1990 Fieldtrips
1990 Field Trips
Wepre Woods 21 April, Pleasington and Darwen Brook Valley 26 May,
Llandudno 9 June, Cabin Hill 23 June, Bidston to Meols 14 July, St. Helens and Sankey Valley 18 August, Runcorn and Norton Priory 15 September,
Chain Acre Woods Knowsley 13 October.
Wepre Woods 21 April, Pleasington and Darwen Brook Valley 26 May,
Llandudno 9 June, Cabin Hill 23 June, Bidston to Meols 14 July, St. Helens and Sankey Valley 18 August, Runcorn and Norton Priory 15 September,
Chain Acre Woods Knowsley 13 October.
1990 FIELD MEETING REPORTS
WEPRE WOODS 21ST APRIL Leader: Miss V. Gordon.
While half of the party was delayed due to transport failure the others spent a profitable hour examining the salt marsh vegetation where English Scurvy Grass Cochlearia anglica was in flower. A neglected tarmac tennis court was white with Common Whitlow Grass Erophila verna. In Wepre Woods the usual spring woodland flowers included some deep pink Wood Anemone Anemone nemorosa among masses of white ones, Wood Sorrel Oxalis acetosella, Bitter-vetch Lathyrus linifolius (= L. montanus), Pendulous Sedge Carex pendula and Soft Shield-fern Polystichum setiferum.
PLEASINGTON and DARWEN BROOK VALLEY 26th MAY
Leader: Miss Wilson.
A very varied flora was seen on a walk which covered many habitats from acid heathland to hilly meadows, riverbanks, lane sides, woodlands and marshy ground. Outstanding among the many species listed were Marsh Violet Viola palustris, Wood Horsetail Equisetum sylvaticum, tiny Adderstongue Ophioglossum vulgatum and hybrid Upland Enchanter's-nightshade Circaea x intermedia (= Circaea alpina x lutetiana).
LLANDUDNO 9th JUNE Leaders: Mr & Mrs Lockwood.
A few minutes after leaving the minibus we found Thick-leaved Stonecrop Sedum dasyphyllum, seconds later Stinking Iris Iris foetidissima in good flower. In quick succession came Nottingham Catchfly Silene nutans, Dropwort Filipendula vulgaris, Spotted Cat’s ear Hypochaeris maculata, Strawberry Tree Arbutus unedo and Mediterranean Buckthorn Rhamnus alaternus. Weeds in the Haulfre Gardens included Hoary Mustard Hirschfeldia incana, Black Mustard Brassica nigra and Bastard Cabbage Rapistrum rugosum. The Little Orme produced White Horehound Marrubium vulgare, Wild Cabbage Brassica oleracea, Ivy Broomrape Orobanche hederae and Snapdragon Antirrhinum majus.
CABIN HILL 23rd JUNE Leader: Mr Gateley.
Duneland species too numerous to list here included Shoreweed Littorella uniflora and Lesser Marshwort Helosciadium inundatum (= Apium inundatum) in good flower, Marsh Helleborine Epipactis palustris and Early Marsh Orchid Dactylorhiza incarnata, a few Bee Orchids and Giant Bellflower Campanula latifolia in a small wood.
BIDSTON to MEOLS 14th JULY Leader: Mr Duerden.
Some time was spent on the reclaimed Bidston Moss where Chalk Knapweed C. debeauxii (=Centaurea nigra subsp. nemoralis), Greater Knapweed C. scabiosa, Hairy Tare Ervilia hirsuta (= Vicia hirsuta) and Smooth Tare Ervum tetraspermum (= V. tetrasperma) had colonised clay banks. In shallow water Whorled Water-milfoil Myriophyllum verticillatum and New Zealand Pigmyweed Crassula helmsii were in luxuriant growth. Flowering-rush Butomus umbellatus, Marsh Yellow-cress Rorippa palustris and Great Yellow-cress R. amphibia dominated the River Birket while on the remains of Leasowe salt marsh was Buttonweed Cotula coronopifolia and Parsley Water-dropwort Oenanthe lachenalii.
ST HELENS and SANKEY VALLEY 18th AUGUST Leader: Miss Gordon.
In the remains of the St Helens canal Large-flowered Waterweed Egeria densa was still in flower among Nuttall's Waterweed Elodea nuttallii and Water Fern Azolla filiculoides. In Sankey Valley Greater Burnet-saxifrage Pimpinella major was notable. Return was made by way of Burgy Banks where we saw lots of Common Broomrape Orobanche minor, Reflexed Saltmarsh-grass Puccinellia distans and remains of Orchids. A re-visit was requested for an earlier date in 1991.
RUNCORN and NORTON PRIORY 15th SEPTEMBER Leader: Miss Wilson.
The Runcorn part of the Bridgewater Canal was almost sterile of vegetation, but ferns grew from the stone walls of the locks and included small Royal Ferns. In an artificial pond Fringed Water Lili Nymphoides peltata was naturalised. After inspecting Norton Priory, the walled garden was visited which had many interesting herbs and unusual cultivated species. On the way back along the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal we could tell there had been a good floral display by the dead remains of Yellow-wort Blackstonia perfoliata, Common Centaury Centaurium erythraea and Marsh orchids Dactylorhiza species. As well as our native Alder Alnus glutinosa, Grey Alder A. incana and Italian Alder A. cordata had been planted.
CHAIN ACRE WOODS KNOWSLEY 13th OCTOBER Leader: Chris Felton.
