A bimble in Culbin

Neil took a day off work yesterday to help me celebrate my birthday. After checking the mountain weather forecast we decided against going up a hill and headed for a bimble around the woods at Culbin.

Culbin Forest was once a vast area of shifting sand dunes and was the largest area of open sand dunes in Britain covering 3,100 hectares. The land was purchased by the Forestry Commission in the 1920s and afforestation began. The forest helped to reduce the drift of the 7 km long sand bar, which is designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

Early summer in the Caledonian pinewoods

The early summer flowers are really coming into bloom now at Glenmore.

There are masses of Greater Stichwort (Stellaria holostea) in bloom at the woodland edge among the grasses,

The name of the plant derives from its use with acorns to cure a ‘stitch’. Personally I think if you stop running to pick the flowers and boil them, etc, that will cure your stitch! Another common name is ‘thunder flower’ as it was believed if the flower was picked it would summon thunder storms. The plant was considered to be a remedy for broken bones since its stems are so fragile then this must be a sign that they were to have that medicinal use.