The microscopy workshop that took place on Sunday was a tremendous success, with grateful thanks to Martin Godfrey for leading us through setting up a microscope, calibrating a micrometre and then teaching us techniques to identify potential hybrids and develop skills using stains. Everybody attending greatly enjoyed the day.
Whilst we are still working out the finer details for the forthcoming seasons field outings we wanted to give you some advanced notice so that you are able to put these dates into your diaries. All the details can be found on our Field Meetings webpage.
Sunday May 4th, 11am. Harton Hollow Shropshire Wildlife Trust Reserve, near Craven Arms.
This lovely woodland on the carboniferous limestone of Wenlock
Edge has many ancient indicators and axiophytes to find, such as Toothwort Lathraea squamaria, Wood Barley Hordelymus europaeus, Wood Millet Millium effusum and Early-purple Orchid Orchis mascula. It will probably be too early for flowering
Giant Bellflower Campanula latifolia
and Nettle-leaved Bellflower C.trachelium
but we might find the leaves. It is
a small site (3ha), with steep unsurfaced paths which may be slippery.
Parking is along the lane from Westhope to Harton, please car
share if possible, Grid Reference SO 47914 87490, What3words: https://w3w.co/lifters.stubbed.pampering
Leader Mags Cousins, Mobile 07873 532681, email: mags@bagbatch.co.uk
Sunday May 25th at 10:30am.
Joint meeting with the North Worcestershire Flora Group within the Wyre Forest
National Nature Reserve. Meet at Hawkbatch car park.
This wonderful, large woodland located in both counties contains a
number of rare species such as Epipactis purpurata, Violet Helleborine, Sorbus
domestica, Service-tree, Melica nutans, Mountain Melick, Geranium
sanguineum, Bloody Crane's-bill, Carex montana, Soft-leaved Sedge
and Potamogeton crispus, Curled Pondweed. The Wyre Forest Study Group
have been systematically locating and recording flushes within the Forest and
hopefully Cesca Beamish, the leader from the North Worcestershire Flora Group,
can provide us with an update on this project. We shall be exploring the
woodland from paths that are muddy in places.
Parking is at Hawkbatch Car Park, SO 76099 77701, What3words: https://w3w.co/irritated.steered.glove.
Please note the slightly earlier time of 10:30am.
John Handley is the leader for the Shropshire contingent, 07507
054695, email: johnhandley11@gmail.com
Saturday June 14th at
11:00am. Vegetative Sedge Training Day at Catherton Common.
Following on from the tremendously successful publication of
Hilary Wallace’s Grasses:
a guide to identification using vegetative characters, Hillary has been
busily working on the production of an equivalent publication for Sedges. We
are hoping that Hilary will be able to join us for a training session using
vegetative characters to identify sedges at Catherton Common.
Catherton Common is such an important site that we are planning to
hold two field visits this year. Along with an interesting range of sedges we
should also be able to enjoy Lysimachia tenella, Bog Pimpernel, Pinguicula
vulgaris, Common Butterwort, Narthecium ossifragum, Bog Asphodel and
Drosera rotundifolia, Round-leaved Sundew. The going underfoot will be
wet in places but there are no steep paths or steps.
Parking at SO 64174 78773, What3words: https://w3w.co/options.cobble.notch.
Leader John Handley, 07507 054695, email: johnhandley11@gmail.com
Sunday 29th June. Llynclys Meadows – Anthill and Lower
Butcher’s
We hope to visit two calcareous grassland meadows at Llynclys. The
first is Anthill Meadow which has had scrub removed and is now recovering. If time allows we will move onto Lower
Butcher’s which is a short distance away. Both should have typical limestone
species in flower in June. The anthills
used to be covered in Thymus polytrichus,
Wild Thyme, with Heliantheum nummularium,
Rock Rose is also present and these should now be coming back in quantity. Distances are not big, but tracks are uneven
and the access to Lower Butcher’s
is quite steep.
Access is by walking up Sun Lane, a track off the A495 just east
of Dolgoch. This not suitable for ordinary vehicles. Opposite Sun Lane is a
turning to Llynclys Quarry. Take this turning and park in the approach road to
Llynclys Quarry outside the gates, and as tidily as possible. Then walk back
and cross the road to Sun Lane – with care as the traffic is heavy and fast
moving.
We will meet at 11.00a.m. at Sun Lane.
Lynclys Quarry is at SJ 264 241, Post code SY10 8LW, what three
words https://w3w.co/passions.increment.pheasants
Contact for further information is Penny Wysome 01952 242617 pennywysome@yahoo.com
Saturday July 26th at
11:00am. Exploring Betchcott Hill, the new Wildlife Trust nature reserve.
Betchcott Hill sits between the Stiperstones ridge and the Long
Mynd, and the proposed reserve is 50 hectares. Currently we have 181 records
for the plants that live there, ranging from 1977 to 2020, and containing 121
species; of which 32 of these are axiophytes.
The land between the Stiperstones and the Long Mynd is an
important corridor and will be part of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, and
therefore it is important to know what is there before any restoration work
commences.
Parking to be determined nearer the time. John Handley is the
leader, 07507 054695, email: johnhandley11@gmail.com
Sunday 17th August
Pam’s Pools nature reserve, Mor Brook
valley near Bridgnorth. Meet at 11.00am, Pam Yuille’s cottage post code WV16
6TY. Grid Reference: SO 686 817
This 44 ha site is the vision of Pam Yuille, part owned by Pam and
the Shropshire Wildlife Trust. It comprises woodland, several large pools (ex
quarry pits) and much interesting grassland varying from semi-improved to
species rich meadows. It is usually only accessible on open days but the
Botanical Society is delighted to accept an invitation to visit and improve the
plant list. More information can be
found on the SWT website: Pam's Pools
The site is west of Bridgnorth and can be approached from either
the A458 or the B364. A lane between
these two goes through Underton which is the nearest settlement. Parking will be in a field off this lane
through a gate as indicated when you arrive. There is a small visitor centre
and compost loo. Although quite a big area the site is largely flat and paths
are accessible.
Leader Mags Cousins, Mobile 07873 532681 mags@bagbatch.co.uk
Sunday September 21st at 11:00am. Our second visit in 2025 to
Catherton Common.
As part of our project to record rare plants in Shropshire we are
hoping to relocate Eleocharis multicaulis, Many-stalked Spike-rush, Eleogiton
fluitans, Floating Club-rush, Eriophorum latifolium, Broad-leaved
Cottongrass and Lysimachia minima, Chaffweed.
There will also be a wealth of other species including Sphagnum’s
and other bryophytes, so this site promises to be a great way to end the field
season.
Parking at SO 64174 78773, What3words: https://w3w.co/options.cobble.notch.
Leader John Handley, 07507 054695, email: johnhandley11@gmail.com
