Round Lough
Despite being relatively small, Round Lough (named because of its shape), together with the surrounding fens and woodland, is of great interest to environmentalists. The site is designated as an ASSI (Area of Special Scientific Interest) for its wetland flora and fauna. It is also a proposed Local Nature Reserve and a public park. There is a caravan site, capable of accommodating half a dozen or so motor homes and caravans among the shelter of mature trees and woodland that includes several magnificent beech trees. These proudly guard the path that leads from the car park to the lakeside trail, the playground and the visitor centre.
I stand watching three mallards swimming side by side across the lake as if in a race. Like an over-enthusiastic spectator, a swallow flies close to them, drinking from the surface as it passes. The finish line is marked by the emerging flower spikes of water plantain and the floating leaves of water lilies, and as the ducks reach it they bunch together noisily as if discussing who has won.
It is early autumn, and already a few golden leaves are coating the ground and the berries of the rowan trees and ornamental shrubs near the centre are ripening to vivid red. I start out along the path that runs around the lough, passing several early morning dog-walkers. At first the lake is only visible through a curtain of leaves: alders, willows and reed grass. These species grow with their ‘feet’ in the water, which in places creeps alarmingly close to the path. Most of the woodland flowers have long since gone to seed, although I find clumps of pendulous sedge and wood brome, their leaves still green and their golden-yellow flower heads glowing in the morning light. They flourish among fading willowherbs, fallen pine needles and emerging fungi.
The western boundary of Round Lough abuts arable farmland, which has been recently ploughed. Among the brown sods I spot a few chaffinches feeding. Then I see some more, then more. As the flock lifts and flies overhead I count around four dozen birds. From this part of the path I can look back towards the visitor centre over the areas of tall, swaying reed grass. Reed beds look attractive but in general are species poor. They do, however, provide cover for nesting birds such as dabchicks and coots. To prove my point, one coot emerges from the reeds in front of me, regularly ducking its head under the water as it feeds on submerged vegetation. I hear the scolding call of a wren nearby. Perched awkwardly on a narrow stem, it climbs upwards with a series of short hops. Eventually the stem proves too weak to support even such a small bird and it is forced to fly off to find a perch that isn’t swaying in the wind.
On the shore side of the reed beds lie damp grass meadows, coloured by the yellow flowers of greater bird’s foot trefoil and the purple, spherical flowerheads of devil’s bit scabious. This second plant derives its unusual name from the story about the devil, who was reputedly so annoyed at the healing properties of the plant that he bit off the root in a fit of rage to limit its usefulness.
Continuing my circuit back to the visitor centre, I notice that in places the water is choked with Canadian pondweed, a non-native species that is now widespread in our freshwater systems. A sign near a small slipway warns boat owners of the need to wash down their craft before floating them to prevent the spread of zebra mussels, another invasive non-native that can have a major detrimental impact on native aquatic species and habitats.
Round Lough is a pretty lake and the perimeter walk is a delight. The path is very suitable for wheelchair users and those with access issues. So there is no excuse for not setting aside some time to experience the tranquillity of the place, and to get a glimpse of the local wildlife.