Title: A Description of the Alma Field 

The Alma Field in Sidmouth is a beautiful wildflower meadow that overlooks the town. It's a popular spot for people to enjoy the views, take photos, and simply relax in nature. The field is managed by Sidmouth Town Council and has public access.

Here are some things you might enjoy about the Alma Field:

• The wildflowers: The field is home to a variety of wildflowers, including poppies, ox-eye daisies, and other colourful blooms.
• The views: The field offers stunning views of Sidmouth and the surrounding countryside.
• The wildlife: The field is home to a variety of wildlife, especially butterflies, grasshoppers and other insect species.
• The peace and quiet: The field is a peaceful and relaxing place to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

If you're looking for a beautiful place to spend some time in nature, the Alma Field is definitely worth a visit.

Access:

On Foot:

The Alma Field is on the cliff top on the eastern edge of the town. It can be accessed from the town by crossing the Alma Bridge over the river at the eastern end of the Esplanade and following the signposted coastal path route. Where the path reaches the National Trust Salcombe Hill sign instead of turning on to Salcombe Hill carry straight on and the entrance gate to the Alma Field is just some yards further.

By Car:

It should be noted that the coastal path from the town is quite steep and maybe too much for anyone who finds a prolonged and steep incline difficult. An alternative way to enjoy Alma Field is to drive to the top of Hillside Road where there is usually plenty of roadside parking. Leave the car, walk a little way up Hillside Road to the junction and turn right into Alma Lane (do not attempt to take a car along Alma Lane). After passing Laskeys Lane on your right the Alma Field a short way further along the coastal path which you meet here.

Influences

The Alma Field is situated on the eastern slopes of the valley above the town and its southern edge is the coastal cliff meaning it is totally exposed to the prevailing weather patterns that usually come from the south west. The site slopes slightly down to the west exposing it to plenty of summer sunshine which can benefit insect populations.

Being of a roughly triangular shape the eastern side is the lower part of the National Trust owned Salcombe Hill which has an open expanse of scrub and grassland and whilst this might influence the Alma Field they are in reality very different because of different management; more on that shortly.

On the north western side are domestic dwellings and gardens and, inevitably, the gardens can have an influence on the flora and fauna of the field.
The field is not a large site but large enough to sustain a viable ecosystem

Geology 

This area to the eastern side of the town stands on the Sidmouth mudstone geological foundation as can be seen when one looks at the famous red cliffs from sea level in the town. This does not unduly influence the ecosystem.

Management

The Alma Field is owned and managed by the town council as a publicly accessible amenity but is ‘lightly’ managed with some paths being mown through the grass areas during the summer and then at the end of the season the grass is totally mown to mirror the older practices of management of hay meadows. Apart from this minimal intervention the site seems to be allowed to generate naturally.

However, in 2018 the site was ploughed and seeded with ‘wildflower’ seeds. Being artificially sown it is difficult to describe these plants as being ‘wild flowers’! The exact mix of seed used is unknown by the author but  the impression is that these were what we would term ‘weeds of cultivation’: ie plants that generally thrive where the land is annually ploughed and cultivated. This would include species such as poppy, cornflower and corn marigold and a small number of these species can be still seen but as the land is not ploughed every year these species seem to be dying out as the site returns to a more natural vegetation.

Habitat 

Observation

On entering the Alma Field enclosure in summer one is immediately struck by an image of a ‘traditional’ hay meadow bordered by scrub hedgerow. Even along the cliff top there is a strip of hedgerow scrub which may have naturally developed as it lays beyond the wire fencing that is there for safety reasons.

Whilst the gardens of the houses are visible in summer these are mostly screened by furth scrub hedgerow and so the site is enclosed almost completely by scrub and this is a dominant and important feature of the site. The scrub contains primarily blackthorn with hawthorn and other shrubs present. 

The enclosed grassland has a strong herbal mix of both grass species and vascular plants. 

Plant Mix:

Taking the preferred habitat of the most frequently encountered plants provides this profile:

This profile reflects the observed environment with grassland surrounded by scrub, and particularly hedgerow scrub, being the most prevalent.

The plants also indicate that the soil is basically neutral with a slight influence of chalk and this would be in line with the Sidmouth mudstone formations. The presence of 13 wetland plants may appear odd but most of those wet grassland flowers are quite at home in heavy soils with a high moisture retention and with its openness to the incoming south westerly rain systems it is likely that the soil will retain moisture throughout much of the summer.

