Borders Group

Covers: Welsh borders: Herefordshire, Radnorshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire

Accounts of previous meetings

Meetings 2012-13

Our meetings are to help beginners learn their mosses and liverworts, rather than high-powered recording sessions.  All are on Sundays, and start at 10.30 a.m.  Please bring sandwiches.

You may wish to bring with you a copy of the British Bryological Society’s Mosses and Liverworts of Britain and Ireland: a Field-guide (2010), files for which are also on-line at http://www.bbsfieldguide.org.uk/ (or click on the book cover of the Field-guide on the left-hand side of the BBS web-site’s home page at http://britishbryologicalsociety.org.uk/ and follow the links). 

You are very welcome to suggest venues for future outdoor meetings; please include grid references and details for parking.

October 14th
Rocks and soil on the east flank of Corndon Hill in south-eastern Montgomeryshire will be our target for our first meeting of the winter.  Park at the end of the track to Mitchell’s Fold stone circle (SO 302979). 

November 11th
Ancient volcanic rocks and damp woodland offer plenty of bryological variety at Pontesford Hill and Earl’s Hill (SJ 4004/4005).  Park at the forestry entrance (SJ 409056). 

January 13th
Jonathan Sleath will lead us at Queens Wood near Ross-on-Wye, where a mixture of semi-natural and plantation woodland includes several small nature reserves owned by the Forestry Commission and managed by Herefordshire Nature Trust.  There are only 24 records of bryophytes from the site, so there will be plenty new for us to find.  Meet in the car park at (SO 678284).

February 17th
Flushes in Bilbatch on the Long Mynd (Bryum weigelii, etc.) require our attention.  Park at SO 421954. 

March 17th
Meet with the Worcestershire Moss Group in the car park at Swinyard Hill (SO 766381) to explore the north-east corner of Castlemorton Common and the southern Malvern Hills.

Mark Lawley

Cambridge Group

Accounts of previous meetings

CAMBRIDGE BRYOLOGICAL EXCURSIONS 2012-3

Excursions will not be cancelled because of rain, only in the event of snow or frost. Beginners are welcome at all meetings. Bring a hand lens (×10 or ×20), and some tins or paper packets for collecting material into. If you require transport, please contact Mark Hill or Tom Charman.

All excursions except joint excursion with E Anglian Group start at 11 00 am .  First meeting is mainly to Waresley Wood, but we start at the church.  The entrance to the car park at Waresley Wood is at TL25625509.  Between the wood and the car park is Browne’s Piece. This is part of the Wildlife Trust’s connectivity plan for South Cambridgeshire woodland. It is mainly boulder clay, with a series of narrow ditches criss-crossing the area. Chris Preston found Riccia glauca there in 2008.

Mark Hill, 11 Chaucer Road, Cambridge CB2 7EB. Tel: 01223 571574.  Email: moh@ceh.ac.uk

Cotswold and Chilterns Group

All meetings start at 10.30 a.m. No further information available.

CONTACTS:
Seàn O'Leary, J.J. Thompson Physical Lab, PO Box 220, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 2AF.
Jeff Bates, Department of Biology, Imperial College at Silwood Park, Ascot, Berks SL5 7PY.

Devon Group

We are an informal group aimed at anyone interested in Devon’s mosses and/or liverworts; all are welcome (regardless of level of expertise) and there is no fee. We hold approximately six field meetings each year, normally on Saturdays. All meetings start at 11 a. m. and participants are recommended to bring packed lunches. The meetings for 2013 are detailed below. Please  contact Nigel Pinhorn (devonnaturewalks@btinternet.com) or Tim Purches (tim.purches@talk21.com) for more details or to suggest future venues.

Saturday 9 March. Fowlescombe (west of Ugborough). By kind permission of Mr and Mrs R. Barker. Fowlescombe (Grid ref. SX 695552) is a mixed organic farm which is farmed in an environmentally sensitive way. The Devonshire Association Botany Section visited it in 2010  to record the flowering plants, but there has so far been no complete bryophyte survey (Gordon Waterhouse is currently looking at the bryophytes, but could probably use some more help). The Fowlescombe website           (www.fowlescombe.co.uk) includes a lot of general information about the farm, including how to get there; if you need more information, contact  Nigel, Tim or Mark Pool (email mark.pool@care4free.net; tel. 01803-316154).

