Hope 17 April, Wigan 8 May, Great Orme 15 June, Leeds and Liverpool Canal 26 June, Hall Road to Hightown 10 July, Sankey Valley (South of Earlestown) 24 July, Huyton 14 August, Shotton to Chester 28 August, Heswall shore to Thurstaston 18 September, Dibbinsdale 2 October.
1993 FIELD MEETING REPORTS
Hope 17th April Leader: Miss V. Gordon.
On a warm, sunny day spring flowers included Primroses, Wood Sorrel, Wood Anemones, Wild Hyacinth, Wood Violets Viola riviniana and V. reichenbachiana, Townhall Clock Adoxa moschatellina and Golden Saxifrages Chrysosplenium oppositifolium and C. alternifolium so the party of 17 followed the River Alyn and then high-banked lanes up Hope Mountain. On the acid hill top the Blaeberry Vaccinium myrtillus was in flower. Toothwort on the Alyn bank was just past its best. With "apologies for inconvenience caused" by British Rail two other members were delayed but followed a similar route.
Wigan 8th May Leader: Mr. P. Gateley.
The Douglas Valley quickly opens into green space from Wigan Town Centre; though wild in aspect much planting has been carried out, allowing comparisons to be made between the Alders, Italian Alder Alnus cordata, Common Alder A. glutinosa and Grey Alder A. incana. Bird Cherry Prunus padus was in full flower in scattered plantings on the valley sides and masses of Bluebells were still a fine sight under the expanding beech leaves of Haigh Plantations, where drifts of russet bud scales had accumulated in places. As well as finding woodland species, there were patches of open acidic grassland and water's edge and aquatic plants were to be seen along Douglas banks, scattered ponds and the Leeds and Liverpool canal. A bathing male sparrowhawk joined us for lunch by one of the woodland ponds where Water Crowfoot Ranunculus aquatilis flowers seemed to outshine the blowzy Rhododendron blossoms.
Great Orme 5th June Leaders Mrs W McCarthy & Mr J. Benson.
On a lovely summers day, with no hint of the disastrous flood which followed just four later a party of 28 members and friends enjoyed seeing most of the Great Orme’s special plants. Lunch was taken among a carpet of Bloody Cranesbill Geranium sanguineum, Kidney Vetch Anthyllis vulneraria and Spotted Cat's Ear Hypochaeris maculata, with Small Scabious Scabiosa columbaria, Hoary Rock Rose Helianthemum oelandicum (= H.canum) , Nottingham Catchfly Silene nutans, Horse-shoe Vetch Hippocrepis comosa and many others on the rocky ledges above. Spiked Speedwell Veronica spicata ssp. hybrida was just beginning to flower. Three plants of the sinister-looking Henbane Hyoscyamus niger attracted many peoples’ attention. A small debate took place during the tea-break - were the dried up Cerastiums were looking at Dwarf Mouse-ear C. pumilum or Little Mouse-ear C. semidecandrum ? Both were flowering there in March and April. Also present here were Narrow-fruited Cornsalad Valerianella dentata and Field Madder Sherardia arvensis, with Dark Red Helleborine Epipactis atrorubens just below.
Leeds and Liverpool Canal 26th June Leader : Miss M. Wilson. A party of twelve followed the canal from Sandhills to Rimrose Valley. Fringed Water Lily Nymphoides peltata was the dominant water plant most of the way but in places a more recent invader Curly Waterweed Lagarosiphon major was competing successfully with it. In open patches of water usual canal species such as Curled Pondweed Potamogeton crispus, Sago Pondweed P. pectinatus and Perfoliate Pondweed P. perfoliatus were seen. In places at the edge of the canal were long colonies of the hybrid Reed Mace Typha x glauca. On the canal bank the Broomrape Orobanche minor was frequent in patches as well as Marsh Orchids (Common Spotted, Early, Southern and Northern) Dactylorhiza fuchsii, incarnata, praetermissa, purpurella and their hybrids.
Hall Road to Hightown 10th July Leader: Miss V. Gordon.
Nineteen members walked along the coastal embankment, dunes and foreshore to Hightown and back by inner dunes. Usual coastal species included fine plants of Viper's Bugloss Echium vulgare and a few remaining Bee Orchids. A stretch of artificial shingle was invaded by Yellow Horned-poppy Glaucium flavum, Rock Samphire Crithmum maritimum and Sea-kale Crambe maritima. In & damp reedbed Yellow Iris Iris pseudacorus, Common Meadow Rue Thalictrum flavum and Garden Angelica Angelica archangelica were photographed. On the beach we walked over the submerged forest and tree trunks which fell thousands of years ago in order to see the Glasswort Salicornia dolichostachya. On the bank of the River Alt the long-established colony of Euphorbia esula was seen. Orchids on the return journey included Helleborines – Green-flowered, Dune and Marsh (Epipactis phyllanthes, E. leptochila ssp. dunensis and E. palustris). Pyramidal Orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis and Marsh Orchid Dactylorhiza incarnata. Other species of note were the Sea Bindweed Calystegia soldanella and Sulphur Cinquefoil Potentilla recta.
