FIELD MEETINGS 1917
Dibbinsdale and Raby Mere SATURDAY, 21st APRIL 1917
Leaders—Mr. Dallman and Miss A. Lee, L.L.A.
Most of the woodland plants usually met with in the district were noted. Common flowering plants, such as the foxglove and primrose, formerly plentiful in these localities, have been practically eradicated, and are now rare. Bud-headed Groove-moss or Drumsticks Aulacomnium androgynum and Pellucid Four-tooth Moss Tetraphis pellucida were abundant on decaying tree trunks, and the Wood-ear, Jelly -ear (or Jew’s-ear fungus) Auricularia (= Herneola) auricula-judae was noted on elder. Some fifty or sixty years ago Marrat and Higgins recorded many mosses and lichens on the bark of trees here, but these have disappeared owing to the pollution of the atmosphere.
Willaston, Puddington, and Shotwick SATURDAY, 19th MAY 1917
Leader—Dr W. A. Lee, M.A.
After an inspection of antiquarian objects at Willaston, a rapid survey was made of the lanes leading to Burton, the district affording a fair number of flowering plants.
The short distance to Puddington Old Hall yielded a number of unfrequent species, such as Hedgerow Cranesbill Geranium pyrenaicum, Hairy Tare Ervilia hirsuta (=Vicia hirsuta) and Dandelion Taraxacum Section erythrospermum. By the kind permission of Mr A. B. Earle, the grounds of the Hall were visited, the well-grown trees and display of floral beauty eliciting much admiration. Some account of the history and antiquities of the neighbourhood was given by the leader.
On the return journey, Rustyback Asplenium ceterach (= Ceterach officinarum), a fern not previously recorded for the Wirral, was found on a stone wall.
Rainhill SATURDAY, 16th JUNE 1917
Leader—Miss D. Anderton.
By the kind permission of H. J. Bromilow, Esq., of Rann Lea, a visit was paid to his gardens and orchid-houses. Afterwards, an enjoyable ramble was taken through the lanes and roads of the neighbourhood, a district associated in local natural history annals with the Rev. H. H. Higgins.
Freshfield, Woodvale, and Formby SATURDAY, 30th JUNE 1917
Leader—Miss E. Reid L.L.A.
During this ramble one passed from the area of blown sand, with its characteristic flora, to the peaty tract in its hinterland, where an entirely different type occurs. Drainage and cultivation have led to the disappearance or increasing rarity of many of its choicest species, but the heathy fields and deep peaty ditches yield many survivors, which have been chronicled in previous reports.
Shoddle Woods and Eastham SATURDAY, 14th JULY 1917
Leader—Miss A. P. Lloyd B.A.
The party, augmented by Chester members, entered Shoddle Woods, a name indicating the presence of St Chad’s Well, one of several neighbouring springs whose existence has been known for centuries. Sir W. B. Forwood kindly gave permission for an inspection of this area, and it was hoped that many of the interesting old records would be confirmed, but only the sad effects of atmospheric and river pollution, especially among cryptogamic plants, were noted.
The flora of the woods was scanty, and the herbage dry from continued drought. On the shores of the River Mersey Thrift Armeria maritima, and a few specimens of the Common Sea-lavender (or Statice) Limonium vulgare were found, the latter in a stunted condition. In an old sandstone quarry, long abandoned to the reparative influences of nature, were found Devil's-bit Scabious Succisa pratensis (= Scabiosa succisa) in quantity, and Common Liverwort Marchantia polymorpha var. aquatica, plentiful in a marshy part.
Speke and Oglet SATURDAY, 29th JULY 1917
Leader—Miss Olive Bangham
The presence of oak trees; indicated by local placenames, was particularly noticeable, and on these were found two varieties of the spangle gall. The clay banks fringing the river presented a fine display of colour, Ribbed Melilot Melilotus officinalis combining in great quantity with Great Willowherb Epilobium hirsutum in places supplemented by the purple flower-heads of Wild Teasel Dipsacus fullonum (= Dipsacus sylvestris). An obscure collemaceous lichen, collected in small quantity on the clay banks, proved to be Scytinium biatorinum (= Leptogium pusillum = Homodium pusillum) - an addition to the local lichen flora.