The nine ‘weeds of cultivation’ reflects the proximity of the nearby dwellings and also, of course, the remnants of the 2018 seeding. 

Plants

During the project survey visits twelve species of grasses have been found on the Alma Field. It is assumed that the reseeding in 2018 was flowers only and that no grass seed was present meaning the species now present have regenerated from seed, or perhaps plants themselves, that have been present on the site for many years. Given most of these species occur on neighbouring Salcombe Hill that would seem a reasonable assumption.  

The field itself has much false-oat grass, common in this type of habitat generally, and the ubiquitous cock’sfoot, sweet vernal grass and Yorkshire fog. Smooth meadow grass, meadow foxtail and timothy grass also occur. Along the hedgerows barren brome and soft brome are present.

Sixty flower plants have been recorded to date. The hedgerow scrub is formed mainly of blackthorn and bramble with hedge bindweed a frequent climber along with ivy.

The grassy area varies through the seasons but is at its best in mid-summer when common (or black) knapweed dominates along with greater knapweed. Here too agrimony, cat’s-ear, various vetch species, field bindweed, hogweed, meadow buttercup, oxeye daisy and yarrow are widespread. One of the most dominant species is wild carrot and this has a positive influence on insect populations.

One of the most significant features, perhaps, is the presence of corky-fruited water-dropwort which is considered to be a nationally scarce species but it seems well established on suitable sites here in the Sidmouth area. It has preference for damp ground which would suggest the soil here has a high moisture retention level which accounts for the generally lush vegetation.

Along the fringe near the gardens one finds the species that are most likely remnants of the re-seeding. Here, occasional specimens of corncockle, cornflower, corn marigold, stinking chamomile and, of course, common poppy.

The fringes of the site in general are home to scrub species such as common nettle, creeping thistle, hedge bedstraw and herb Robert.

The hedgerow branches reveal a few lichen species which are most visible during the winter months.

Wildlife

Tetrapods

The project surveys have not revealed any signs of mammals or reptiles. This does not mean they are not present, just that, in general, these species for a variety of reasons are rarely encountered on a casual walk on a summer's afternoon. 

A description of the Alma Field elsewhere on the Internet suggests bird species such as skylark, meadow pipit and yellowhammer can be seen on this site but the project surveys have not  been able to confirm this. The site would appear to be too small to sustain breeding populations of the species and the close proximity to human habitation would probably deter them and anything other than hedgerow nesting species from using the site. This is, perhaps, confirmed by the presence of robin, dunnock and chaffinch on the survey species list but strangely, no blackbird as yet.

The only other tetrapod species observed are frequent herring gulls gliding overhead.

Arthropods

Not all insects present can be identified and recorded either because they are too small, too similar to others or are inclined to depart at the slightest detection on approaching apparent danger. The total of twenty-five to date on the project does indicate that it is, indeed, beneficial for insect populations.

One of the most visible orders of insects are the butterflies and nine species have been observed on the Alma Field to date. The hedgerows provide a feast for gatekeepers in August and the frequent sightings of red admiral, peacock and comma also tend to be in and around the hedgerows. Out in the meadow area is where the abundant meadow brown dominates with other species including marbled white, common blue and small skipper present.

The most abundant insect is the meadow grasshopper which thrives in the lush grasses of the meadow. Also present here is Roesel’s bush-cricket, a recent coloniser of the south coast of Britain, and over in the hedgerow one might find the dark bush-cricket. 

The heads of umbelliferae species, especially the abundant wild carrot and the good number of hogweed plants, are the prime place to look for hoverflies, ichneumons and sawflies. Coleoptera on these flower species is represented by swollen-thighed beetle, common red soldier beetle, rose chafer and ladybirds. Bees are more likely to be seen on other species of flower as their feeding preferences are different and more suited to single, open flower heads.

Sightings of emperor and southern hawker dragonflies were unexpected given there is no freshwater pond on the site however it may be that a garden nearby has a suitable pond for them to breed. That said, males of these two species are known to cover large distances in their search for a mate.

Conclusion 

Not only is the Alma Field an ideal place for human beings to stop, sit and take in the surrounding views and wildlife and it is also an ideal home for many creatures. The total species count to date of 116 indicates its value as a haven for insects and plants to thrive.

It is reassuring to know that this site is in the hands of the town council and will receive protection and management thus preserving, and potentially enhancing, the site for years to come.

[Species counts and observations are as at the 31st October 2024]