1996 Field Meetings
Hope 20th April, Littleborough 18th May, Wirral Coast, Moreton to Meols 1st June, Hall Road 15th June, Seaforth - Rimrose Valley & Whabbs Reserve 6th July, Fazakerley 27th July, Moore Nature Reserve 17th August, Bebington 7th September, Childwall 5th October
Hope 20th April, Littleborough 18th May, Wirral Coast, Moreton to Meols 1st June, Hall Road 15th June, Seaforth - Rimrose Valley & Whabbs Reserve 6th July, Fazakerley 27th July, Moore Nature Reserve 17th August, Bebington 7th September, Childwall 5th October
1996 Field Meeting Reports
Hope 20th April
Leader - Miss Vera Gordon
From Hope railway station the hedges along the footpath towards Caergwrle sheltered an array of spring flowers such as Lesser Celandine Ranunculus ficaria. Barren Strawberry, Potentilla sterilis, Dog’s Mercury, Mercurialis perennis and Ivy-leaved Speedwell Veronica hederifolia. Down by the old pack horse bridge over the River Alyn the Toothwort Lathraea squamaria was still in flower though hidden by lush growth of Ramsons leaves Allium ursinum, Butterbur Petasites hybridus both male and female plants were in good flower on the riverbank.
A welcome though unscheduled break was made at the church hall where their ladies were holding a coffee morning in aid of the Welsh League of Youth's Eisteddfod near Wrexham.
They were delighted to have a party of eighteen. Refreshed, we continued up a steep hill across meadows spangled with flowers of Wood Anemones Anemone nemorosa. Lunch was taken above a small wood where Wood Sorrel Oxalis acetosella, more Wood Anemones and Moschatel (Town Hall Clock), Adoxa moschatellina, were found. Both Common and Early Dog Violets Viola riviniana and Viola reichenbachiana, were seen on the steep banks of a narrow lane with Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium, and the Soft Shield Fern Polystichum setiferum.
The path to Cefn y Bedd usually a running stream, was quite dry but the fertile stems of Giant Horsetail Equisetum telmateia had good cones of spores and were abundant. Clumps of Primroses were seen under the trees but further along we gasped at the sight of a hillside below a wood absolutely yellow with primroses. An optional detour during a tea break was made to see the Alternate-leaved Golden Saxifrage Chrysosplenium alternifolium which was just about over but Marsh Mangolds Caltha palustris, Ramsons and Bluebells, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, were just coming into flower. A final lane had banks of Greater Stitchwort Stellaria holostea with the flowers wide open in the sunshine and down by another bridge over the Alyn the Hornbeam Carpinus betulus was admired.
Littleborough 18th May
Leader - Peter Gateley
It was a bright start when 12 members and visitors set off in an easterly direction from Littleborough station. On the way to the canal a self-sown bush of the Red-berried Elder Sambucus racemosa, was found in full flower. Inflorescences smaller, more rounded and yellower than our native Elder. Over the canal we headed along an industrial valley where Bogbean Menyanthes trifoliata was flowering by a ledge dam and where “Easter Ledges” (Common Bistort), Persicaria bistorta, formed great leafy patches along the stream banks. The Ealees Valley proved quite diverse and plant rich with woodlands, grasslands, hedges and wetlands but as we progressed upwards the acidity of the local soils began to assert itself. Our lunch stop was in the shelter of the valley, just west of Owlets Hall, sitting in amongst Wavy Hair-grass Deschampsia flexuosa, Moor Mat-grass Nardus stricta and Crowberry Empetrum nigrum, with Marsh Violet Viola palustris in the banks of the stream below.
