A small group of early risers set off on the first boat to Flotta on a wonderfully warm, sunny day. Flotta is, as they say, more than just an oil terminal; a pretty, relaxed and peaceful island. We admired the lovely new waiting room, donned sunhats and sunscreen and very soon along the road, we were debating whether a plant was Lesser Trefoil or Black Medick and settling on the former. Most of us are hesitant on our grasses identification, but our newest member helped us out with his knowledge of agricultural grasses as we went along.

 

A short distance from the pier we went behind the remains of the war-time cinema to look at the large, mainly coniferous, woodland. We admired the older, huge, spreading Spruce trees which were planted in the 1940s by naval ratings based on the island - spruce is usually grown in commercial woodlands and its normal branched structure is hampered by lack of light, so it is good to see examples of these more free-standing trees in front of the densely planted Pine wood. The ground flora consisted of ferns with masses of brightly flowering Pink Purslane on the edges.  More recently, a variety of trees (including Oak, Hornbeam, Beech, Rowan, Western Hemlock and Larch) were planted by the community in the open space and these were growing well.

 

Leaving the woodland, we walked along the west coast track studying plants along the verges and ditches. There was much to see and flowering plants included Birdsfoot Trefoil, Cuckoo Flower, Red and White Clover, Mousear, Sea Mayweed, Tormentil, Marsh Thistle, Milkwort, Ribwort Plantain, Eyebright, Northern Marsh Orchid, Bush Vetch and the tiny, delicate Fairy Flax. Plants as yet to flower included Knapweed, Angelica, Meadowsweet, Meadow Vetchling, Catsears, Selfheal and Tufted Vetch. We also passed groups of both Eared and Tea-leaved Willow (these are native to Orkney).  A surprising find was two young apple saplings growing well in the ditch. Our sunny picnic stop was graced with views (and sounds) of Arctic Skuas and Bonxies. During the day, we discussed ferns and our need/wish to study these in more detail over the course of the year and hopefully we can arrange a session to concentrate on these.

 

Returning to the pier by the roads, we heard a cuckoo calling from a small woodland. Some of us continued to investigate the verges, admiring large groups of Wood Horsetail, whilst others went up to the turbine to admire the view, but came back with the record of the day - a Juniper, which has been confirmed as the first record of this species for Flotta. (Whilst Juniper is abundant in Hoy, it is relatively rare elsewhere).

 

All in all, we listed approximately 60 species of plants and set off home on the last boat back to Houton after an enjoyable exploration of a small part of Flotta.