​1994 FIELD MEETING REPORTS
Loggerheads, 9 April, Ainsdale 7 May, Parbold to Appley Bridge 21 May,
Moreton to West Kirby 4 June, Backford 18 June, Fiddlers Ferry 2 July, 
Dee shore and Ness Gardens 27 July, Littleborough 13 August,
​Ribble Marshes 3 September, Caergwrle 12 October.

​REPORTS OF FIELD MEETINGS 1994

LOGGERHEADS APRIL 9th Leader: Miss V. Gordon.
Despite last minute cancellation of the train connection for the Mold bus, 19 members eventually set off from Loggerheads along the Leete walk. Spurge-laurel Daphne laureola and Toothwort were seen in flower and spikes of Herb Paris were identified although the leaves were still unrolled. More widespread species included Wood Sorrel, Wood Anemone, Moschatel Adoxa and Wood Violets Viola riviniana and V. reichenbachiana. It was curious to find a crustose lichen growing on the metalwork of an abandoned car.

AINSDALE DUNES MAY 7th Leader: Mrs P. Lockwood.
Twenty-seven members enjoyed a lovely day in this good area. A wet slack proved breath-taking, having hundreds of Bogbean flowers Menyanthes trifoliata. The following are a selection which were also worth noting: Lesser Chickweed Stellaria pallida (= Stellaria apetala), Little and Sea Mouse-ears Cerastium semidecandrum, & C. diffusum, Spring Vetch Vicia lathyroides, Common Twayblade Listera ovata, Shepherd’s-cress Teesdalia nudicaulis, Early Forget-me-not Myosotis ramosissima, Carline Thistle Carlina vulgaris, Seaside Centaury Centaurium littorale, Round-leaved Wintergreen Pyrola rotundifolia, Rue-leaved Saxifrage Saxifraga tridactylites, Blunt-flowered Rush Juncus subnodulosus and the sedges Lesser Pond Sedge Carex acutiformis, Glaucous Sedge C. flacca, Brown Sedge C. disticha and Sand Sedge C. arenaria.
 
PARBOLD TO APPLEY BRIDGE  MAY 21st  Leader: Mrs E.M. Stephenson.
From Parbold 13 members took field paths to Hunter's Hill, where the abandoned quarry yielded Creeping Willow Salix repens, New Zealand Willowherb Epilobium brunnescens and Juniper Haircap Moss Polytrichum juniperinum. At Harrock Hill we stopped for a windswept lunch, whilst admiring Climbing Corydalis Ceratocapnos claviculata (Corydalis to most of us!) and Bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus. In the distance we were just able to pick out "The Big One" overtopping Blackpool Tower, before we descended via Dwerry House and Boar's Den to Fairy Glen. Here we somehow missed Pendulous Sedge Carex pendula but saw Kidney Saxifrage Saxifraga hirsuta flowering happily at the head of the waterfall. Whilst not condoning such introductions, one must admit the culprit chose a good spot where the plant has naturalised well. The flower of the day was one of the commonest - Hawthorn - brightening many of the hedgerows with its profuse blossoms.
 
MORETON TO WEST KIRBY  JUNE 4th  Leader: Dr K. Watson.
A large party walked from Moreton Station, where introduced Meadow Saxifrage Saxifraga granulata was found, past Hedgerow Cranesbill Geranium pyrenaicum to the pools at Leasowe Common, where Buttonweed Cotula coronopifolia was difficult to find this year. Pepper Saxifrage Silaum silaus was found, but the clovers were notable in the new sand pit on the common. Knotted Clover Trifolium striatum, Slender Clover T. micranthum, Bird’s-foot Clover T. ornithopodioides and Bird's-foot Ornithopus perpusillus were present, although a search for the reported Subterranean Clover T. subterraneum was not successful. At the Meols end of the common Hound's-tongue Cynoglossum officinale, Sea Spurge Euphorbia paralias and Slender Thistle Carduus tenuiflorus were notable. After a longish walk along Meols promenade where a likely hybrid Ragwort Jacobaea maritima × vulgaris = J. × ⁠albescens (used to be Senecio cineraria x jacobaea = S. x albescens) was found, the party proceeded to the Red Rocks reserve. The hybrid Horsetail Equisetum hyemale x variegatum = E. x trachyodon (now known to be actually Equisetum ramosissimum x E. variegatum = E. x meridionale or” Wirral Horsetail”) was flourishing along the boardwalk and Star-of-Bethlehem Ornithogalum angustifolium, escaped Oriental Poppy Papaver orientale, Portland Spurge Euphorbia portlandica and a Virginia-creeper were notable as the party continued to West Kirby at the end of a fine day.
 
