Saturday 13th May. Benthall Edge Woods. Meet at 11:00 am in
the car park at SJ657024, the National Trust car park (£3 for non-members).
This will be a great time of year to see the wonderful woodland flowers. Eleven
rare plants have been recorded here over the years but only three this century
so there’s plenty to look out for. We may even find Cinderella (Hieracium
cinderella Long-bracted Hawkweed). For further information about the meeting
please contact John Handley, 07507 054695, johnhandley11@gmail.com.
Sunday 11th June. Llynclys Quarry. Meet at 11:00 am in the car park at SJ268242. This is inside the quarry. Take the small right off the main road then left just over the rail bridge. We will be visiting this wonderful quarry for the third time and at the same time as the Shropshire Spider Group. There are plenty of rarities to look for include the introduced Schoenus nigricans Black Bog-rush, and the only known Shropshire site for the hybrid between Gymnadenia conopsea Marsh Fragrant Orchid and Dactylorhiza fuchsii Common Spotted Orchid. For further information about the meeting please contact Andrew Perry, andrew.perrynt@gmail.com. Link to add the Llynclys Quarry visit to your diary, take a picture with your smart phone:
Saturday 24th June. Dolgoch Quarry, an SWT Reserve. An abandoned quarry with a large variety of limestone flowers on the slopes and the floor of the quarry. Wooded area between the two grassland sites is also of interest. Rarities Juncus subnodulosus Blunt-flowered Rush and Epipactis palustris Marsh Helleborine have been recorded in the further quarry which also contains a large pool with a good amphibian population. Terrain is quite demanding through the wooded parts between the main grassland areas but it is not a large site. Meet 11.00 am. Parking in the layby just west of Llynclys crossroads on A 495. Care is needed; busy road, limited space. Car sharing advised. Cross the road and follow the track past the houses. Meet at the gate to the wood. SY10 8LN or SJ278242. What 3 words https://w3w.co/welfare.blurs.perfectly. For further information about the meeting please contact Penny Wysome, 01952 242617, pennywysome@yahoo.com. Link to add the Dolgoch Quarry visit to your calendar, take a picture with your smart phone:
Sunday 23th July. Nipstone Rock. Meet at 11:00 am in the car park at SO356970. There are three clubmosses to search for here, including Lycopodium clavatum Stag’s-horn Clubmoss which is scarce in Shropshire and should still be present. Both Huperzia selago Fir Clubmoss and Diphasiastrum alpinum Alpine Clubmoss have recently been recorded here but only just hanging on. Are they still present? We need lots of eyes to get the best chance of finding all these three rarities. For further information about the meeting please contact Mags Cousins, 07873 532681, mags@bagbatch.co.uk. Link to add the Nipstone Rock visit to your calendar, take a picture with your smart phone:
Saturday 26th August. Earl’s Hill. Meet at 11:00 am in the car park at SJ409057. While we did visit just two years ago we are going again to record species that are best identified at this time of year. In particular Dryopteris oreades Mountain Male Fern, but also perhaps Colchicum autumnalis Meadow Saffron. The walk will have some steep climbs and spectacular views. For further information about the meeting please contact John Handley, 07507 054695, johnhandley11@gmail.com. Link to add the Earl's Hill visit to your calendar, take a picture with your smart phone:
Saturday 23th September. Whixall Moss Sphagnum Workshop. Meet at 11:00 am in the car park near the canal lift bridge at SJ493353. For further information about the meeting please contact Martin Godfrey, mfgodfrey49@gmail.com. Link to add the Whixhall Moss visit to your calendar, take a picture with your smart phone:
Saturday 21st October. Long Mynd: National Moss day with hunt for rare mosses. Meet at 11:00 am in the small car park off the Burway at SO 437 942. We are celebrating National Moss Day with the British Bryological Society on their Centenary Year. In recognition of this we are seeking to re-find Grimmia montana Sun Grimmia, which is the only moss recorded in Shropshire in 1923 - the year the BBS was formed. It just happens that this is quite a rare species but with relatively good representation in Shropshire. Other Long Mynd rarities will also be searched for. For further information about the meeting please contact Martin Godfrey, mfgodfrey49@gmail.com. Link to add the Long Mynd visit to your calendar, take a picture with your smart phone:
