Stanner Rocks NNR, Radnorshire

Lying close to the border between England and Wales, Stanner Rocks NNR looks rather unexciting. It is a rounded igneous massif which has some of the oldest rocks found in Wales, dating to around 702 million years ago and comprising of gabbro, diorite and granite which have created the perfect habitat for a number of rare and interesting plant species.

The Quarry, where most of Stanner's rare plants can be found, as well as Peregrines.

The quarry provides plenty of good perching sites for the local Peregrines Falco peregrinus, one of which could be seen regularly, as well as the perfect habitat for some of rare plants present on the site, many of which won't be out until late spring but one species is already in flower, the Radnor Lily Gagea bohemica. Although well botonised by the Victorians, it had somehow managed to go undiscovered until 1968, when an early year visit brought this species to light. The Radnor Lily is a plant suited to much warmer climates with the colony found here being the only example in Britain and the closest population being found in southern France. In total 3 plants still had flowers on them although two were close to being over and its unlikely the third will be in good condition for much longer.

Radnor Lily Gagea bohemnica - my first plant twitch

The surrounding rocky outcrops also contained a number of different fern species including Maidenhair Spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes and Black Spleenwort Asplenium adiantum-nigrum, both are a common and widespread species of rocky crevices and walls.

Black Spleenwort Asplenium adiantum-nigrum

Primrose Primula vulgaris

Barren Strawberry Rust Phragmidium fragariae

In the woodlands which surround the upper slopes of the hill a few other flowers had come into flower, a few Primrose Primula vulgaris had opened their soft yellow blooms, which will provide and early feast for early pollinators. 

Another common species often flowers early is the Barren Strawberry Potentilla steralis  which was found along with its rust Phragmidium fragariae which grows over the leaves and stems (something else I'd never found before).

Barren Strawberry Potentilla steralis

Although there was very little flower in on the site due to the season it was worth it to see the Radnor Lily in flower and I look forward to wandering around later in the spring when some of the sites other rare species should be in flower.

The view from the top of Stanner Rocks looking north-west