.

Plants in the water include float grass, water and wood forget-me-not and gypsywort. Immediately in front of the number roundel look for narrow leaved water plantain Alisma lanceolatum with its large spear shaped leaves, bearing pretty white flowers in June through August.


Image: Narrow-leaved water plantain by Lliam Rooney.
Copyright reserved, reproduced by permission.
As you walk across the footbridge notice bubbles appearing by the vertical supports. This is trapped methane squeezed out of the mud by your weight on the bridge.

As you leave the boardwalk and begin climbing the slope look on the right in spring for wood-sorrel Oxalis acetosella. The leaves have three independent leaves, like clover, and the very pretty white flowers appear in April and May.


Image: Wood sorrel by Steve Bolsover
To description for return trail post 5

More on some of the birds you are likely to see or hear on the Common

More on the three species of deer on the Common and their tracks

Click here to learn more about the Harrow Nature Conservation Forum including guided walks and conservation workdays.