As an experiment last summer a number of small information boards were put out on the Lein beside selected plants and flowers.  The boards contained a photograph of the plant/flower and a short text describing interesting or unusual details about it.

The boards seemed to meet with widespread approval from users of the Lein, so this summer it is hoped to repeat the experiment and increase the number of plants covered.

By their very nature, these boards are intended to attract attention and thus increase public awareness of the wide range of rare and unusual plants to be found on the Lein.  It is therefore sad to report that the board describing the Moonwort (a tiny plant only 2 - 3 inches in height and one of less than a dozen growing in the area) resulted in the plant being picked within a day or so of the board being put out.

It is of course against the law to pick wild flowers, and should be especially so on a Nature Reserve.  It was also extremely selfish of the individual concerned since it deprived everyone else of the opportunity of seeing the plant - and the chances of the guilty party propagating it were virtually nil.

We can only hope that all plants will be treated with the respect they deserve.  This will be to the mutual benefit of the plants themselves and all those who visit the Lein.

Peter Gordon Smith