Saturday 20 April.  Bystock Pools Reserve. Joint meeting with Devonshire Association Botany Section. Bystock is on the Budleigh Pebble Beds and contains a variety of habitats including grassland, heath and bog. The main entrance to the reserve is at SY 035843, on the north side of a minor road  across Withycombe Common; full directions, including alternative parking, can be found at http://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/reserve/Bystock+Pools/getting-there/. Some parts of the site are wet and/or rough; walking boots or Wellingtons recommended.

Saturday 15 June. Brent Tor. Brent Tor is a volcanic hill just off the western edge of Dartmoor; it consists of both basic and acidic rocks, and is known to have bryological interest. Meet in car park at SX 468805. Stout shoes or walking boots recommended; much of the upper part of the tor is rocky.

Saturday 24 August. Emsworthy Devon Wildlife Trust Reserve, near Widecombe (SX 7476). Meet at Saddle Tor west car park (SX 748761); alternative parking is available further east at SX754764. The site contains a variety of habitats (bog, flush, granite rocks, willow carr etc.) and there are likely to be a correspondingly large number of species present. Hamatocaulis vernicosus was recorded from here some years ago but was never formally confirmed; refinding it would be very welcome. Sphagnum teres, a local species in Devon, was found last year just outside the reserve and may well be present within it. Walking boots or Wellingtons are strongly recommended; the latter will be essential if the boggy areas are to be checked.

Saturday 5 October. Prewley Moor, near Sourton. Prewley Moor is a mixture of sloping moorland with many flushes (some of which are basic), scrub woodland and some ruderal habitat beside a former railway track. The site is known to be rich in bryophytes; Sharon Pilkington and Mark Pool paid a visit in 2010 and found such gems as Sphagnum subsecundum, S. teres (both new to North Devon) and Cololejeunea minutissima at its highest known Devon site. Philonotis calcarea is also recorded from the site, but a voucher specimen is needed to make an official North Devon record. Meet at the bottom of the waterworks road at SX 54266 91125; parking is available here and also further up this road at SX  54275 91024); failing that, there is plenty at the nearby service area (SX 545917) about a quarter of a mile away (Sharon and Mark used this option and it definitely works). Much of the ground is wet so Wellingtons are definitely recommended.

Saturday 30 November.  Locks Park Farm, near  Hatherleigh  (SS518022). This is an organic, extensive, livestock farm on the Culm, about 7 miles NW of Okehampton.   The main mossy habitats present are the earth sides to hedge banks, along a deep stream, and the farmhouse thatch!  Other habitats present are Culm Grassland and a 1 ha mixed broadleaved woodland.  Nearby there are areas of wet willow carr.  Rob Wolton, who manages the farm together with his wife Paula, has been carrying out an intensive study of the wildlife of one particular hedge on the farm and would very much like a full list of bryophytes present. The farm is marked on OS Landranger map 191:  meet at the farmhouse, at the end of a long lane.  Wellies are strongly recommended.   Phone 01837 810416.

Dublin Group

The BBS Dublin group meetings are aimed at encouraging beginners to learn bryophytes and identification skills.  All are welcome, no matter what level of ability.  Our meetings are usually in the east of Ireland, in the Dublin area (Dublin, Meath, Wicklow and Kildare).  If you would like details of forthcoming meetings, or would like to be on the mailing list for the group, then please e-mail Joanne Denyer (joanne@denyerecology.com) or phone 00353 (0) 862379153 for further information

Essex Group

All meetings start at 11am, bring good footwear and packed lunch for all meetings.
Leaders are Ken Adams and/or Tim Pyner.

January Saturday 12th    11.00am  Mill Green Common. Meet in the Viper Pub car park in Mill Green Road TL640,018.
Leader:  Tim Pyner Please book: 01702 580402

February Saturday 9th       11.00am  Stour Wood & Copperas Wood. nr. Harwich. Meet in Stour Wood car park at TM 190,309. Packed lunch.
Leader:  Ken Adams Please book: 020 8508 7863

March  Saturday 2nd    11.00am Wallasea Island. Meet at Grapnels Farm RSPB Centre TQ942,947. Packed lunch.
Leader: Ken Adams  Please book: 020 8508 7863

Please email Sally Gadsdon (srgadsdon@yahoo.com) for further details.

