A common native, early flowering, loosly tufted perennial. There are many cultivated form as it forms good grazing particularly eary in the year.

The flower head looks furrywith conspicuous awns (hairs or bristles), and orange or purple anthers ( the bit of the flower that carries the pollen)

This is  grass that is grown as a fodder in hay fields and can tend to swamp other plants. However there isn't that much in the reserve at present.

It flowers early in the year, April or May, and close up views of the seed head are fascinating.