Photo Journal
22nd June // Ogwen Reconnaissance
Cwm Idwal // N 53.1105 W -4.0327
The path around Llyn Idwal and an unflowered Heath Milkwort
As part of a larger project which I have undertaken named “Uplands” I have been diving deep into researching the ecology of the mountain environments of Eryri. One aspect which has caught my attention most fully, has been that of the Arctic Alpine Wildflowers. For many of these which exist within the park have been clinging on in their most southern most range in the UK, high up on North facing ledges, out of reach of the pesky hungry sheep and eager humans looking to add these unique flowers to their collections.
Heath Speedwell
So as part of my research, I was doing a preliminary outing into Cwm Idwal to trace the steps taken by some botanists on a seminar recording I managed to find online, PDF in hand of what flowers to see where. This could have been an entire day out, save for the fact that I had only until 11am where I was to meet a friend to help her with sampling for her own project.
With limited time, I had only managed to get as far as Devil’s Kitchen, a popular route for reaching the soft plateau between Glyder Fach and Y Garn, before I had to promptly return.
Despite not having as much time as Id have hoped, cloudy weather and a short time window of sunlight on the North East Facing cliffs meant that today was never going to be “the” day for finding the Arctic Alpines I was searching for, but a successful day of photographing wildflowers on my way never the less.
Welsh Poppy and I believe a type of Tetragnatha spider