Covers:Gloucestershire

CONTACT:
Peter Martin, 60 West Street, Tetbury, Gloucestershire GL8 8DR. E-mail : petergmartin@waitrose.com

Leicestershire

No meetings planned at present

Norfolk and Suffolk Group

Meetings 2012-13

Beginners are always very welcome - the only equipment needed is a handlens (x10 or x20) and some paper packets (old envelopes are fine) for collecting specimens.  Meetings begin at 10.30am and will only be cancelled if there is snow or hard frost.  The Norfolk and Suffolk Bryological Group (a sub-group of the British Bryological Society) is an informal interest group with no formal status or legal identity.  All attendees at the events set out in the annual programme participate in those events entirely at their own risk and no responsibility for any injury loss or damage shall lie against the organisers of the events.  The distribution of the programme of events is not intended to and does not form any contract or any other legal relationship between the organisers and the participants.

Saturday 6 October 2012 – Kettlestone Fen and Little Ryburgh Common.  Mixed habitats though lots of fen/carr/wet woodlands.  Turn north off A1067 near Langor Bridge TF 961293 and park in pull-ins on roadside by the wood.

Sunday 21 October 2012 – NNNS Workshop at Wheatfen Reserve Study Centre, Surlingham (car park at TG 324056).  Support of all bryologists would be much appreciated.  Please note that the workshop runs from 10.00 – 4.00 (early start).

Saturday 3 November 2012 – NNNS Beginners’ meeting led by Mary Ghullam at Buxton Heath.  Dry and wet heath, calcareous fen.  Meet at car park TG 170214 – turn east off Holt Road at TG169212 and the track to the car park is to the north of the minor road after c.150m.

Sunday 18 November 2012 – Houghton Hall, north of A148.  Park at Home Farm TF 786278, south of road, in yard behind house.

Saturday 1 December 2012 – Recording in South Norfolk on a mixture of public footpaths, quiet road verges, churches and field margins.  Meet & park at  Alburgh Church car park TM 271873.

Sunday 16 December 2012 – East Wretham Heath, with two fluctuating meres and a substantial area of heath, as well as mature woodland, scrubland and open water with marshy grassland.  Park TL 913886, just off A1075.

Sunday 6 January 2013 – Hunstanton Park, parkland with a big area of woodland and the proximity of Ringstead Downs if need be.  Pass Old Hunstanton church, turn east-north-east for 300m then south for 200m.  Park just outside park gate at TF 693418.  

Saturday 19 January 2013 – Dinosaur Adventure, Weston Longville.  Turn south at the crossroads in Lenwade, then take first left into signed Dinosaur Adventure.  Park in main car park.
Sunday 3 February 2013 – Mousehold Heath, an important area of dry heathland on the edge of Norwich.  Park at Zak’s Diner, Gurney Road at TG 244101 (just north-east of the Mousehold Avenue turn-off).

Saturday 16 February 2013 – Pynkney Estate at Helhoughton – joint meeting with Cambridge Bryologists.  Wet and dry woods, wet grassland.  Park on field margin on north side of road just west of woodland at TF 854273.

Saturday 23 February 2013 – Marsham Great Wood (immediately north of Buxton Heath).  Forest Enterprise woodland.  Turn north-east off brown road and meet in car park TG 174232 which is c.150m on north side.

Sunday 10 March 2013 – Old Buckenham Mere and Fen.  Turn off Hargham Road at TM 042911, take first right and park opposite Poplar Farm at TM 047916, though we may move on from there depending on water levels.  Possible visit to the Askew Agricultural Museum too.

Saturday 23 March 2013 – Minsmere RSPB reserve, Westleton, Suffolk.   Reedbeds, lowland wet grassland, shingle vegetation and lowland heath (and a café).  Meet in main car park.

