1992 Fieldtrips
Caergwrle 25 April, Pleasington 23rd May, Parr and Sutton Moss 20th June, Bryn to Wigan 4th July, Cefn-y-Bedd to Gwersyllt 25th July, New Ferry and Storeton Woods 8th August, Hilbre Island 22nd August, Erddig 12th September, Freshfield 3rd October
1992 FIELD MEETING REPORTS
Caergwrle 25th April Leader: Miss V. Gordon
While Alternate-leaved Golden Saxifrage had finished flowering, there were still some fresh spikes of Toothwort among a large colony mostly over. Down by the River Alyn Ramsons and male and female spikes of Butterbur were in flower. A carpet of Moschatel (Townhall Clock) covered one hedge bank and Primroses, Cowslips, Wild Hyacinths, Wood Anemones, Violets and Early Purple Orchids were among the wealth of spring flowers.
Pleasington 23rd May Leader: Miss M. Wilson
On a lovely walk through meadows, woodland and riverside the typical species of the area were seen. These included Montia sibirica (Pink Purslane), both the usual pink and also the white form, Bistort, Wood Horsetail, Sweet Cicely, Wood Stitchwort, leaves of Giant Hogweed and Wood Betony. In the wetter areas Hemlock Water-dropwort, Brooklime and Water Crowfoot.
Parr and Sutton Moss 20th June Leader: Mrs P. Lockwood
Derelict land from old mines surrounded by mossland produced a long list of species. Common Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii, some 2ft. tall, marsh orchids and Marsh Helleborine with Narrow-leaved Cotton Grass and other sedges on the Moss. Planted on the pit heaps Italian Alder Alnus cordata, Grey Alder A. incana and False Acacia Robinia pseudoacacia were doing well and there also the alien moss Campylopus introflexus made a thick carpet in places.
Bryn to Wigan 4th July. Leader: Mrs E. Stevenson.
The main features of this area are the flashes due to subsidence after mining. Cyperus Sedge Carex pseudocyperus was especially fine and Hybrid Reedmace Typha x glauca was found growing nearby its parents Lesser Reedmace T. angustifolium and Reedmace T. latifolia which was useful for comparison. At the disused power station, a thick growth of willow and birch had choked out many orchids but Common Spotted Orchid D. fuchsii and Marsh Helleborine Orchid Epipactis palustris were good and some early fungi were noted.
Cefn-y-Bedd to Gwersyllt 25th July Leader: Miss V. Gordon.
309 species were recorded at this meeting. Calcareous pebble beds produced Long-stalked Geranium Geranium columbinum, Field Scabious Knautia arvensis, Broad-leaved Helleborine Orchid Epipactis helleborine, Twayblade, Bee Orchids, Musk Mallow and Musk Thistle. A small lake was full of large tussocks of Greater Tussock Sedge Carex paniculata with some Wood Club-rush Scirpus sylvaticus in one corner. Fringe-cups Tellima grandiflora was well-established on a narrow steep woodland with a bush of Thimbleberry Rubus parviflorus.
New Ferry and Storeton Woods 8th August Leader: Dr K. Watson.
On a morning of continuous rain, a party of eight members walked from Rock Ferry, through Rock Park to the promenade then along the coast to New Ferry. Maritime plants seen were Grass-leaved Orache Atriplex littoralis, Reflexed Saltmarsh Grass Puccinellia distans, Sea Sandwort Honckenya peploides, Sea Rocket Cakile maritima, Sea Aster Aster tripolium (=Tripolium pannonicum) and Sea Plantain Plantago maritima, Hoary Ragwort Senecio erucifolius (= Jacobaea erucifolia) was common on the cliffs at New Ferry and compared to Common Ragwort S. jacobaea (=Jacobaea vulgaris). An unusual crucifer, Wallflower Cabbage Coincya monensis, ssp. cheiranthos was found on waste ground, formerly Rhynchosinapis cheiranthos) at Bromborough Pool. At lunchtime a a thoroughly drenched party agreed not to proceed to Storeton Woods.