Helsby Hill SATURDAY, 11th AUGUST 1917
Leader—Mr A. A. Dallman, F.C.S.
The party joined with the Chester Society of Natural Science and proceeded to Helsby marsh, one of the most favourable localities in the district for the study of aquatic vegetation. Among the plants recorded were: — Nodding Bur-marigold Bidens cernua, Trifid Bur-marigold Bidens tripartita, Frogbit Hydrocharis morsus-ranae, Greater Duckweed Spirodela polyrhiza (= Lemna polyrhiza), Water-violet Hottonia palustris, Flowering-rush Butomus umbellatus, Whorl-grass Catabrosa aquatica, and Parsley Water-dropwort Oenanthe lachenalii. Returning to Helsby, the party ascended Helsby Hill, noting Heather Calluna vulgaris Hull, Cross-leaved Heath Erica tetralix and Bell Heather Erica cinerea, Climbing Corydalis Ceratocapnos claviculata (= Corydalis claviculata) and Sheep's-bit Jasione montana were also seen. Mr Dallman gave a short address on the vegetation, and mentioned that the first record of the Corydalis on Helsby Hill was in 1777, by the Hon. and Rev. R. H. Waring, of Leeswood.
Caldy and Thurstaston Hill SATURDAY, 18th AUGUST 1917
Leader—Mr E. T. PAYNE.
The rarer plants recorded included Lesser Meadow-rue Thalictrum minus, Bloody Cranesbill Geranium sanguineum, and Yellow Horned-poppy Glaucium flavum. Subsequently the party visited Thurstaston Hill.
Formby SATURDAY, 22nd SEPTEMBER 1917
Leader—Mr J. A. WHELDON, F.L.S.
Sea Buckthorn Hippophae rhamnoides, naturalised in this locality, was particularly attractive by its fine display of orange-coloured berries. A feature of the excursion was the abundance of fungi. The most notable gall observed was that caused by Poplar Spiral Gall Aphid Pemphigus spirothecae, on Black Poplar Populus nigra L.
Dibbinsdale and Raby Mere SATURDAY, 21st APRIL 1917
Leaders—Mr. Dallman and Miss A. Lee, L.L.A.
Most of the woodland plants usually met with in the district were noted. Common flowering plants, such as the foxglove and primrose, formerly plentiful in these localities, have been practically eradicated, and are now rare. Bud-headed Groove-moss or Drumsticks Aulacomnium androgynum and Pellucid Four-tooth Moss Tetraphis pellucida were abundant on decaying tree trunks, and the Wood-ear, Jelly -ear (or Jew’s-ear fungus) Auricularia (= Herneola) auricula-judae was noted on elder. Some fifty or sixty years ago Marrat and Higgins recorded many mosses and lichens on the bark of trees here, but these have disappeared owing to the pollution of the atmosphere.
Willaston, Puddington, and Shotwick SATURDAY, 19th MAY 1917
Leader—Dr W. A. Lee, M.A.
After an inspection of antiquarian objects at Willaston, a rapid survey was made of the lanes leading to Burton, the district affording a fair number of flowering plants.
The short distance to Puddington Old Hall yielded a number of unfrequent species, such as Hedgerow Cranesbill Geranium pyrenaicum, Hairy Tare Ervilia hirsuta (=Vicia hirsuta) and Dandelion Taraxacum Section erythrospermum. By the kind permission of Mr A. B. Earle, the grounds of the Hall were visited, the well-grown trees and display of floral beauty eliciting much admiration. Some account of the history and antiquities of the neighbourhood was given by the leader.
On the return journey, Rustyback Asplenium ceterach (= Ceterach officinarum), a fern not previously recorded for the Wirral, was found on a stone wall.
Rainhill SATURDAY, 16th JUNE 1917
Leader—Miss D. Anderton.
By the kind permission of H. J. Bromilow, Esq., of Rann Lea, a visit was paid to his gardens and orchid-houses. Afterwards, an enjoyable ramble was taken through the lanes and roads of the neighbourhood, a district associated in local natural history annals with the Rev. H. H. Higgins.
