Llanelli Naturalists Newsletter - June 1998 - No 63
Richard Pryce
Leader Richard Pryce
Twelve members met by the Lifeboat Station in disappointingly cool, dull weather, particularly after the seemingly endless hot sun experienced over the previous couple of weeks.
The party made its way to the sparsely vegetated site of the old wagon repair works where several clumps of Bladder Campion (Silene vulgaris) and a stand of Greater Knapweed (Centaurea scabiosa) were of particular note. The apron of the northern wall of the East Dock produced the first good find of the day, one or two plants of one of the small clovers. After a certain amount of discussion they proved to be Knotted Clover (Trifolium striatum), the first record for Burry Port, although previously recorded from Pembrey Harbour and near the Country Park.
Continuing on to the West Dock, a few plants of Pale Flax (Linum bienne) were found on the apron of the northern wall, a few metres from the north-eastern corner of the dock basin. This species had not been seen in this vicinity since 1991 although it just continues to persist east of the old power station site where it grows on dry fuel-ash. Although Pale Flax is recorded from seven tetrads in Carmarthenshire, the only extant populations are at Burry Port where disturbance and consolidation caused by the creation of the Millennium Coastal Park may pose a future threat. Local seed of this and other significant species has been collected for bulking-up, which it is intended to use for enhancing suitable newly created habitats within the park.
The flora of the northern West Dock wall is very diverse and provides a rocky substrate for species such as Rock Samphire (Crithmum maritimum), Bladder Campion and Rock Sea-lavender (Limonium procerum), normally found on sea cliffs, a rare habitat in Carmarthenshire. At the base of the wall, saltmarsh species were seen growing on the mud, particularly at the western end. These included Sea Rush (Juncus maritimus), Sea Purslane (Atriplex portulacoides) and Annual Sea-blight (Sueda maritima).
However the most noteworthy plant, Small-flowered Catchfly (Silene gallica), occurs about half-way along the wall-top, about 10m east of the lifebuoy. It was discovered in late summer 1997 by the field meeting leader, when several hundred desiccated 'skeletons' were found. Enough seed was collected at that time to provide material for propagation to ensure the survival of the local stock. At the beginning of May 1997 he searched for the plants in the same spot but without success. However, about 1000 plants were discovered in full flower at the previously searched spot, during a site visit on 19 May and these were shown to the assembled members today (see photo). The species is in the Nationally Scarce category and is included on the Long List of Biodiversity Action Plan species. In Carmarthenshire there are five old records, the most recent of which date from about 1960. It was last recorded from Burry Port around 1920 by David Hamer.
A second small clover, this time Rough Clover (Trifolium scabrum), a very localspecies in the county, was seen to be growing prolifically on the western side of the Outer Harbour, by the concrete curbs at the top of the slipway and in paving cracks near the Yacht Club house. Nearby, about a dozen plants of Dwarf Mallow (Malva neglecta) were growing by the grasscrete pathway, another plant surviving here at its only extant Carmarthenshire site.
A brief foray was then made into the dunes west of the harbour specifically to re-find Sand Catchfly (Silene conica), last recorded here about ten years ago. It was found to be locally frequent in somewhat disturbed dunes and on trafficked pathways. Some plants were up to 300mm tall, many with flowers, others only with the disproportionately inflated calyx. In Carmarthenshire this species is confined to the Burry Port and Pembrey dunes. Another scarce species occurring in these dunes is Dune Fescue (Vulpia fasciculata) which was found growing quite abundantly in one area of sparsely vegetated sand in a small blow-out. Both these species are also Nationally Scarce.
Returning to the cars, robust rosettes of Nodding Thistle (Carduus nutans) were seen near the entrances to the inner harbours. The council, in its wisdom, still continues to strim these plants in their relentless quest to turn all areas of remaining wild flora into lawn despite its obvious attractiveness.
It was also here that young Thomas Morgan remarked upon the abundance and attractiveness of Kidney Vetch whilst at the same time stalking a Common Blue butterfly, all the time eating an ice lolly! He certainly seemed to have enjoyed himself during the afternoon and I hope that adult members were also favourably impressed at the floral interest of a site which, at first glance, might appear to be rather mundane. We can only hope that the proposals for the Millennium Coastal Park in this area will set aside enough un-tidied ground to maintain these important species into the future.