Despite the hot dry summer, recent rain had encouraged a good display of fungi. Over 100 species were recorded.
Lemon-scented Mountain Fern Oreopteris limbosperma was abundant on one stream bank where leaves of Marsh Violet Viola palustris were seen. The Narrow Buckler Fern Dryopteris carthusiana was found among bracken.
WEPRE WOODS 21ST APRIL Leader: Miss V. Gordon.
While half of the party was delayed due to transport failure the others spent a profitable hour examining the salt marsh vegetation where English Scurvy Grass Cochlearia anglica was in flower. A neglected tarmac tennis court was white with Common Whitlow Grass Erophila verna. In Wepre Woods the usual spring woodland flowers included some deep pink Wood Anemone Anemone nemorosa among masses of white ones, Wood Sorrel Oxalis acetosella, Bitter-vetch Lathyrus linifolius (= L. montanus), Pendulous Sedge Carex pendula and Soft Shield-fern Polystichum setiferum.
PLEASINGTON and DARWEN BROOK VALLEY 26th MAY
Leader: Miss Wilson.
A very varied flora was seen on a walk which covered many habitats from acid heathland to hilly meadows, riverbanks, lane sides, woodlands and marshy ground. Outstanding among the many species listed were Marsh Violet Viola palustris, Wood Horsetail Equisetum sylvaticum, tiny Adderstongue Ophioglossum vulgatum and hybrid Upland Enchanter's-nightshade Circaea x intermedia (= Circaea alpina x lutetiana).
LLANDUDNO 9th JUNE Leaders: Mr & Mrs Lockwood.
A few minutes after leaving the minibus we found Thick-leaved Stonecrop Sedum dasyphyllum, seconds later Stinking Iris Iris foetidissima in good flower. In quick succession came Nottingham Catchfly Silene nutans, Dropwort Filipendula vulgaris, Spotted Cat’s ear Hypochaeris maculata, Strawberry Tree Arbutus unedo and Mediterranean Buckthorn Rhamnus alaternus. Weeds in the Haulfre Gardens included Hoary Mustard Hirschfeldia incana, Black Mustard Brassica nigra and Bastard Cabbage Rapistrum rugosum. The Little Orme produced White Horehound Marrubium vulgare, Wild Cabbage Brassica oleracea, Ivy Broomrape Orobanche hederae and Snapdragon Antirrhinum majus.
CABIN HILL 23rd JUNE Leader: Mr Gateley.
Duneland species too numerous to list here included Shoreweed Littorella uniflora and Lesser Marshwort Helosciadium inundatum (= Apium inundatum) in good flower, Marsh Helleborine Epipactis palustris and Early Marsh Orchid Dactylorhiza incarnata, a few Bee Orchids and Giant Bellflower Campanula latifolia in a small wood.
BIDSTON to MEOLS 14th JULY Leader: Mr Duerden.
Some time was spent on the reclaimed Bidston Moss where Chalk Knapweed C. debeauxii (=Centaurea nigra subsp. nemoralis), Greater Knapweed C. scabiosa, Hairy Tare Ervilia hirsuta (= Vicia hirsuta) and Smooth Tare Ervum tetraspermum (= V. tetrasperma) had colonised clay banks. In shallow water Whorled Water-milfoil Myriophyllum verticillatum and New Zealand Pigmyweed Crassula helmsii were in luxuriant growth. Flowering-rush Butomus umbellatus, Marsh Yellow-cress Rorippa palustris and Great Yellow-cress R. amphibia dominated the River Birket while on the remains of Leasowe salt marsh was Buttonweed Cotula coronopifolia and Parsley Water-dropwort Oenanthe lachenalii.
ST HELENS and SANKEY VALLEY 18th AUGUST Leader: Miss Gordon.
In the remains of the St Helens canal Large-flowered Waterweed Egeria densa was still in flower among Nuttall's Waterweed Elodea nuttallii and Water Fern Azolla filiculoides. In Sankey Valley Greater Burnet-saxifrage Pimpinella major was notable. Return was made by way of Burgy Banks where we saw lots of Common Broomrape Orobanche minor, Reflexed Saltmarsh-grass Puccinellia distans and remains of Orchids. A re-visit was requested for an earlier date in 1991.
RUNCORN and NORTON PRIORY 15th SEPTEMBER Leader: Miss Wilson.
The Runcorn part of the Bridgewater Canal was almost sterile of vegetation, but ferns grew from the stone walls of the locks and included small Royal Ferns. In an artificial pond Fringed Water Lili Nymphoides peltata was naturalised. After inspecting Norton Priory, the walled garden was visited which had many interesting herbs and unusual cultivated species. On the way back along the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal we could tell there had been a good floral display by the dead remains of Yellow-wort Blackstonia perfoliata, Common Centaury Centaurium erythraea and Marsh orchids Dactylorhiza species. As well as our native Alder Alnus glutinosa, Grey Alder A. incana and Italian Alder A. cordata had been planted.
CHAIN ACRE WOODS KNOWSLEY 13th OCTOBER Leader: Chris Felton.
Despite the hot dry summer, recent rain had encouraged a good display of fungi. Over 100 species were recorded.
Lemon-scented Mountain Fern Oreopteris limbosperma was abundant on one stream bank where leaves of Marsh Violet Viola palustris were seen. The Narrow Buckler Fern Dryopteris carthusiana was found among bracken.