The illustration above shows three types of speedwell, a common ground cover wild plant of the British Isles. As is often the case, the Common Speedwell is the least common (as is the case with Common Gulls as often seen at St. Andrew’s Dock, I think now an endangered species).
A recent walk with the wild plants the main focus was a circular one from Pearson Park, along Park St. to the ex-Victoria Dock rail line right of way, across Beverley Road, along a further stretch of the ex-rail line to Barmston Drain*, north along the drain side to Sculcoates Road and back to Beverley Road and the Park.
- this point along Barmston Drain is very interesting in terms of railway history, here the Victoria Dock rail line crossed the drain with an off-shoot rail line to Hornsea soon after and a bit further on the earlier off-shoot to Withernsea. Also at * a second rail bridge carried an off-shoot rail line to the engine sheds (surviving) near the River Hull. Finally at * the high level Hull – Barnsley rail line’s embankment crossed over the Victoria Dock line by a bridge, this leading to Cannon Street station. * Quite a viewing point back in the railway age.
Wild plants seen along the way = flowering currant, buddleia, dandelion, celandine, ivy, cow parsley, dock, cleaver, chickweed, groundsel, ground ivy, speedwell, periwinkle, forsythia, bluebells (not in flower), daisy, amalanchia (shrub), hogweed (early stage).
Can be seen, and they don’t charge.