British Bryological Society Recorders:
Robin Stevenson, 111 Wootton Road, King’s Lynn PE30 4DJ.  01553 766788.  crs111@talktalk.net (West Norfolk)
Mary Ghullam, 5 Beech Drive, North Walsham NR28 0BZ.  01692 402013.  mylia@tiscali.co.uk (East Norfolk)
Richard Fisk, 35 Fair Close, Beccles, Suffolk NR35 9QR.  01502 714968.  richardjfisk@waitrose.com (Suffolk)

Programme:  Chris Roberts, 21 The Street, Burgh-next-Aylsham NR11 6TP.  01263 732772   chrisroberts_500@hotmail.com
 

Northumberland and Cumbria Group

Covers Northumberland (VCs 67 & 68) and Cumbria (VCs 69 &70)
Beginners are very welcome on these meetings and more experienced bryologists will help with ID tips. Additional meetings in Cumbria for the 2011-12 season may be added later.

Field meetings in Northumberland for winter 2012/2013

Sunday 21st October, 2012 – 11am – Gosforth Park Nature Reserve – site survey
Joint meeting with Natural History Society of Northumbria. We will aim to make a comprehensive list of species for the NHSN’s reserve at Gosforth Park, which was last surveyed in 1990. Meet at the reserve entrance at NZ260699.

Saturday 10th November, 2012 – 11am – Bothal and Chapel Wood – Atlas recording
Hectad NZ28 is one of our remaining priority squares for Atlas recoding which finishes at the end of 2012. We will aim to make a comprehensive list for tetrad NZ28I which has only had 4 species recorded so far. There are promising look habitats including Chapel Wood by the River Wansbeck. Meet at roadside on north side of Bothal village at NZ239867.

Sunday 10th March, 2013 – 11am – south end of Kielder Forest – BRECOG recording
We will aim to complete BRECOG (see BBS website for details) surveys in several habitats in and adjacent to the forest. No prior knowledge of the survey method is needed. Meet at the beginning of the track leading east towards Robin Rock Drift at NY725707.

Saturday 13th April, 2013 – searching for rare species at old sites
Many of the rarer species in Northumberland have not been seen for some time and many have only vague location details attached to the old records. We will aim to re-find a number of county rarities in locations where they have previously been recorded. Meeting time and place to be confirmed later.

Field meetings in Cumbria for winter 2012/2013

23rd February – Dubwath Silver Meadows near Bassenthwaite. Space for a few cars at NY 19873 30942. A small site with a mix of meadow, mire and a bit of woodland. Meet at 10.30 – will be a short day.

24th March – Bitts Park Carlisle (one of the sites not done during the Spring Meeting) is one of the main parks in Carlisle. Parking  at Bitts Park will be at NY 39508 56667. This will avoid paying car parking fees in the pat and display. Meet at 10.30 – will be a short day.

Contacts:
For meetings in Northumberland, contact John O’Reilly john@ptyxis.com.
For meetings in Cumbria, contact Diane Dobson ddobson@openspace.gb.com

North West Group (British Bryological Society and North Western Naturalists' Union)

NWNU BRYOPHYTE AND LICHENS SECTION

Contact:

Norman Bamforth, 1 Corporation Road, Audenshaw, Manchester M34 5LY
g.bamforth710@btinternet.com

Oxford Mossing Group

This is a free service provided by Shotover Wildlife. The Oxford Mossing Group provides ongoing field and microscope sessions after the Mosses and Liverworts Identification Courses as a way of supporting learners with bryophyte identification, both in microscope keying and building field skills. Click here for details.

The Oxford Mossing Group season runs from October to March and sessions start with a morning field visit (in and around Oxfordshire), usually followed by a microscope session in the afternoon near the field site. High power and dissecting microscopes are available for use.

Contact Jacqueline Wright (jawright@shotover-wildlife.org.uk) for further details

Southern Group

Covers: Hampshire, Berkshire, Sussex, Surrey and South London.

SOUTHERN GROUP
This is now co-ordinated by June Chatfield Tel: 01420 82214, 44 Ashdell Road, Alton, Hants GU34 2TA

All meetings start at 10.30 am and last until 3-4 pm.

November 25th 2012.  Chawton Park Wood, Four Marks. 

Meet at the Forestry Commission car park at SU672361 (free parking).  This is a working forest on the site of old woodland and parkland and still has significant bryological interest including Rhytidiadelphus loreus.  The wood is on clay-with-flints overlying chalk and is quite varied

Led by June Chatfield

Sunday 9th December. Hartley Park Farm, Selbourne

Sunday 27th January.  Alver Valley and Browndown, Gosport
We shall look at wet woodland, heathland and acid grassland habitats.  Wellingtons recommended!  Meet at car park adjacent to Grange Road household waste recycling centre, off Grange Road, SU586000. This is near the southern end of Grange Road on the west side. From the M27 turn off at J11 (Fareham), follow the A32 towards Gosport until reaching a roundabout with Fort Brockhurst on the left. Turn right (2nd exit) and take next left at a roundabout after a low hill, onto Grange Road. Continue for exactly a mile then turn right and park just beyond the tip entrance.  Leader: John Norton, phone 02392 520828 or 09872 257746 (mobile).