After lunch things got bleaker as we passed through a recent-looking golf course, with many
new trees planted, proceeding upwards towards the moors, On the way some track-side Blinks Montia fontana cheered us up in the lee of a dry-stone wall, but eventually we started climbing through species-poor acidic grassland and eventually into Crowberry-dominated moorland. Away from the track the desiccated moorland generally held only about half a dozen species of vascular plants with both Common Cottongrass Eriophorum angustifolium. and Hare's-tail Cottongrass E. vaginatum notable amongst the Crowberry. At this level the track up to Blackstone Edge became very interesting in its own right, a superb survival of Roman read construction with edging kerbs, paving blocks and central gully all hewn out of millstone grit and still forming extant stretches after more than 1500 years! After our climb there was not time to search for moorland rarities on top of Blackstone Edge Moor, instead, we headed north towards the reservoir and then across Cowberry Hill and back down to Littleborough to catch the 4.30 train back towards Liverpool. The whole walk was conducted in fine dry bright weather despite the prevailing changeable conditions.
Wirral Coast, Moreton to Meols 1st June
Leader - Dr Keith Watson
After meeting at Moreton station and sheltering from a quick shower, we walked towards the coast on a bright but windy and cool day. The overgrown meadow behind Pasture Road has been cleared and Celery-leaved Buttercup Ranunculus sceleratus and the not common in Wirral, Common Fumitory, Fumaria officinalis, were found along the new ditch. After crossing the ditch with some difficulty, we walked through the meadows towards the lighthouse where Bulbous Buttercup Ranunculus bulbosa, was in good flower.
The meeting was over part of the route of the BSBI Wirral Coast meeting the next day and I was happy to find a small clump of Buttonweed, Cotula coronopifolia on one of the ponds where Fringed Water Lily Nymphoides peltate, has recently appeared. Both Common and Long-headed Poppy Papaver rhoeas, and P. dubium were found on sandy ground nearby.
Moving onto the scrape at Moreton for we found Knotted Clover, Trifolium striatum, Bird's-foot Clover (Fenugreek) Trifolium ornithopodioides, Slender Trefoil T. micranthum and Bird's-foot, Ornithopus perpusillus, together with a wide variety of other early dune plants. Again, as last time and also the next day at the BSBI meeting the search for Subterranean Clover, Trifolium subterraneum was not successful
We then moved on towards Meols, past vast clouds of Cypress Spurge Euphorbia cyparissias. Near Parkfield we found Bur Parsley (Bur-chervil) Anthriscus caucalis, Crow Garlic Allium vineale, Artichoke, Cynara scolymus and the female Hybrid Black Poplar. Populus canadensis “Marilandica” with long catkins.
After deciding not to walk as far as West Kiby we explored a grassy relict dune behind the houses on the promenade at Meols. A large number of new hectad and tetrad records were found including natives such Thyme Thymus polytrichus and Slender Trefoil Trifolium micranthum, and also more naturalised escapes such as Dropwort Filipendula vulgaris, Bloody Crane’s-bill Geranium sanguineum, Garden Cat-mint Nepeta x faassenii, and False Apple Mint, Mentha spicata × suaveolens = M. × villosa. Finally, at teatime the highlight of the day for me was to find a new site for Mackay's Horsetail, Equisetum x trachyodon which was compared the next day with the plants at Red Rocks marsh, Hoylake.
Hall Road 15th June
Leader - Mrs Pat Lockwood
For once the trains and buses were kind to us, arriving on time. Some of our members travelled long distances, some using their own transport. It was also a family affair. i.e. the Duerdens and the Rangers, and we were so pleased to have them join us. After our “hello’ s” and “nice to see you’s “ we set off from Hall Road Staton, I counted 14 members but wonder now if it time I went back to school as I could only recall 13. Yes, I did include myself in the 13.
The day was warm and sunny, perfect for botanising,. maybe too warm. We passed close to the Coastguards house with Rosa rugosa as a good hedge. It was in very good flower, smells nice too. It also grows very well in the dunes, and we saw lots of it. Another rose enjoying the dune system is the Burnet Rose Rosa pimpinellifolia. It is a beautiful plant, covered in bristles, and it was also covered in cream coloured roses. One of our members said that for him it was his best flower of the day.
