I really should have known better. Having submitted the parish flora and fauna data to the Devon Biodiversity Centre was never going to be the end of it. A handful of wildflowers have since appeared: white clover, scentless mayweed, least lettuceand creeping St John’s wort and the parish bird list continues to grow now standing at 158 species. I may need to send an update!
A major report in 2023 highlighted that native UK plants were in catastrophic decline with the UK now one of the most nature depleted countries in the world where one in every five native plant species is threatened. There are now more non-native plant species in the wild than native ones and many of these are very invasive. This decline is largely driven by loss of habitat, climate change and the use of toxic chemicals. It has been suggested that we have entered the sixth mass extinction period and one caused entirely by mankind. The loss of diversity affects us all as animals and plants provide us with everything we need to survive. It is said that the UK has little room for nature due to development and agriculture and yet we fail to heed the warnings.
I am not alone in thinking that a plan to build houses in the meadow next to the Old Vicarage is a really bad idea. Nine species of bat have been recorded here which is amazing considering the UK list only stands at 18. In fact, the total species bat count stands at 15 and so you can see what an important area this is.
Joni Mitchell had it right all those decades ago – in her Big Yellow Taxi she sang of paving over paradise and putting up a parking lot! We are lucky here in Payhembury to live along an important wildlife corridor and one which is constantly throwing up amazing new discoveries.
Have you see the pair of Red Kites over the village? If we are in luck they may nest, as there are plenty of suitable trees for them.