Sankey Valley, south of Earlestown 24th July Leader: Mrs P. Lockwood.
Eleven members made their way down Sankey Valley, with frequent stops to see interesting plants in the remnants of the old Earlestown canal. They included Greater Tussock Sedge Carex paniculata, Trifid Bur-marigold Bidens tripartita, Dark Mullein Verbascum nigrum, Field Scabious Knautia arvensis, Black Bent Agrostis gigantea and Hybrid Cinquefoil Potentilla x mixta (E. anglica x reptans). Some fine large trees of False Acacia Robinia pseudoacacia on the M62 embankment were duly admired as well as good tufts of Wood Millet Milium effusum in Red Brow Wood.
Huyton 14th August Leader: Mr P. Gateley.
Our journey to the source of the Alt began in a small tract of "fossilised" countryside right 1in the middle of Huyton; old hawthorn dominated hedgerows, and unmaintained, diverse swards of former fields and gardens held a wide range of species, with native scrub developing in places, notably Blackthorn Prunus spinosa and young Oaks Quercus robur with fine collections of galls. The Alt springs from a soggy field lying in a shallow basin surrounded by clayey slopes. The area is a public open space with wetland created and drier parts planted and managed as wildflower meadows displaying a wide range of colourful species e.g. - Meadow Cranesbill Geranium pratense and Purple Loosestrife Lythrum salicaria. Stadt Moers Park was reached along the banks of Mill Brook (flowing in the opposite direction to the Alt to join Ditton Brook), allowing close views of Grass Vetchling Lathyrus nissolia in leaf and fruit. This route led into further wildflower meadows, well maintained, very diverse mixtures with many white-flowered Knapweeds Centaurea nigra noted amongst the normal population. Stadt Moers itself has some rich areas of water, with Unbranched Bur-reed Sparganium emersum and Hop Sedge Carex pseudocyperus looking particularly fine, and a range of man-influenced plant communities with many interesting species including Elecampane Inula helenium.
SHOTTON TO CHESTER 28th AUGUST Leader: Dr K. Watson.
The recently re-discovered Slender Hare's-ear Bupleurum tenuissimum was admired on the salt marsh near the railway bridge over the Dee at Shotton, and found at intervals for at least half a mile towards Chester. The hybrid Knotweed Fallopia x bohemica was common in places along the path with Spiny Restharrow Ononis spinosa also recorded. Burdocks Arctium minus were compared and ssp. pubens recorded.
Giant Hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum was common towards Chester, with Broad-leaved Ragwort Senecio sarracenicus( = Senecio fluviatilis) as we left the Dee and joined the Shropshire Union Canal. California Brome now Ceratochloa carinata, Arrowhead Sagittaria sagittifolia and Orange Balsam Impatiens capensis were found on the canal, and the meeting ended with an unscheduled hectic visit to see Dittander Lepidium latifolium near the Northgate arena at Chester.
Heswall shore to Thurstaston 18th September Leader: Miss J. Bentley.
Over 300 species were recorded during this meeting, which also coincided with the highest Dee tide of the summer, covering the Sea Aster and Spartina. En route to the shore the hedges were full of the scarlet berries of White Bryony Bryonia dioica (=B. cretica ssp. dioica). Nodding Bur-marigold Bidens cernua was found near the Sailing Club. After calling at the Thurstaston Visitor Centre our party of 12 returned to Heswall via the Wirral Way, the Dungeons and the field paths, after checking that the Maidenhair Fern was still doing well.
DIBBINSDALE 2nd OCTOBER Leader: Dr K. Watson.
The party found a good range of fungi in Spital fields and woods west of the Dibbin, including Ink-caps Coprinus atramentarius & C. comatus, the Weeping Widow Lacrymaria velutina, the Mycenas (Mycena galericulata, inclinata and galopus) and the Oak Milk Cap Lactarius quietus . Returning from the Dibbinsdale Road through Marford's Wood, Cramp Balls Daldinia concentrica, Purple Russula R. atropurpurea, Blewit Lepista nuda and Candlesnuff fungus Xylaria hypoxylon were found. After lunch, fungi were few but Betony Stachys officinalis and Devil's-bit Scabious Succisa pratensis were admired on the way to St. Patrick's well. Finally, the party had tea at Woodslee pond where Water Soldier Stratiotes aloides, Nuttall's waterweed Elodea nuttallii and Rigid Hornwort Ceratophyllum demersum were found.