We always ask each other what has been the best of the day, and the answers are very varied from the commonest of plants to the rarest. We made our way along the paths close to the West Lancs Golf Club There were many golfers on the course. I am sure they were having as nice a day as us, but of course we didn’t really think so. I think the flora of the area we were in is well worth a visit, and no I am not biased. I remember the first time I went there with Vera and Anne: it was magic. There are also many garden escapes. now well and truly naturalised and I name a few Red Hot Pokers, Laburnum, Honeysuckle. Marguerites, Cat Mint, Solomon’s Seal, Orange Blossom. The area was covered in Biting Stonecrop Sedum acre, and Bird's-foot Trefoil, Lotus corniculatus, and the larger Greater Bird's-foot Trefoil Lotus pedunculatus. We also saw Smooth Hawk's Beard Crepis capillaris, the hybrid between red and white Campion, Silene x hampeana, Horse Radish Armoracia rusticana, Hoary Cress Lepidium draba. Common Cat’s ear Hypochaeris radicata, Yarrow Achillea millefolium, Goat's-beard Tragopogon pratensis, with a huge pappus. Viper's Bugloss. Echium vulgare, a very beautiful plant. Tree Lupin Lupinus arboreus, Wild Parsnip Pastinaca sativa (I love the smell of the crushed leaves), Dog’s Rose Rosa canina, Blue Fleabane Erigeron acer (a very favourite of mine. and I haven't seen much of it this year), Wild Mignonette Reseda lutea, Tumbling Mustard, Sisymbrium altissimum and Black Mustard Brassica nigra.
We sat on a flat grassy arca near Hightown for our lunch, most of us more than ready for a rest, and then onwards to look for the Sulphur Cinquefoil Potentilla recta, and in the same area Changing Forget-me-not Myosotis discolor, Bee Orchid Ophrys apifera, Northern Marsh Orchid Dactylorhiza purpurella and Common Twayblade Listera ovata.
We walked further on towards the Hightown Visitor Centre to see in particular Leafy Spurge Euphorbia x pseudovirgata We also saw Sea Spurge Euphorbia paralias and Cypress Spurge Euphorbia cyparissias.
Leaving Hightown we walked along the coast and saw Sea Kale Crambe maritima, English Scurvy-grass Cochlearia anglica and also fruiting heads of Danish Scurvy-grass Cochlearia danica. The Yellow-horned Poppy Glaucium flavum was in good flower but their seed pods hadn't reached their full potential, which is very large indeed. After looking at the Sea Milkwort Glaux maritima, Sea Sandwort Honckenya peploides. Greater Sea Spurrey Spergularia media and Sea Plantain Plantago maritima we wandered onto the sand dunes, found a good “spot,’ and sat down and had our tea. Afterwards along the coastal path in the direction of Hall Road. we found the Small flowered Crane's-bill Geranium pusillum, Hairy Tare, Vicia hirsuta, and Salix cinerea ssp oleifolia.
If | haven't mentioned your favourite an honourable mention I am sorry, it is so hard knowing what to mention and what to leave out I should like to thank you all for being so helpful and hope that you all enjoyed the day as much as I did.
Footnote An added interest to us all was the sighting of birds, butterflies and insects. At
times we were very close to Stonechats and the Skylarks. Also, Black-headed Gulls, some now losing their black heads and Lesser Black backed Gulls, Curlews and Oystercatchers. The butterflies were numerous including Tortoiseshells, Painted Ladies, Skippers and Gatekeepers. Lastly, we saw Ragwort Senecio jacobaea, covered with Cinnabar moth caterpillars, completely stripping some plants of their leaves.
Seaforth - Rimrose Valley & Whabbs Reserve 6th July
Leader - Mrs Pat Lockwood Report by Miss Vera Gordon
We crossed the road from Seaforth railway station and entered the reserve and did not touch another road until we finished the walk and went to nearby railway stations in Bootle. This area, though used by locals for years has been improved and officially opened in September 1993. The party were warned that lunch could not be thought of until the 282 species already recorded for the tetrad had been increased to 300! No one went hungry as when we found a pleasant spot to sit the score was 311. We had provided interest to the passers-by and one lady walking a dog stayed with us a while spotting plants herself.