Hilbre Island 22nd August Leader: Miss J. Bentley.
Fifteen members and two guests enjoyed a mainly fair though windy expedition. Here also we welcomed the interest shown by the Warden, Vicky Seager who handed us lists of the flora and fauna recorded on the islands.
We found good specimens of Rock Sea-lavender Limonium brittanicum ssp. celticum, formerly L. binervosum agg. and well-established colonies of Rock Sea Spurrey Spergularia rupicola, Sea Beet Beta vulgaris maritima, Sea Purslane Halimione portulacoides (=Atriplex portulacoides) and Sea Spleenwort Asplenium marinum.
Having to return to West Kirby before the incoming tide where we also had the opportunity to visit the Red Rocks Nature Reserve, where Parsley Water Dropwort Oenanthe lachenalii was particularly interesting and further along we found Garden Orache Atriplex hortensis growing 3 ft. tall by the sea wall.
Erddig 12th September Leader: Miss V. Gordon.
The most memorable of the many species of fungi in the woods were the Giant Polypore Meripilus giganteus three feet in diameter, and also the pure white White Saddle Fungus Helvella crispa. Water Mint Mentha aquatica and Spearmint Mentha spicata were growing in wet places in the valley and their spontaneous hybrid Peppermint M. x piperata. Above the valley forming almost a hedge was another hybrid Fallopia x bohemica. The parents, Giant Knotweed and Japanese knotweed were seen some distance away earlier.
Freshfield 3rd October Leader Mrs P. Lockwood.
The damp weather was hardly noticed in the excitement of the profusion of fungi. There were many species of Russula, Lactarius and Puffballs which were in troops in the pine woods, but favourites were the Earth stars Geastrum triplex, two species of Bird's nest fungi, Field Bird’s-nest Fungus Cyathus olla and Common Bird’s-nest Fungus Crucibulum laeve, Elfin Saddle Helvella lacunosa and the cup fungus Toad's Ear Fungus Otidea bufonia. Many flowering plants attracted interest and the hybrid willow Salix x doniana S. purpurea x S. repens was pointed out.
Caergwrle 25th April Leader: Miss V. Gordon
While Alternate-leaved Golden Saxifrage had finished flowering, there were still some fresh spikes of Toothwort among a large colony mostly over. Down by the River Alyn Ramsons and male and female spikes of Butterbur were in flower. A carpet of Moschatel (Townhall Clock) covered one hedge bank and Primroses, Cowslips, Wild Hyacinths, Wood Anemones, Violets and Early Purple Orchids were among the wealth of spring flowers.
Pleasington 23rd May Leader: Miss M. Wilson
On a lovely walk through meadows, woodland and riverside the typical species of the area were seen. These included Montia sibirica (Pink Purslane), both the usual pink and also the white form, Bistort, Wood Horsetail, Sweet Cicely, Wood Stitchwort, leaves of Giant Hogweed and Wood Betony. In the wetter areas Hemlock Water-dropwort, Brooklime and Water Crowfoot.
Parr and Sutton Moss 20th June Leader: Mrs P. Lockwood
Derelict land from old mines surrounded by mossland produced a long list of species. Common Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii, some 2ft. tall, marsh orchids and Marsh Helleborine with Narrow-leaved Cotton Grass and other sedges on the Moss. Planted on the pit heaps Italian Alder Alnus cordata, Grey Alder A. incana and False Acacia Robinia pseudoacacia were doing well and there also the alien moss Campylopus introflexus made a thick carpet in places.
Bryn to Wigan 4th July. Leader: Mrs E. Stevenson.
The main features of this area are the flashes due to subsidence after mining. Cyperus Sedge Carex pseudocyperus was especially fine and Hybrid Reedmace Typha x glauca was found growing nearby its parents Lesser Reedmace T. angustifolium and Reedmace T. latifolia which was useful for comparison. At the disused power station, a thick growth of willow and birch had choked out many orchids but Common Spotted Orchid D. fuchsii and Marsh Helleborine Orchid Epipactis palustris were good and some early fungi were noted.
