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Though fairly widespread in the south west, gorse scrub is actually a scarce habitat type internationally. Both common gorse and western gorse abound here and the parasitic dodder is frequently found growing on the gorse of the area. It resembles a tangle of red threads and in early summer has a mass of tiny pink flowers. Gorse often forms a dense, compact thicket, sculpted by the winds into an undulating and impenetrable surface, providing an important shelter for breeding birds, including the grasshopper warbler, stonechat and linnet. It is also valuable for insects as well as supporting a number of lichens and fungi.
Gorse
In years gone by gorse was cut for heating bakers' ovens and was also used for fodder and in firing lime kilns where the limestone brought in by boat from South Wales was prepared for agricultural use on the farms. At Morte Point local people had rights to the 'blackwood' - the remains of the gorse after it had been cleared by burning - which they collected for firewood. heather was used for thatching ricks and the flowers of both plants would have produced honey, much used in the days before imported sugar.
An old country saying claims that 'when gone is in blossom, kissing's in season'. Interestingly there are few times of the year when there is no blossom visible!
Contributed by: John Daley
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