Sunday 3rd February  Greywell Fen, Hampshire
The intention is to complete a base-line survey following the recent extensive management work at this, the BBS’s only reserve.  Meet by the pumping station at SU722513.  An area of rich-fen, alder scrub and calciphile communities developed over lime-rich waste, this supports or supported the last known VC.12 populations of several fen species.  It is likely to be very wet and potentially treacherous underfoot so bring wellies (or waders), although it will be possible for some members of the group to remain on drier land!  If we complete our task early we may move on to visit contrasting habitats closeby.
An added attraction is the possibility of finding the rare Desmoulin’s Whorl Snail which leapt to fame in 1996 when the Newbury by-pass was being constructed.

Sunday 24th February. Decoy Pits, Pools and Wood, nr. Tadley
A site partially managed as Decoy Heath by Berks, Bucks and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust.  The site comprises a mixture of alder woodland, heath, valley mire, partially infilled gravel pits and small water bodies.  
Meet in time for a 10:30 start in the Decoy Heath car park (SU614635) off Soke Road.  Postcode for sat-nav: RG7 2PF.  Wellies strongly recommended as it can get wet in winter.  Leader: Charles Cambell phone: 07816 505927,

Accounts of previous meetings

South East Group

Covers: Kent, East Sussex and East Surrey.

Accounts of previous meetings

Field Meetings 2012-13

Please note that all meetings start at 10.30am. Always bring a packed lunch.

Sunday 7th October    Limpsfield Chart.  Deciduous and coniferous woodland with some heathy areas. The site crosses the Kent/Surrey boundary. Park at  TQ 430529.
Take A25 through Westerham or through Limpsfield . About 1 mile east of Westerham, opposite the “Grasshopper Inn”, turn south into Moorhouse Road for about ¼ mile; car park is on your righ.  Leader: Jan Hendey

Saturday 17th November  Sidney Wood, Surrey. Woodland site with disused canal.  Park at TQ 027351. Take A 281 from Guildford. At Alfold, turn right to Dunsfold. CP is 1 mile on left. It is well off the road, unsigned, down a small track; take the next turning after the sign that reads 'Springbok Estate'. Having turned left, keep left and then left again and the car park is another 300m on the right.

Saturday 15th December  Bedgebury Forest  Kent  Records are wanted for the northern part of this mixed deciduous and coniferous woodland. Avoid the  main car park. Make your way to the A229 Cranbrook to Hawkhurst Road. About ¾ mile south of Hartley, turn left from Hawkhurst or right from Hartley into Park Lane. Proceed for just under 1 mile (ignore a turning to the left). Shortly after entering the forest, you will find a parking area at TQ 750334, unofficial and used by the locals.           Leader: Jan Hendey

Saturday 19th January   Picketts Hole, Surrey. Postponed until Sunday March 10th

Saturday 23rd February   The Larches, Detling, Kent. Cancelled
I have cancelled the meeting scheduled for the coming Saturday Feb 23rd at The Larches. The low temperatures forecast together with a wind chill factor seem to me to be fit only for penguins. Jan Hendey..

Sunday 10th March  Picketts Hole, Surrey.  Rescheduled from January 19th. This year we will ignore (!) the woodland at the top of the hill and move down to the chalk grassland, which is especially good for bryophytes at this site. Park at TQ 126501 on Ranmore Common Road which runs along the top of the Downs.
Leader:  Tom Ottley

Sunday 17th March   Rye Harbour  Sussex.  A coastal site of scrub and shingle.
From the A259 south of Rye, take the minor road to Rye Harbour village and park at the end of the road at TQ 941189.  Leader: David Streeter.