The ditch of Great Spearwort. Ranunculus lingua with large golden flowers shining in the sun was a rare sight and even the Scentless Mayweed Tripleurospermum inodorum bordering the wooden steps where we lunched could not have been improved as a garden feature. In a few places nature had been helped with seed scattering, here we saw Cornflowers Centaurea cyanus, Red Poppies Papaver rhoeas, and Com Mangold Chrysanthemum segetum.
Eventually we arrived on the towpath of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal where there was quite a different range of plants typical of canals. The Fringed Water-lily, Nymphoides peltata, was not yet in flower. This was a rare naturalised species in the area but about 23 years ago it began to spread over miles of this canal and is now dredged out every year. The hybrid Reedmace (Bulrush), Typha x glauca, was seen in large colonies.
Fazakerley 27th July
Leader - Miss Vera Gordon
Since this meeting was planned the building of the proposed, and much disputed new prison had been started, covering much of the area we would have examined. However. we still found much of interest. A Small-leaved Lime Tilia cordata was in good flower, the cymes held quite erect above the leaves. Further on there were a few large Ash trees Fraxinus excelsior, of the cultivar ‘Diversifolia” (*Monophylla’). The large simple leaves gave a very distinctive appearance. We had been following a tributary of the River Alt starting as the Tue Brook and then continuing as the Fazakerley Brook. We followed this through a maintained park-like area of paths and beds of shrubs where we found many interesting weeds introduced with the shrubs and doing well, making good additions to our records.
Lunch was taken in the banks of the River Alt when a grapnel was used to obtain some Broadleaved and Fennel Pondweed., Potamogeton natans and P. pectinatus. Along Back Gillmoss Lane we crossed another tributary of the Alt Knowsley Brook, which further upstream is called the Croxteth Brook, on the banks of which Bistort Polygonum bistorta grows. To get to the other side of the M57 we had a short road walk where dried remains of Danish Scurvy-grass Cochlearia danica were seen. From here it was a mile along the valley of the Kirkby Brook, another tributary of the Alt which starts its life as the Mill Brook flowing from Kirkby Mere. When the new town of Kirkby was built, this area was saved and some trees planted, obscuring the buildings. The White Poplars Populus alba here and there along the brook added to the scene and a couple of tall Balsam Poplars Populus trichocarpa were examined.
At Kirkby railway station some members left the party and the others continued back to Fazakerly along an area recently planted as part of the Community Forest Woods. Here included Musk Mallow, Malva moschata, Greater Knapweed Centaurea scabiosa and Field Pepperwort Lepidium campestre. Then to Fazakerley siding where because of two dry summers and encroaching coarser species, the Coral Necklace Illecebrum verticillatum has almost gone, however, the Twiggy Spurge Euphorbia x pseudovirgata had not suffered. A more recent invader on some new rubbish tips was Great Lettuce Lactuca virosa.
Moore Nature Reserve 17th August
Leader - Mr John Holness
After slight confusion as to where the leader would meet the party from Liverpool, we caught the bus to Moore and then a pleasant walk to the Reserve. On arrival, we were met by Estelle Linney, one of the wardens. who first gave us a short story of the site. The site was crossed by the Runcorn-Latchford Canal, completed 1804, which was abandoned when it was cut by the Manchester Ship Canal, completed 1896, which borders the site, both canals leaving spoil dumps on the site. The area became low grade pasture with small woods of hawthorn, oak, alder, and birch. The potential ecological value of the area was noted in the Master Plan for the Warrington New Town and a conservation group carried out an ecological study of the Moore area in 1974. In the 1980’s there were proposals for a landfill site in the area, the outcome was that planning permission was given for the landfill and in compensation a nature reserve was created. The reserve while not having any national rarities did have a wide range of habitats with damp and dry grassland, various woodlands and the Runcorn-Latchford Canal which was largely dried out. The owners promptly set about extracting as much sand as possible from the site altering the topography and creating some new lakes, which will be soon completed.
