Friday 2 June to Sunday 4 June 2006 Cwm Idwal, Snowdonia Early Stagers – Alpines Aimed at anyonewho wishes to improve their botanical skills, this two day plus course will utilise alpine flowers to illustrate basic botanical concepts.
Friday evening (start around 19.30) - classroom session covering: simple plant biology and genetics, finding and using resources, botanical nomenclature.
Saturday - Lower slopes of Cwm Idwal. A chance to apply and extend the concepts covered in the classroom session. In addition to finding some exciting alpines we shall look particularly at beginning field identification including sedges and ferns. Possibly a visit to a contrasting lowland site in the evening for those with sufficient stamina.
Sunday - Higher slopes, including the area round the Devil's Kitchen. This area contains the really exciting and rare alpines. The course is particularly suited to new WFS members and especially those keeping diaries. The party is limited to 12. Although no climbing above the occasional scramble is required, we shall be spending 6+ hours each day on the hill. The paths are steep and can be slippery and difficult so a good degree of fitness is needed. Prospective attendees can contact Chris Metherell on 07730-671226 or Chris@Metherell.org.uk prior to any formal application.
Sunday 18 to Thursday 22 June 2006 Lochbroom & Assynt A come-and-find expedition to one of the more remote parts of Scotland. The harsh terrain indicates that hard walking in difficult, sometimes dangerous, country is guaranteed. Prospective participants please contact Bill and Carol Hawkins (01953-604027 or billhawkins@btopenworld.com ) for a fact sheet prior to any formal application.
Friday 29 June to Sunday 1 July 2006 South-west London &Surrey A long-weekend looking especially for unusual non-native plants. On Friday (optional) we will visit Ham Lands and Kew, on Saturday we will visit several sites in the London area and on Sunday we will be based in the Sutton area. Cars needed for Friday and Sunday, travel by public transport on Saturday. Accommodation list supplied. The party will be limited to 16 people. Leader: Ron Parker.
Thursday 6 & Friday 7 July 2006 Malham, Yorkshire Mires and meadows, flushes and fens and a small area of limestone pavement - weather permitting. We should see Primula farinosa (Bird’s-eye Primrose), Equisetum variegatum (Variegated Horsetail) with luck and a few sedges, pondweeds and lady's mantles. Leader: Phyl Abbott.
Saturday 15 & Sunday 16 July 2006 Holy Island & College Valley, Northumberland
Saturday We will cross to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne and visit the nature reserve where there is a wonderful variety of wild flowers, many in profusion, such as Anagallis tenella (Bog Pimpernel), Centaurium littorale (Seaside Centaury), Epipactis palustris (Marsh Helleborine). We will take full advantage of the low tide to explore the sands - Zostera marina (Eelgrass) and Zostera noltei (Dwarf Eelgrass), rocks - Limonium vulgare (Common Sea-lavender) and foredunes - Salsola kali (Prickly saltwort). On the dunes and slacks we should also find less common plants like Epipactis sancta (Lindisfarne Helleborine), Pyrola rotundifolia (Round-leaved Wintergreen), and Corallorhiza trifida (Coralroot orchid).
SundayWe will travel inland to the Cheviot Hills. Here we have permission to visit the College Valley. Following a stream up to 400m or so can involve a bit of a scramble, but we will see a fine selection of mountain plants and ferns including Cryptogramma crispa (Parsley-fern), Pinguicula vulgaris (Common Butterwort), Narthecium ossifragum (Bog Asphodel) and Saxifraga stellaris (Starry Saxifrage). The party will be limited to 20 people and participants must be prepared to share cars. Leader: Elizabeth Herd. A repeat of the over-subscribed 2004 meeting.
Note:Participants may also wish to attend the Berwickshire meeting on Friday 14 July, which is only about 15 miles from Holy Island!
