Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2017 | Page 80

Country life
w
Photo: House sparrow in ivy by Amy Lewis
The magic of Ivy
By Catherine McGuire, ecologist at
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust
All too often ivy is overlooked, cut back or ripped out altogether – to the
casual eye it’s just not that interesting, and there are many more fun and
pretty plants to grow in its place. However, take a moment in September to
have a real look, and you may be surprised at what you find: perfect little
five-pointed stars, their zesty yellow-green petals and vibrant yellow stamens
clustered in globe-shaped umbels standing in cheerful contrast to the glossy,
dark-green leaves we’re more familiar with.
80
www.visitilife.com