We set off up a field being invaded by Gorse Ulex europeaus, to which recent plantings of trees and shrubs have been added and partly dug out where the visitor centre is planned.
Here we found Common Centaury Centaurium erythraea, Cornish Heath Erica vagans, Musk Mallow, Malva moschata, Large-flowered Evening-primrose Oenothera glazioviana, Heath Groundsel Senecio sylvaticus, Sand Spurrey Spergularia rubra, and two species of Nettle Urtica dioica and U. urens.
On to a quarried area with ponds which had an area planted with marginal and aquatic including Curly Waterweed Lagarosiphon major and Fringed Water-Lily Nymphoides peltata then along the bed of the canal, and along the footpath with Butterbur Petasites hybrida on the sides and some much disturbed grassland with Marsh Cudweed Gnaphalium uliginosa and Trailing St Johns-wort Hypericum humifusum . To Pond Wood where Water-violet Hottonia palustris had been successfully transplanted from a pond now under the tip and had become established, and on dry land Water Figwort Scrophularia auriculata and Swedish Whitebeam Sorbus intermedia were seen.
Then back to the canal again, now on the towpath, where there was Perennial Wall rocket Diplotaxis tenuifolia, Hop Humulus lupulus and Slender Rush Juncus tenuis. A detour to a field reverting to scrub revealed Corn Mint Mentha arvensis. Finally, leaving the canal, through fields with Heath-grass Danthonia decumbens and Biting Stonecrop Sedum acre we went back to our starting point having seen only a small part of the reserve.
Bebington 7th September
Leader – Dr. Keith Watson
On a fine warm day, the party met at Bebington station to visit the New Fern Butterfly Park & Cheshire Wildlife Trust reserve. We were met by Mel Roberts, who lives next door to the Reserve, and who showed us round the surprisingly large area pointing out features of interest. Although mainly an insect reserve with exceptional diversity, a good variety of plants were found, including Wild Carrot Daucus carota, Hoary Ragwort Senecio erucifolius, Small Toadflax Chaenorhinum minus, Figwort Scrophularia nodosa, Annual Wall Rocket Diplotaxis muralis and Common Imperforate St John's-wort Hypericum maculatum. A total of about 150 plants were recorded, although some have been planted to encourage the insect life, and a list has been prepared for the CWT.
After a brisk walk through New Ferry shopping centre, unfortunately leaving some party members behind, we had lunch on the edge of the cliffs on the Mersey shore, with a good view across the water to Liverpool. After lunch we found Dyer’s Greenwood Genista tinctoria in grassland on the cliff top and then went down to the shore to find the Common Cord-grass Spartina anglica, Annual Sea-blite Suaeda maritima, Glasswort Salicornia dolichostachya and Sea Aster Aster tripolium. Yellowwort Blackstonia perfoliata was present on the cliffs as we walked along the beach towards Rock Park and Reflexed Saltmarsh-grass Puccinellia distans was found on the Esplanade footpath. The footpath was closed towards Rock Ferry pier, but we found Sweet Cicely Myrrhis odorata as we walked towards Rock Park. Hoary Mustard Hirschfeldia incana and Shaggy Soldier Galinsoga quadriradiata were found on waste ground as we made our wav to Rock Ferry station at the end of our meeting.
Childwall 5th October
Leader - Donna Hughes (Broad Green Station to Childwall Woods) and Peter Gateley (Black Woods).
This was a joint meeting with The North West Fungus Group to Childwall. Unfortunately, the original leader for the field meeting, Mike Palmer could not join the group until later in the afternoon. Seventeen people from both groups turned up, some of us being members of both. We also welcomed some newcomers. We met at Broad Green Station and walked along the old Loop Line towards Childwall woods. This area has been previously well recorded by Vera Gordon. Notable species (botanical and fungal) along this track were the White-stemmed Bramble Rubus cockburnianus and the Wood Blewit Lepista nuda. We also saw some interesting galls all present on one tree: the Artichoke, Marble and Oak Apple galls.
