We shall be meeting next Sunday 28th July at Shrawardine Millenium Green and churchyard of St Mary the Virgin, Shrawardine.
Promoting the enjoyment, understanding and conservation of the flora of Shropshire.
Sunday 21 July 2024
Recording in Shrawardine
Sunday 30 June 2024
Messing about with Mags in Minsterley
Grid Ref SJ37520483; What3words:marketing.eggshell.opposites.
The two fields (approx 13.5 acres) are old semi-natural hay meadows, floristically rich and supporting Shropshire's largest population of Green-winged Orchids Anacamptis (Orchis) morio, which number in their thousands.
The Middle Marches Community Land Trust have made an offer on these meadows and are currently fund raising: https://middlemarchescommunitylandtrust.org.uk/minsterley-meadows-appeal/
The Shropshire Botanical Society has made a pledge of £500 and on Sunday 7th will make a species list, to create an up-to-date record of what the site supports.
There is a fund raiser event in the morning which is why we are starting the survey after lunch at 1pm to enable anyone to attend the fundraiser talk at the Hall first: Minsterley Meadows Fundraiser Event: The Natural Garden Sunday 7th July, Minsterley Parish Hall
10.00 – 12 noon: Nancy Lowe, The Natural Gardener (thenaturalgardener.org.uk) (donations to the Appeal), picnic lunch if required. To attend you must book your place through: conference@middlemarchescommunitylandtrust.org.uk
For attendance on the Shropshire Botanical Society survey, contact leader Mags Cousins for further details; mags@bagbatch.co.uk, 07873 532681.
We look forward to seeing you next week.
Saturday 8 June 2024
Limestone Lovelies!
We will be meeting at Blackbridge Quarry in Llynclys, SJ 2781 2417 on Saturday 15th June at 11:00 AM. https://w3w.co/like.
This is another site managed by the Shropshire Wildlife Trust. The site of an old limestone quarry, there are many lovely plants to see here including Anacamptis pyramidalis Pyramidal Orchid, Arabis hirsuta Hairy Rock-cress and Platanthera chlorantha Greater Butterfly-orchid.
For further information about the meeting please contact John Handley, 07507 054695, johnhandley11@gmail.
Saturday 1 June 2024
Minsterley Meadows Update
The Middle Marches Community Land Trust are fundraising in order to buy and manage two flower-rich Meadows at Minsterley. Amongst many other species, the meadows support the largest population of green-winged orchids, Anacamptis (Orchis) morio, (below) in Shropshire. This has led to their designation as a Site of Special Scientific Interest by Natural England.
https://middlemarchescommunitylandtrust.org.uk/minsterley-meadows-appeal/
The Shropshire Botanical Society is supporting the campaign by pledging £500 and raising awareness through blog articles and writing to Minsterley Parish Council. Mags Cousins, one of our Vice County Recorders, will be attending the launch which comprises talks and slide show, followed by a walk around the meadows.
You can make personal pledges by email to: info@middlemarchescommunitylandtrust.org.uk
Enterprise House
Bishops Castle
SY9 5AQ
Sunday 19 May 2024
On the Fiddle
We will be visiting Rhos Fiddle Nature Reserve at 11:00 AM on Sunday 26th May. The reserve is managed by the Shropshire Wildlife Trust and parking is limited therefore car sharing is advised.
Meet at SO 2052 8576. https://w3w.co/gathers.hammocks.folk
where we will meet society member, and Site Warden, John Lydon. For those that
know John, they will be aware of his extensive interest in many groups from
invertebrates, plants and birds. We are timing the visit in order to hopefully
see Viola lutea Mountain Pansies in flower (below).
John Handley is co-leading this walk: for further
information about the meeting please contact John Handley, 07507 054695, johnhandley11@gmail.com.
Tuesday 7 May 2024
Minsterley Meadows appeal
Many of you will be aware that two flower-rich hay-meadows on the eastern outskirts of Minsterley designated by Natural England as a Site of Special Scientific Interest have been offered for sale.
Following a public meeting on the 6th January a Minsterley Meadows working group was established and has successfully caught the eye of the Middle Marches Community Land Trust who have made an offer which was accepted. They now have until October 19th to raise the funds.
This is wonderful news as the Trust have quickly developed a reputation, over recent years, for successfully purchasing and managing areas for conservation.Sunday 21 April 2024
Society spring indoor meeting
The Society AGM is taking place next Sunday 29th April at 2:00 PM at Preston Montford. As ever, we will try and ensure that the formal part of the meeting will be succinct. Once the business has been completed we can look forward to a meeting where our Vice County Recorders, Mags Cousins and John Martin, demonstrate how to use iRecord – the favoured method to ensure your records are verified and end up forming part of our wonderful database. They will be using records that were collected last weekend at Prees Heath, a well-attended meeting where some lovely plants recorded including the Heath Dog-violet Viola canina below:
If there is time, there will also be a demonstration of how the records from the Botanical Society database can be downloaded and displayed in QGIS.
We are having a book sale so please donate any books that
you think others would enjoy and please bring along a cake - the tea and coffee are
provided.
We look forward to seeing you at the AGM.
Saturday 17 February 2024
A putative hybrid between G. lucidum and G. robertianum in Shropshire
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Shining Crane's-bill Geranium lucidum and Herb-Robert G. robertianum |
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From Daniels Mill webpage |
Friday 2 February 2024
Willow Emerald Damselfly
Photograph of a Willow Emerald Damselfly by Steve Cham
Tuesday 30 January 2024
Microscopy Workshop 10th February
Martin Godfrey has very kindly offered to run a general microscopy techniques workshop for anyone interested in using microscopes. Martin is an experienced Associate Tutor for the Field Studies Council and past President of the British Bryological Society, and has tutored microscopy courses for different organisations.
Microscopes can be used for many different purposes including finding and measuring stomata and looking at pollen and spore fertility, as well as being used to identify bryophytes. As a general workshop Martin will cover the basics as well as providing samples for more experienced individuals.
Microscopes are being provided by the FSC, but please bring your own if you prefer, as well as your lunch! Tuition and samples are kindly being provided by Martin and it looks to be an excellent day. It is due to take place on the 10th February at Preston Montford field study centre at 10AM. Booking is required, please contact Martin Godfrey as places are limited: mfgodfrey49@gmail.com
We look forward to seeing you then.
Saturday 13 January 2024
Winter Social Sunday 21st Jan: "More than Meets the Eye – the wildlife of Grace Dieu, Leicestershire", a talk by Steve Woodward
Please join us for the Winter Social Indoor meeting, coming soon on Sunday 21st January 2024 - at 14:00 at Preston Montford Field Studies Centre, Montford Bridge, Shrewsbury SY4 1DX. We can look forward to an interesting talk see below and share a cuppa and a piece of cake.