BACKFORD JUNE 18th Leader: Miss J. Bentley.
12 members walked the footpath from the old Mollington railway station site towards Capenhurst. The path was bright with Oxeye Daisies Leucanthemum vulgare and there were fine Teasels Dipsacus fullonum. A very good scattering of Common Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii was noted, as also was evidence of Cowslips. Near the end Dyer's Greenweed Genista tinctoria and Hedgerow Cranesbill Geranium pyrenaicum had established well; and where limestone chippings had been laid, we found Purging (or Fairy) Flax Linum catharticum.
Returning towards Backford, the pond area produced Bog Stitchwort Stellaria uliginosa, Marsh Thistle Cirsium palustre and Common Water Plantain Alisma plantago-aquatica. Field Pansy Viola arvensis, Corn Spurrey Spergula arvensis, Crosswort Cruciata laevipes and Scented Mayweed Matricaria recutita were also seen.
At the final location on the Shropshire Union Canal, dredging spoil had been thrown on to the bank and had given rise to a superabundance of Celery-leaved Buttercup Ranunculus sceleratus. Marsh Yellowcress Rorippa palustris, Brooklime Veronica beccabunga, Hemlock Water Dropwort Oenanthe crocata and Great Water Dock Rumex hydrolapathum also appeared, and a pleasing sight in the meadows alongside was a successful emergence of Ragged Robin Lychnis flos-cuculi.

FIDDLERS FERRY JULY 2nd Leader: Mr P. Gateley.
Eleven people gathered in the rain at the power station gates but once inside it stopped and the party proceeded along the eastern fence-line particularly noting the Yellow Vetchling Lathyrus aphaca and Salsify Tragopogon porrifolius in the disturbed vegetation. Rich aquatic and marginal vegetation along the canal and sparse ruderals along the railway were glimpsed from the bridge over to the settling lagoons. Little remains of the flora of the former Cuerdley Marsh, though some estuarine influence is still detectable with Saltmarsh Rush Juncus gerardii, Sea Mayweed Tripleurospermum maritimum and Wild Celery Apium graveolens being noted. Four large settling lagoons now occupy the former saltmarsh, they were seen to be in various stages, from open water, wet slurry, completely full and dried-out and the dry PFA (pulverised fuel ash) partially excavated for re-use. There is very little marginal vegetation, though various wetland and ruderal species establish sparse communities once the settling process is complete. By contrast the high banks and the flat strips between the banks and along the railway/canal corridor held dense and diverse vegetation. Along the low flat area following the route of the Vyrnwy aqueduct colonies of three species of Marsh-Orchids were noted Early, Common Spotted and Southern - Dactylorhiza incarnata, D. fuchsii, D. praetermissa, along with hybrids and Bee Orchids Ophrys apifera in fine flower. Along the rail edge Marsh Fragrant Orchid, a Gymnadenia densiflora is frequent and Creeping Willow Salix repens has become established. The party retraced steps to the entrance area but turned east towards the new visitor centre set in grassland with tree-planting and a pond well-stocked with many water plants and marginals.
Thanks are due to John Hirst for arranging access into this secure site.
 
DEE SHORE & NESS GARDENS  JULY 27th Leader: Miss M. Wilson.
From Neston we crossed the meadows down to the Dee Shore where the usual saltmarsh species were seen and the Wild Celery Apium graveolens was in flower. Uphill to Ness Gardens Hedgerow Cranesbill Geranium pyrenaicum was abundant in the hedge banks and in one place we saw Round-leaved Crane's-bill Geranium rotundifolium (a rare species in our area) where it was first recorded over 100 years ago. A ramble around Ness Gardens, as always, produced much of interest.