We stopped to have lunch just before the end of the track and here we found Clitocybe odora the Aniseed Toadstool, so called because of its lovely distinctive smell. Walking from lunch up to the woods we stopped to look at the Silver Birch and Downy Birch Betula pendula and B. pubescens, growing side by side.
The churchyard of All Saints was well worth stopping off at, for here we found a group of Fly Agaric Amanita muscaria. Also present was Honev Fungus Armillaria mellea, Ugly Milk-cap Lactarius turpis and the Common Earth-ball Scleroderma citrinum.
The most exciting find of the day was the discovery of quite a large group of the rare species of fungi Phaeolepiota aurea in Black Woods Many took photographs of this magnificent large yellow toadstool. Two specimens were taken back to the Museum and put into the freezer, which will be incorporated into the Museum collection after freeze-drying. Also found in these woods were the Jelly Fungus Ascocoryne sarcodes and Neobulgaria pura.
Footnote: Since this piece was written we have lost the wonderful Phaeolepiota specimens. Unfortunately, the Botany Department suffered a power failure the weekend following the field trip and we lost not only these but many other fungi from this season’s collection.
Donna Hughes.
Toenote: Whilst preparing for this meeting I came across a copy of Howard Channon’s “A Pride of Parks” in this we leam that Childwall Woods was originally part of the pleasure grounds of Childwall Abbey - a mansion built in 1780 and pulled down after the last war. The woods were given to the City in 1963. Blackwoods occupies part of the former Childwall Heath which in 1718 was in the ownership of the Liverpool attorney Isaac Green. The land was passed down through the family (and through various name changes) until in 1939 it was given to the City by the 4th Marquis of Salisbury. At this time, the woods extended beyond their present boundary, however, after the war surrounding land was surrendered for housing development. The oldest trees here are Beech and Sweet Chestnut, and are thought to date from the mid eighteenth century. The Oaks are younger, probably early twentieth century, older specimens presumably having been felled for their valuable timber.
Mike Palmer
Hope 20th April
Leader - Miss Vera Gordon
From Hope railway station the hedges along the footpath towards Caergwrle sheltered an array of spring flowers such as Lesser Celandine Ranunculus ficaria. Barren Strawberry, Potentilla sterilis, Dog’s Mercury, Mercurialis perennis and Ivy-leaved Speedwell Veronica hederifolia. Down by the old pack horse bridge over the River Alyn the Toothwort Lathraea squamaria was still in flower though hidden by lush growth of Ramsons leaves Allium ursinum, Butterbur Petasites hybridus both male and female plants were in good flower on the riverbank.
A welcome though unscheduled break was made at the church hall where their ladies were holding a coffee morning in aid of the Welsh League of Youth's Eisteddfod near Wrexham.
They were delighted to have a party of eighteen. Refreshed, we continued up a steep hill across meadows spangled with flowers of Wood Anemones Anemone nemorosa. Lunch was taken above a small wood where Wood Sorrel Oxalis acetosella, more Wood Anemones and Moschatel (Town Hall Clock), Adoxa moschatellina, were found. Both Common and Early Dog Violets Viola riviniana and Viola reichenbachiana, were seen on the steep banks of a narrow lane with Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium, and the Soft Shield Fern Polystichum setiferum.
The path to Cefn y Bedd usually a running stream, was quite dry but the fertile stems of Giant Horsetail Equisetum telmateia had good cones of spores and were abundant. Clumps of Primroses were seen under the trees but further along we gasped at the sight of a hillside below a wood absolutely yellow with primroses. An optional detour during a tea break was made to see the Alternate-leaved Golden Saxifrage Chrysosplenium alternifolium which was just about over but Marsh Mangolds Caltha palustris, Ramsons and Bluebells, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, were just coming into flower. A final lane had banks of Greater Stitchwort Stellaria holostea with the flowers wide open in the sunshine and down by another bridge over the Alyn the Hornbeam Carpinus betulus was admired.