Saturday 22nd & Sunday July 23rd 2006 The Lake District, around Keswick Early stagers
Saturday:Grasses, sedges & rushes and an upland walk for classic Cumbrian fell plants on Sunday. Aimed at anyone wanting tuition on identifying grasses, sedges & rushes and those wishing to boost their diaries with some Northern Carex species. The lowland mires and water meadows in Borrowdale boast some rich plant communities featuring a good range of plants including Juncus filiformis (Thread Rush), Carex dioica (Dioecious Sedge) and Parnassia palustris (Grass-of-Parnassus ). Also an optional early evening trip hopefully for Pilularia globulifera (Pillwort), to update records for the BSBI Threatened Plants Database.
Sunday: - a strenuous walk up valley sides in search of alpines like Oxyria digyna, Saxifrages and club-mosses, although this day is less about rarities and more about introducing members to the flora of the fells. Saturday is a joint meeting with the BSBI. Sunday is a joint meeting with the Friends of the Lake District. The party will be limited on both days to 16 people; 8 places reserved for WFS members. Accommodation and meeting place details provided on booking; the meeting places are accessible by public transport from Keswick, which in turn is accessible by bus from the railway station at Penrith. Leaders: John & Clare O’Reilly.
Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 August 2006 Southlake Moor & Berrow Dunes, Somerset Early Stagers Wetland, coastal & dune plants.
Saturday:We will visit Southlake Moor on the Somerset Levels and Moors for plants of lowland wet grassland and ditches. We should see Sium latifolium (Greater Water-parsnip), Hydrocharis morsus-ranae (Frogbit), Butomus umbellatus (Flowering-rush) and a good range of other aquatic macrophytes.
Sunday: We will spend the day on Berrow Dunes where we should find Scirpoides holoschoenus (Round-headed Club-rush), Juncus acutus (Sharp Rush) and a good selection of sand dune and strand line plants. This meeting is especially suitable for beginners but all are welcome. Leader: Stephen Parker.
Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 September The Gordano Valley & Bristol Avon Gorge
We shall be examining the rhynes for wetland and aquatic plants. Species recorded in 2005 included Baldellia ranunculoides (lesser water-plantain), Potamogeton spp. (Pondweed species), Ranunculus lingua (greater spearwort) and Eleogiton fluitans (floating clubrush). A stick is recommended as some ground is cut up by cattle. On Sunday, an opportunity to see the Sorbus (whitebeam) species of the Avon Gorge including S. bristoliensis, wilmottiana, porrigentiformis, latifolia, anglica, eminens, croceocarpa and decipiens. Some steep walking is required. The party will be limited to 15 people. Leaders: Pam Millman and Peter Hilton.
SPECIAL MEETING: Wednesday 21 May to Wednesday 28 May 2006 Romania
In addition to the society’s main meetings, there is an informal offer from Ron Parker to take a party of 8 people to the Basarabi area in Romania from Wednesday 21 May to Wednesday 28 May. This wouldcost in the region of £450 including fares, transport from Bucharest airport, B&B, evening meals (staying in family homes) and guided botanical excursions to forests, lakes, canals and seacoast. For further information and booking (by the end of March) please contact Ron Parker (not the meetings secretaries) directly on 0208 641 2499.
Booking your meeting...
Bookings for the Main Meetings should be sent to Bill and Carol Hawkins who are Acting Meetings Secretaries at 2 Smithson Close, Wymondham, NR18 0SU no later than 11 March 2006 (NOT to individual leaders please) for as many meetings as they wish, stating their order of preference and including a telephone number and/or e-mail address. Members will be appointed to meetings, by ballot if necessary, as far as possible in order of preference.
Members should enclose with their application a stamped addressed postcard stating the meetings chosen. The postcard will be returned and marked with the result of each application. After this, the individual leader will let members know the place and time of the meeting etc.