Cefn-y-Bedd to Gwersyllt 25th July Leader: Miss V. Gordon.
309 species were recorded at this meeting. Calcareous pebble beds produced Long-stalked Geranium Geranium columbinum, Field Scabious Knautia arvensis, Broad-leaved Helleborine Orchid Epipactis helleborine, Twayblade, Bee Orchids, Musk Mallow and Musk Thistle. A small lake was full of large tussocks of Greater Tussock Sedge Carex paniculata with some Wood Club-rush Scirpus sylvaticus in one corner. Fringe-cups Tellima grandiflora was well-established on a narrow steep woodland with a bush of Thimbleberry Rubus parviflorus.
New Ferry and Storeton Woods 8th August Leader: Dr K. Watson.
On a morning of continuous rain, a party of eight members walked from Rock Ferry, through Rock Park to the promenade then along the coast to New Ferry. Maritime plants seen were Grass-leaved Orache Atriplex littoralis, Reflexed Saltmarsh Grass Puccinellia distans, Sea Sandwort Honckenya peploides, Sea Rocket Cakile maritima, Sea Aster Aster tripolium (=Tripolium pannonicum) and Sea Plantain Plantago maritima, Hoary Ragwort Senecio erucifolius (= Jacobaea erucifolia) was common on the cliffs at New Ferry and compared to Common Ragwort S. jacobaea (=Jacobaea vulgaris). An unusual crucifer, Wallflower Cabbage Coincya monensis, ssp. cheiranthos was found on waste ground, formerly Rhynchosinapis cheiranthos) at Bromborough Pool. At lunchtime a a thoroughly drenched party agreed not to proceed to Storeton Woods.
Hilbre Island 22nd August Leader: Miss J. Bentley.
Fifteen members and two guests enjoyed a mainly fair though windy expedition. Here also we welcomed the interest shown by the Warden, Vicky Seager who handed us lists of the flora and fauna recorded on the islands.
We found good specimens of Rock Sea-lavender Limonium brittanicum ssp. celticum, formerly L. binervosum agg. and well-established colonies of Rock Sea Spurrey Spergularia rupicola, Sea Beet Beta vulgaris maritima, Sea Purslane Halimione portulacoides (=Atriplex portulacoides) and Sea Spleenwort Asplenium marinum.
Having to return to West Kirby before the incoming tide where we also had the opportunity to visit the Red Rocks Nature Reserve, where Parsley Water Dropwort Oenanthe lachenalii was particularly interesting and further along we found Garden Orache Atriplex hortensis growing 3 ft. tall by the sea wall.
Erddig 12th September Leader: Miss V. Gordon.
The most memorable of the many species of fungi in the woods were the Giant Polypore Meripilus giganteus three feet in diameter, and also the pure white White Saddle Fungus Helvella crispa. Water Mint Mentha aquatica and Spearmint Mentha spicata were growing in wet places in the valley and their spontaneous hybrid Peppermint M. x piperata. Above the valley forming almost a hedge was another hybrid Fallopia x bohemica. The parents, Giant Knotweed and Japanese knotweed were seen some distance away earlier.
Freshfield 3rd October Leader Mrs P. Lockwood.
The damp weather was hardly noticed in the excitement of the profusion of fungi. There were many species of Russula, Lactarius and Puffballs which were in troops in the pine woods, but favourites were the Earth stars Geastrum triplex, two species of Bird's nest fungi, Field Bird’s-nest Fungus Cyathus olla and Common Bird’s-nest Fungus Crucibulum laeve, Elfin Saddle Helvella lacunosa and the cup fungus Toad's Ear Fungus Otidea bufonia. Many flowering plants attracted interest and the hybrid willow Salix x doniana S. purpurea x S. repens was pointed out.