If there are any problems, please phone Jan Hendey on 01689 825102
                                                           or  Tom Ottley on  01825 890544

South West and Central Scotland Recording Group

We do not have a formal program, but have an email circulation list to let members know when & where we are going to be recording and there is a certain flexibility to enable as many people as possible to join in. At the moment we are focusing on under-recorded hectads for the next edition of the atlas.

The group consists of both BBS members & non-members.

Contacts are D.Chamberlain@rbge.org.uk and E.Kungu@rbge.org.uk

Wessex Bryology Group

Wessex Bryology Group Field Meetings for 2012-13

Here is the programme of meetings for the coming season . We have tried to include a good range of habitats and sites across Dorset, Wiltshire, Somerset and Hampshire. A key aim of the group is to encourage those who are new to the subject to become more experienced and confident at identifying bryophytes. Beginners are most welcome at all our meetings. There is no formal membership or constitution and each person goes out at his/her own risk. The only equipment needed is a hand lens (x10 or x20) and some paper packets for collecting specimens. Many of the sites we plan to visit include wet and muddy areas so boots are advisable. We will usually eat a packed lunch on site. All meetings start at 10.30am and finish between 3pm and 4pm.

Contact: Andrew Branson tel: 01747 838223; e-mail andrew(at)britishwildlife.com or Sharon Pilkington tel: 01373 827074 ; e-mail: sharon.pilkington1(at)btinternet.com. Unless stated there is no need to book, but in the event of snow/ treacherous driving conditions, please call Andrew or Sharon to check the meeting is going ahead.

October 28th - Burley Rocks, New Forest. A comparatively unexplored part of the Forest, with some great looking areas of calcareous mire over the Headon Beds, which should be good for ‘brown mosses’, Sphagnum and other mire species. Leader: Neil Sanderson. Meet at the car park at SU 223034, east of Burley.

November 18th - Spur Bog, Studland. Cyril Diver and colleagues undertook an ecological survey of the South Haven Peninsula during the 1930s, including bryophytes which were recorded and mapped by a young EW Jones. The war intervened and the findings from survey were never fully written up. The field notes, photographs and maps were left to CEH and are now in the Dorset History Centre, Dorchester. The aim of the project is to re-record and map the groups Diver et al surveyed to assess changes that have taken place over the last 80 years in an area that has not been developed or subject to intensive agriculture. The project will take place over three years. Leader Bryan Edwards. Meet in the Knoll House Car Park SZ032836, park left-hand side, signposted the Discovery Centre. Bring your National Trust Card if you are a member but we will try and negotiate free parking for the day. We will look at several different habitats and map the distribution of the more notable species. Maps etc all provided. Teas, coffees and toilet facilities in the Discovery centre.

December 9th - South Cadbury, South Somerset. This is a chance to visit this very under-recorded area with an interesting mix of chalk grassland on the ramparts of the legendary Cadbury Castle, woodland, with large trees, small streams and a churchyard. Leader: Andrew Branson. Park at car park north of Cadbury Castle at ST632253.

February 24th – Cheddar Gorge, North Somerset. Stunning limestone scenery with lots of different bryophyte habitats, including woodland, limestone grassland, disused quarry and dry-stone walls. This area has records for Didymodon ferrugineus, Gymnostomum viridulum, Seligeria pusilla, Metzgeria conjugata and Reboulia hemisphaerica. Leader: Sharon Pilkington. Meet in the large layby at Blackrock Gate at ST 482545.

March 3rd – Porton Down, South Wiltshire . A rare opportunity to explore the chalk downland riches of this renowned site. It has relatively few bryological records but Abietinella abietina var. hystricosa, Entodon concinnus, Encalypta vulgaris and Didymodon acutus have all been seen recently. Leader: Sharon Pilkington/Stuart Corbett (DSTL). Meet in the large car park at SU 207369. Access is with the kind permission of DSTL -booking is essential and numbers will be limited to 10. Please email your name, date of birth and car make and registration to Sharon no later than 31 January 2013.

April 13th - Barle Valley, South Somerset. A trip to the far west of the Wessex area to explore the River Barle and the surrounding woodlands. Should be a good range of riverine Fissidens species plus a chance to find some outlyers of the Atlantic flora such as Rhabdoweisia. Leader: Andrew Branson. Park at the Tarr Steps Exmoor National Park car park at SS 872323, near Liscombe, off the B3223, north of Dulverton.

For accounts of previous meetings click here.