The Wild Flower Society does not itself charge booking or meeting fees. Members who book for a Main Meeting and subsequently find they cannot attend are asked to advise their leader immediately so that the place can be allocated to someone on the waiting list. (Every year some members miss the opportunity to join a meeting when a cancellation occurs, because they have not supplied a telephone number or e-mail address). Any member wishing a non-botanical spouse or friend to accompany them should inform the leader when they obtain a place for that meeting. Their participation can be welcome but may present difficulties when numbers need to be limited. Please be prepared to share cars when moving between sites where parking is limited.
Bookings are not required unless specifically asked for by the leader
Saturday 4th March 2006 Kent Meet at 10.00 a.m. in the National Trust car park at Ightham Mote (no charge), TQ585 536. As last year, come and identify your plants vegetatively, but in a different area. Some woodland walking, so be prepared for mud! Please ring Margot Godfrey on 01322 349106 if you wish to come.
Saturday 18th March 2006 Warley Place, Great Warley Meet at 11.00 a.m. at car park TQ583 907. An early visit to this famous site for spring flowers. Leader: Stephen Clarkson. Please contact 01206 791209; email SteveCl100@aol.com
Saturday 1 April 2006 Waylands Wood, Norfolk Branch Y and visitors meet 11.00 a.m. at the car park TF922 997. A look at early season plants in an ancient wood, hopefully Gagea lutea (Yellow Star-of-Bethlehem) will be on show. Bring wellies! Leaders: Carol and Bill Hawkins.
Mid April 2006 Arneside Knott, Lancashire Branch N3 Open to all but please book with the leader Julie Clarke on 01539-563504 or e-mail candjclarke@wych.freeserve.co.uk if you wish to attend.
Wednesday 19 April 2006 Great Orme, Llandudno Meet at 10.30am at the triangular green, Ty’n y Coed Road SH774 829. Well known for its fine array of plants in the summer months, the Great Orme also has much to offer in spring and we should see a wide range of early annuals and naturalised species. Clearance of invasive alien species from the sunny south-facing slopes has taken place in recent years and it will be interesting to see the outcome. Strong footwear recommended. Please contact the leader, Wendy McCarthy (01492) 877451 if you wish to attend as numbers may be limited.
Thursday 11 May 2006 Langton Matravers, Dorset Meet at 11.00 a.m. at the Spyway car park SY997 784 beyond the end of Durford Grove (turning circle at end; small lane to car park) and bring a picnic lunch. A moderate, 4 mile, circular walk of coastal grassland. We will be seeking plants such as Ophrys sphegodes (early spider-orchid) and Valerianella eriocarpa (hairy-fruited cornsalad). Please note that there is a 300ft descent and ascent at one point so stout footwear is necessary. There are no public lavatories en route. A repeat of the over-booked 2005 walk, this is a joint meeting with BSBI.If you wish to attend please book with Stephen Parker on 01823 666006 or email wfsgensec@yahoo.co.uk Last minute cancellations to 07946 542502. Leader: Rev. E. Pratt.
Thursday 1 June 2006 Metfield, Suffolk Branch Y and visitors meet 11.00 a.m. at Plantlife’s reserve, Winks meadow TM306 798 for orchids, Ononis spinosa (Spiny Restharrow) and Trifolium ochroleucon (Sulphur Clover). Leader: Stephen Clarkson. Please contact 01206 791209; email SteveCl100@aol.com
Saturday 3 June 2006 Ufton, Warwickshire Meet at 10.00 a.m. in the large car park for Ufton Fields SP378 615 off minor road just outside Ufton village. There is a small sign for Ufton Fields in the centre of the village at the large roundabout (the sign is more noticeable if coming from the Southam direction). The species we hope to see include Ophioglossum vulgatum (Adder’s-tongue) and Aceras anthropophorum (Man Orchid). The leader is involved in habitat management at the man orchid’s only Warwickshire locality here. We also hope to check a nearby site for Neottia nidus-avis (Bird’s-nest Orchid) and then later onto Oversley Wood just off the A46 outside Stratford Upon Avon to look at the interesting flora there. Please bring waterproofs, packed lunch and stout footwear. Leader: Brian Laney. Contact Brian on 01327 843 847 or 07899 987 390 if you wish to come. Please note new email address brian.laney@gmail.com
Wednesday 7 June 2006 near Danbury, Essex Early Stagers; Grasses for beginnersMeet 11.00 a.m. Waterhall Meadows, Essex Wildlife Trust Reserve TL759 072. About 20 species of grass commonly grow here. Leader: Stephen Clarkson. Please book on 01206 791209; email SteveCl100@aol.com Numbers limited to16.