Freshfield, Woodvale, and Formby SATURDAY, 30th JUNE 1917
Leader—Miss E. Reid L.L.A.
During this ramble one passed from the area of blown sand, with its characteristic flora, to the peaty tract in its hinterland, where an entirely different type occurs. Drainage and cultivation have led to the disappearance or increasing rarity of many of its choicest species, but the heathy fields and deep peaty ditches yield many survivors, which have been chronicled in previous reports.
Shoddle Woods and Eastham SATURDAY, 14th JULY 1917
Leader—Miss A. P. Lloyd B.A.
The party, augmented by Chester members, entered Shoddle Woods, a name indicating the presence of St Chad’s Well, one of several neighbouring springs whose existence has been known for centuries. Sir W. B. Forwood kindly gave permission for an inspection of this area, and it was hoped that many of the interesting old records would be confirmed, but only the sad effects of atmospheric and river pollution, especially among cryptogamic plants, were noted.
The flora of the woods was scanty, and the herbage dry from continued drought. On the shores of the River Mersey Thrift Armeria maritima, and a few specimens of the Common Sea-lavender (or Statice) Limonium vulgare were found, the latter in a stunted condition. In an old sandstone quarry, long abandoned to the reparative influences of nature, were found Devil's-bit Scabious Succisa pratensis (= Scabiosa succisa) in quantity, and Common Liverwort Marchantia polymorpha var. aquatica, plentiful in a marshy part.
Speke and Oglet SATURDAY, 29th JULY 1917
Leader—Miss Olive Bangham
The presence of oak trees; indicated by local placenames, was particularly noticeable, and on these were found two varieties of the spangle gall. The clay banks fringing the river presented a fine display of colour, Ribbed Melilot Melilotus officinalis combining in great quantity with Great Willowherb Epilobium hirsutum in places supplemented by the purple flower-heads of Wild Teasel Dipsacus fullonum (= Dipsacus sylvestris). An obscure collemaceous lichen, collected in small quantity on the clay banks, proved to be Scytinium biatorinum (= Leptogium pusillum = Homodium pusillum) - an addition to the local lichen flora.
Helsby Hill SATURDAY, 11th AUGUST 1917
Leader—Mr A. A. Dallman, F.C.S.
The party joined with the Chester Society of Natural Science and proceeded to Helsby marsh, one of the most favourable localities in the district for the study of aquatic vegetation. Among the plants recorded were: — Nodding Bur-marigold Bidens cernua, Trifid Bur-marigold Bidens tripartita, Frogbit Hydrocharis morsus-ranae, Greater Duckweed Spirodela polyrhiza (= Lemna polyrhiza), Water-violet Hottonia palustris, Flowering-rush Butomus umbellatus, Whorl-grass Catabrosa aquatica, and Parsley Water-dropwort Oenanthe lachenalii. Returning to Helsby, the party ascended Helsby Hill, noting Heather Calluna vulgaris Hull, Cross-leaved Heath Erica tetralix and Bell Heather Erica cinerea, Climbing Corydalis Ceratocapnos claviculata (= Corydalis claviculata) and Sheep's-bit Jasione montana were also seen. Mr Dallman gave a short address on the vegetation, and mentioned that the first record of the Corydalis on Helsby Hill was in 1777, by the Hon. and Rev. R. H. Waring, of Leeswood.
Caldy and Thurstaston Hill SATURDAY, 18th AUGUST 1917
Leader—Mr E. T. PAYNE.
The rarer plants recorded included Lesser Meadow-rue Thalictrum minus, Bloody Cranesbill Geranium sanguineum, and Yellow Horned-poppy Glaucium flavum. Subsequently the party visited Thurstaston Hill.
Formby SATURDAY, 22nd SEPTEMBER 1917
Leader—Mr J. A. WHELDON, F.L.S.
Sea Buckthorn Hippophae rhamnoides, naturalised in this locality, was particularly attractive by its fine display of orange-coloured berries. A feature of the excursion was the abundance of fungi. The most notable gall observed was that caused by Poplar Spiral Gall Aphid Pemphigus spirothecae, on Black Poplar Populus nigra L.