Mosses and waterfalls

 

11^th January 2013

I hold tightly onto Izzy’s hand as she careers down the steep tree-lined valley slope, which drips with mosses, liverworts and lichens. At this point in the winter there are few flowers to be found, but the lower plants – the ferns, mosses and liverworts, as well as the wonderfully varied lichens, are resplendent and all the more impressive for the lack of any other greenery. I encourage Izzy to stroke the luxuriant moss that carpets the trunk of a Sessile Oak and together, we study the delicate fronds of a Soft Shield-fern, comparing it with the stiffer, fish-bone-like Hard Fern. Bryophyte identification is a specialist subject, but I know enough to spot a few common species – Common Tamarisk-moss, Greater Featherwort, Great Scented Liverwort and Common (or Bank) Haircap. Izzy is particularly interested in the spiky Haircap moss. Two rivers, the East Lyn and Hoar Oak Water, race to join each other at the bottom of the valley, giving this place its name – Watersmeet. We stand on the bridge to admire the waterfall and the glass-clear water that flows beneath our feet. Then, I see a pair of Dippers disappearing under the water. There are furry catkins on the Hazel trees and it seems as though spring is almost here, but there is snow forecast for next week and in reality it is still a long way off.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Practicalities

There is a pay and display car park on the A39 (Watersmeet Road), which was not charging when we visited. We did a little loop walk of about 1km, crossing over Chiselcombe Bridge and then again at the bridge next to Watersmeet House. The path is steep and buggy-friendly, but the steep banks and raging rivers are not particularly safe for toddlers, so if there is any danger of your little one wandering off and falling into the river(!), then reins would definitely be an advantage. Also note that it is a steep walk back to the car park with a toddler strapped to your chest!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other places to see mosses (and a few waterfalls, too!)

• Golitha Falls NNR
• Wistman’s Wood NNR
• Loch Lomond Woods
• Bolton Abbey Woods
• Knapdale Forest
• Waterfall Country
• Epping Forest
• Blackwood of Rannoch
• Coed Felinrhyd