LITTLEBOROUGH  AUGUST 13th Leaders: Miss A. Franks & Miss P. Tolfree.
A cancelled train delayed the start of this meeting but eventually 17 members met in warm sunshine to follow the Ealees Brook down the valley towards Hollingworth Lake. A brief stop was made at a small reservoir to see Bogbean Menyanthes trifoliata. Along the lanes and by the brook were Early Goldenrod Solidago gigantea, Meadow Cranesbill Geranium pratense, Monkeyflower Mimulus guttatus, Skullcap Scutellaria galericulata and Wood Horsetail Equisetum sylvaticum. Lesser Bulrush Typha angustifolia, White Water-Lily Nymphaea alba and Water Mint Mentha aquatica grew in a pond near the picnic site. From the lake the party walked across the fields to the Rochdale Canal, seeing on the way Slender St. John's Wort Hypericum pulchrum, Pink Purslane Claytonia sibirica and Bay Willow Salix pentandra. In recent years the canal has been "tidied" but still has Arrowhead Sagittaria sagittifolia near Clegg Hall Bridge. The area around Hollingworth Lake is a Country Park and there has been some planting of non-native trees and shrubs here and there. Two alien brambles were most striking: White-stemmed Bramble Rubus cockburnianus and the scarlet-fruited Chinese Bramble R. tricolor, the latter planted for ground-cover - a job it does all too well.
 
RIBBLE MARSHES  SEPTEMBER 3rd  Leader: Mr P. Gateley.
Apart from taller vegetation along the very edge of Crossens Pool, below the pumping station, lush green grazed sward characterised the vegetation for the first part of the meeting. The cattle- grazed marsh stretches far to the northeast, along the southern banks of the Ribble estuary. The most noticeable species in the short sward was the Field Mushroom Agaricus campestris, many of which were collected. The green Rye Grass Lolium perenne-dominated carpet is relieved in places with damper hollows supporting species such as Spear-leaved Orache Atriplex prostrata and Sea Aster Aster tripolium. Along the bank rounded clumps of Spiny Restharrow Ononis spinosa were found surviving the grazing regime. Further north still large areas of the marsh are fenced-off and very different vegetation communities are found, here various species such as Sea Aster, Sea Clubrush Bolboschoenus maritimus, Sea Plantain Plantago maritima and Sea Arrowgrass Triglochin maritimum form dense stands in a diverse taller sward. After lunch in this area the differences between Purple Glasswort Salicornia ramosissima and Long-spiked Glasswort S. dolichostachya were demonstrated. Over the banks the flat reclaimed marsh is intensively farmed arable land with various species of field weeds, notably fine stands of Corn Marigold Glebionis segetum = Chrysanthemum segetum. The party headed south along the disturbed verges of the coast road up to the sand-winning plant, from here the lorry track was followed out towards the sea. Here the saltmarsh community has become established much more recently and is an open ungrazed sward dominated by Sea Aster over much of the area but with many other species including Common Cordgrass Spartina anglica, Saltmarsh Grass Puccinellia maritima and Glassworts.
 
CAERGWRLE  OCTOBER 12th  Leader: Mrs P. Lockwood.
Twelve members braved the wet weather and overcame travelling difficulties on the railway to meet at Caergwrle. Near the river we saw Giant Fescue Schedonorus giganteus (= Festuca gigantea) and Bearded Couch Elymus caninus. Going up the hill towards the woods were Pale Toadflax Linaria repens and Feverfew Tanacetum parthenium in good flower. Lunch was taken in a clearing by the woods, the rain easing off for us. Numerous fungi were seen: Honey Fungus Armillaria mellea, Fly Agaric Amanita muscaria, Brown Roll-rim Paxillus involutus, Oyster Mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus, Yellow Russula Russula ochroleuca, Parasol Mushroom Lepiota procera, Ugly Milk-cap Lactarius turpis, Tawny Grisette Amanita fulva, The Blusher Amanita rubescens, Jelly Ear (or Jew's Ear) Auricularia auricula-judae, Amethyst Deceiver Laccaria amethystea, Bonnet Mycena Mycena galericulata, Candle-snuff Fungus Xylaria hypoxylon and small Puffballs. Other flowers noted were Climbing Corydalis Ceratocapnos claviculata, Common Cow-wheat Melampyrum pratense and Hedgerow Cranesbill Geranium pyrenaicum. Many members nearing the end of the walk gathered blackberries and damsons which were in profusion.