Hope 17th April Leader: Miss V. Gordon.
On a warm, sunny day spring flowers included Primroses, Wood Sorrel, Wood Anemones, Wild Hyacinth, Wood Violets Viola riviniana and V. reichenbachiana, Townhall Clock Adoxa moschatellina and Golden Saxifrages Chrysosplenium oppositifolium and C. alternifolium so the party of 17 followed the River Alyn and then high-banked lanes up Hope Mountain. On the acid hill top the Blaeberry Vaccinium myrtillus was in flower. Toothwort on the Alyn bank was just past its best. With "apologies for inconvenience caused" by British Rail two other members were delayed but followed a similar route.
Wigan 8th May Leader: Mr. P. Gateley.
The Douglas Valley quickly opens into green space from Wigan Town Centre; though wild in aspect much planting has been carried out, allowing comparisons to be made between the Alders, Italian Alder Alnus cordata, Common Alder A. glutinosa and Grey Alder A. incana. Bird Cherry Prunus padus was in full flower in scattered plantings on the valley sides and masses of Bluebells were still a fine sight under the expanding beech leaves of Haigh Plantations, where drifts of russet bud scales had accumulated in places. As well as finding woodland species, there were patches of open acidic grassland and water's edge and aquatic plants were to be seen along Douglas banks, scattered ponds and the Leeds and Liverpool canal. A bathing male sparrowhawk joined us for lunch by one of the woodland ponds where Water Crowfoot Ranunculus aquatilis flowers seemed to outshine the blowzy Rhododendron blossoms.
Great Orme 5th June Leaders Mrs W McCarthy & Mr J. Benson.
On a lovely summers day, with no hint of the disastrous flood which followed just four later a party of 28 members and friends enjoyed seeing most of the Great Orme’s special plants. Lunch was taken among a carpet of Bloody Cranesbill Geranium sanguineum, Kidney Vetch Anthyllis vulneraria and Spotted Cat's Ear Hypochaeris maculata, with Small Scabious Scabiosa columbaria, Hoary Rock Rose Helianthemum oelandicum (= H.canum) , Nottingham Catchfly Silene nutans, Horse-shoe Vetch Hippocrepis comosa and many others on the rocky ledges above. Spiked Speedwell Veronica spicata ssp. hybrida was just beginning to flower. Three plants of the sinister-looking Henbane Hyoscyamus niger attracted many peoples’ attention. A small debate took place during the tea-break - were the dried up Cerastiums were looking at Dwarf Mouse-ear C. pumilum or Little Mouse-ear C. semidecandrum ? Both were flowering there in March and April. Also present here were Narrow-fruited Cornsalad Valerianella dentata and Field Madder Sherardia arvensis, with Dark Red Helleborine Epipactis atrorubens just below.
Leeds and Liverpool Canal 26th June Leader : Miss M. Wilson. A party of twelve followed the canal from Sandhills to Rimrose Valley. Fringed Water Lily Nymphoides peltata was the dominant water plant most of the way but in places a more recent invader Curly Waterweed Lagarosiphon major was competing successfully with it. In open patches of water usual canal species such as Curled Pondweed Potamogeton crispus, Sago Pondweed P. pectinatus and Perfoliate Pondweed P. perfoliatus were seen. In places at the edge of the canal were long colonies of the hybrid Reed Mace Typha x glauca. On the canal bank the Broomrape Orobanche minor was frequent in patches as well as Marsh Orchids (Common Spotted, Early, Southern and Northern) Dactylorhiza fuchsii, incarnata, praetermissa, purpurella and their hybrids.
Hall Road to Hightown 10th July Leader: Miss V. Gordon.
Nineteen members walked along the coastal embankment, dunes and foreshore to Hightown and back by inner dunes. Usual coastal species included fine plants of Viper's Bugloss Echium vulgare and a few remaining Bee Orchids. A stretch of artificial shingle was invaded by Yellow Horned-poppy Glaucium flavum, Rock Samphire Crithmum maritimum and Sea-kale Crambe maritima. In & damp reedbed Yellow Iris Iris pseudacorus, Common Meadow Rue Thalictrum flavum and Garden Angelica Angelica archangelica were photographed. On the beach we walked over the submerged forest and tree trunks which fell thousands of years ago in order to see the Glasswort Salicornia dolichostachya. On the bank of the River Alt the long-established colony of Euphorbia esula was seen. Orchids on the return journey included Helleborines – Green-flowered, Dune and Marsh (Epipactis phyllanthes, E. leptochila ssp. dunensis and E. palustris). Pyramidal Orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis and Marsh Orchid Dactylorhiza incarnata. Other species of note were the Sea Bindweed Calystegia soldanella and Sulphur Cinquefoil Potentilla recta.