Saturday 10 June 2006 Bawdsey/Shingle Street, Suffolk Branch Y and visitors meet 10:30 a.m. Bawdsey Quay TM332 378 for a coastal walk with Vicia lutea (Yellow-vetch) at Shingle Street. Leader: Stephen Clarkson. Please contact 01206 791209; email SteveCl100@aol.com if you wish to come.
Sunday 11 June 2006 Market Weston Fen, Suffolk Meet 10.30 a.m. at Knettishall Heath Country Park car park TF955807. We will need to fill cars before moving off as there is only very limited parking at the site. Market Weston is a fine example of valley fen. A wide range of both calcareous and acid plants include Dactylorhiza traunsteineri (Narrow-leaved Marsh-orchid), Dactylorhiza incarnata sspp. (Early marsh-orchid subspecies) and Thelypteris palustris (Marsh Fern). Bring wellies! This is a joint meeting with LNHS. Leaders: Carol and Bill Hawkins.
NEW MEETING Sunday 18 June 2006 Lea Meadows N. R., Newtown Linford, Leics This meeting is additional to those published in the Spring 2006 Magazine. This beautiful site in Charnwood Forest is 30 acres of grassland, mostly neutral but with some acidic parts and substantial marshy areas beside the meandering Ulverscroft Brook. The site is surrounded by ancient woodland and thick hedges, which add many shrubby and shade-tolerant species to the long plant list (c 230 spp). Many colourful flowers will be in bloom, including Common and Heath Spotted-orchids, Betony, Devil's-bit Scabious and (if we search hard) Pepper-Saxifrage and Bog Pimpernel. But the most important plants of grasslands are, of course, the grasses - along with sedges and rushes. This is a very good site to study them, with a combined tally of about 60 species including Heath Grass Danthonia decumbens, Bristle Scirpus Isolepis setacea, 15 kinds of Carex. The leader will help to get novices a little further with this fascinating group of plants. Please contact the leader, Stephen Woodward, for further details on 0116 287 1697 or Stephen Parker.
Mid June 2006 Nob End, Bolton, Lancashire Branch N3 Open to all but please book with the leader Julie Clarke on 01539-563504 or e-mail candjclarke@wych.freeserve.co.uk if you wish to attend.
Sunday 25 June 2006 Truro, Cornwall Branch T Meet 11.00 am at Malpas Park, Malpas Road, Truro (near tennis courts) SW834 437. We will explore the Truro area covering a variety of habitats including, estuary, pavements, walls, hedges and arable. Leader: Matt Stribley. Contact number: 01872 279748 email: matt@floracam.co.uk
Saturday 25th June Canvey Island, Essex Meet 10.30am at South Benfleet railway station car park, TQ777 859. Dependent upon proposed building development in 2005 it is intended to explore waste area on for a whole range of plants like Rapistrum rugosum (Bastard Cabbage), Lychnis coronaria (Rose campion) and Colutea arborescens (Bladder Senna). Later we aim to discover Tordylium maximum(Hartwort), Lathyrus hirsutus (Hairy Vetchling), and, if we are lucky, to another site for Vicia bithynica (Bithynian vetch). you wish to attend please contact the leader, Stephen Clarkson on 01206-791209 or e-mail SteveCl100@aol.com
Saturday 8 July 2006 The Raven nr. Wexford, Co. Wexford Meet at 10.30 am in car park at T111267. A walk along the dunes to have a look at the general flora and to see Pyrola minor (common wintergreen) found new to the county in 2005. Be prepared to carry lunch. Leader: Paul Green. Email paul@combegate.wanadoo.co.uk
Saturday 8 July Amberley, Sussex Meet at 10.00 a.m. at Amberley Station TQ027 118 for a walk along the drainage ditches looking at aquatic plants. Depending on the season a good selection of plants should be seen in flower including Sagittaria sagittifolia (Arrowhead), Oenanthe aquatica (Fine-leaved Water-dropwort) and Potamogeton perfoliatus (Perfoliate Pondweed). Bring a packed lunch and stout footwear. Leader: Gareth Bursnall.