Sankey Valley, south of Earlestown 24th July Leader: Mrs P. Lockwood.
Eleven members made their way down Sankey Valley, with frequent stops to see interesting plants in the remnants of the old Earlestown canal. They included Greater Tussock Sedge Carex paniculata, Trifid Bur-marigold Bidens tripartita, Dark Mullein Verbascum nigrum, Field Scabious Knautia arvensis, Black Bent Agrostis gigantea and Hybrid Cinquefoil Potentilla x mixta (E. anglica x reptans). Some fine large trees of False Acacia Robinia pseudoacacia on the M62 embankment were duly admired as well as good tufts of Wood Millet Milium effusum in Red Brow Wood.
Huyton 14th August Leader: Mr P. Gateley.
Our journey to the source of the Alt began in a small tract of "fossilised" countryside right 1in the middle of Huyton; old hawthorn dominated hedgerows, and unmaintained, diverse swards of former fields and gardens held a wide range of species, with native scrub developing in places, notably Blackthorn Prunus spinosa and young Oaks Quercus robur with fine collections of galls. The Alt springs from a soggy field lying in a shallow basin surrounded by clayey slopes. The area is a public open space with wetland created and drier parts planted and managed as wildflower meadows displaying a wide range of colourful species e.g. - Meadow Cranesbill Geranium pratense and Purple Loosestrife Lythrum salicaria. Stadt Moers Park was reached along the banks of Mill Brook (flowing in the opposite direction to the Alt to join Ditton Brook), allowing close views of Grass Vetchling Lathyrus nissolia in leaf and fruit. This route led into further wildflower meadows, well maintained, very diverse mixtures with many white-flowered Knapweeds Centaurea nigra noted amongst the normal population. Stadt Moers itself has some rich areas of water, with Unbranched Bur-reed Sparganium emersum and Hop Sedge Carex pseudocyperus looking particularly fine, and a range of man-influenced plant communities with many interesting species including Elecampane Inula helenium.
SHOTTON TO CHESTER 28th AUGUST Leader: Dr K. Watson.
The recently re-discovered Slender Hare's-ear Bupleurum tenuissimum was admired on the salt marsh near the railway bridge over the Dee at Shotton, and found at intervals for at least half a mile towards Chester. The hybrid Knotweed Fallopia x bohemica was common in places along the path with Spiny Restharrow Ononis spinosa also recorded. Burdocks Arctium minus were compared and ssp. pubens recorded.
Giant Hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum was common towards Chester, with Broad-leaved Ragwort Senecio sarracenicus( = Senecio fluviatilis) as we left the Dee and joined the Shropshire Union Canal. California Brome now Ceratochloa carinata, Arrowhead Sagittaria sagittifolia and Orange Balsam Impatiens capensis were found on the canal, and the meeting ended with an unscheduled hectic visit to see Dittander Lepidium latifolium near the Northgate arena at Chester.
Heswall shore to Thurstaston 18th September Leader: Miss J. Bentley.
Over 300 species were recorded during this meeting, which also coincided with the highest Dee tide of the summer, covering the Sea Aster and Spartina. En route to the shore the hedges were full of the scarlet berries of White Bryony Bryonia dioica (=B. cretica ssp. dioica). Nodding Bur-marigold Bidens cernua was found near the Sailing Club. After calling at the Thurstaston Visitor Centre our party of 12 returned to Heswall via the Wirral Way, the Dungeons and the field paths, after checking that the Maidenhair Fern was still doing well.
DIBBINSDALE 2nd OCTOBER Leader: Dr K. Watson.
The party found a good range of fungi in Spital fields and woods west of the Dibbin, including Ink-caps Coprinus atramentarius & C. comatus, the Weeping Widow Lacrymaria velutina, the Mycenas (Mycena galericulata, inclinata and galopus) and the Oak Milk Cap Lactarius quietus . Returning from the Dibbinsdale Road through Marford's Wood, Cramp Balls Daldinia concentrica, Purple Russula R. atropurpurea, Blewit Lepista nuda and Candlesnuff fungus Xylaria hypoxylon were found. After lunch, fungi were few but Betony Stachys officinalis and Devil's-bit Scabious Succisa pratensis were admired on the way to St. Patrick's well. Finally, the party had tea at Woodslee pond where Water Soldier Stratiotes aloides, Nuttall's waterweed Elodea nuttallii and Rigid Hornwort Ceratophyllum demersum were found.