Friday 14 July 2006 River Tweed, Berwickshire Meet at 10.30 a.m. by Ladykirk Church NT8847. Amongst other things we will search for unusual hybrid pondweeds and water-crowfoots in the Tweed and Blackadder Water - Potamogeton x bottnicus (Bothnian pondweed), Ranunculus x kelchoensis (Kelso water-crowfoot) and Ranunculus circinatus x R. fluitans. Leader: Michael Braithwaite. Note: This meeting could be combined with the Northumberland meeting on 15 & 16 July!
Sunday 16 July 2006 Devil’s Dyke, Cambridgeshire Branch Y and visitors meet 10.30 a.m. at the car park, TL580 648 (junction of the Dyke and B1102). A longish walk to enjoy the flowers of the Dyke and seeking Nepeta cataria (Cat-mint), Himantoglossum hircinum (Lizard Orchid) and Asperula cynanchica (Squinancywort). Leaders: Carol and Bill Hawkins.
Sunday 30 July 2006Wheatfen, Norfolk Branch Y and visitors meet 11.00 a.m. at the car park of the Ted Ellis Reserve TM325 047. Sonchus palustris (Marsh Sow-thistle), Peucedanum palustre (Milk Parsley) and Telekia speciosa (Yellow Oxeye) should be on show together with a wide range of fen plants. From Surlingham, drive down The Green and turn right into The Covey. This road peters out into an unmade road at the end of which is the car park. Bring wellies! Leaders: Carol and Bill Hawkins.
Saturday 12 August Railway Fields Nature Reserve, Haringey An afternoon visit meeting at 2pm at the entrance to the Reserve TQ318 882 on Green Lanes, just north of a railway bridge opposite Haringey/Green Lanes BR station. No car parking on site, but Sainsbury's car park across the road. Manor House station (Piccadilly line) is the nearest tube (c. 5 minutes walk). We should see the Haringey Knotweed (Fallopia x connollyana), Fodder Vetch (Vicia villosa), Hungarian Brome (Bromus inermis), Service-Tree (Sorbus domestica) and other urban delights! Leader: David Bevan.
Saturday 28 October Undecided Last Day Hunt Venue to be determined but provisionally in the Breckland area, Suffolk, 10.30 a.m. Leader: Stephen Clarkson. Please contact 01206 791209; email SteveCl100@aol.com if you wish to come.
The Wild Flower Society is very grateful to all those who give their time and expertise when leading meetings. Offers to lead meetings will be gratefully received at any time. We particularly need leaders for one-day ones. In this case there is no need to be an expert or to show rarities. A variety of species in pleasant surroundings is all that is necessary.
Early Stagers meetings are specially suited to those wishing more detailed explanations of the plants shown. Beginners are especially welcome at all meetings. Leaders and others in the group will be pleased to help them if they make themselves known.
Members who do not drive and who have difficulty reaching the starting point of either Main or One-day events should contact the leader.
Packed lunches are required unless otherwise stated and will often need to be carried.
Please DO NOT bring dogs to any meeting as some landowners do not like them on their property.
All those attending WFS Field Meetings do so at their own risk.