Littleborough 18th May
Leader - Peter Gateley
It was a bright start when 12 members and visitors set off in an easterly direction from Littleborough station. On the way to the canal a self-sown bush of the Red-berried Elder Sambucus racemosa, was found in full flower. Inflorescences smaller, more rounded and yellower than our native Elder. Over the canal we headed along an industrial valley where Bogbean Menyanthes trifoliata was flowering by a ledge dam and where “Easter Ledges” (Common Bistort), Persicaria bistorta, formed great leafy patches along the stream banks. The Ealees Valley proved quite diverse and plant rich with woodlands, grasslands, hedges and wetlands but as we progressed upwards the acidity of the local soils began to assert itself. Our lunch stop was in the shelter of the valley, just west of Owlets Hall, sitting in amongst Wavy Hair-grass Deschampsia flexuosa, Moor Mat-grass Nardus stricta and Crowberry Empetrum nigrum, with Marsh Violet Viola palustris in the banks of the stream below.
After lunch things got bleaker as we passed through a recent-looking golf course, with many
new trees planted, proceeding upwards towards the moors, On the way some track-side Blinks Montia fontana cheered us up in the lee of a dry-stone wall, but eventually we started climbing through species-poor acidic grassland and eventually into Crowberry-dominated moorland. Away from the track the desiccated moorland generally held only about half a dozen species of vascular plants with both Common Cottongrass Eriophorum angustifolium. and Hare's-tail Cottongrass E. vaginatum notable amongst the Crowberry. At this level the track up to Blackstone Edge became very interesting in its own right, a superb survival of Roman read construction with edging kerbs, paving blocks and central gully all hewn out of millstone grit and still forming extant stretches after more than 1500 years! After our climb there was not time to search for moorland rarities on top of Blackstone Edge Moor, instead, we headed north towards the reservoir and then across Cowberry Hill and back down to Littleborough to catch the 4.30 train back towards Liverpool. The whole walk was conducted in fine dry bright weather despite the prevailing changeable conditions.
Wirral Coast, Moreton to Meols 1st June
Leader - Dr Keith Watson
After meeting at Moreton station and sheltering from a quick shower, we walked towards the coast on a bright but windy and cool day. The overgrown meadow behind Pasture Road has been cleared and Celery-leaved Buttercup Ranunculus sceleratus and the not common in Wirral, Common Fumitory, Fumaria officinalis, were found along the new ditch. After crossing the ditch with some difficulty, we walked through the meadows towards the lighthouse where Bulbous Buttercup Ranunculus bulbosa, was in good flower.
The meeting was over part of the route of the BSBI Wirral Coast meeting the next day and I was happy to find a small clump of Buttonweed, Cotula coronopifolia on one of the ponds where Fringed Water Lily Nymphoides peltate, has recently appeared. Both Common and Long-headed Poppy Papaver rhoeas, and P. dubium were found on sandy ground nearby.
Moving onto the scrape at Moreton for we found Knotted Clover, Trifolium striatum, Bird's-foot Clover (Fenugreek) Trifolium ornithopodioides, Slender Trefoil T. micranthum and Bird's-foot, Ornithopus perpusillus, together with a wide variety of other early dune plants. Again, as last time and also the next day at the BSBI meeting the search for Subterranean Clover, Trifolium subterraneum was not successful
We then moved on towards Meols, past vast clouds of Cypress Spurge Euphorbia cyparissias. Near Parkfield we found Bur Parsley (Bur-chervil) Anthriscus caucalis, Crow Garlic Allium vineale, Artichoke, Cynara scolymus and the female Hybrid Black Poplar. Populus canadensis “Marilandica” with long catkins.
After deciding not to walk as far as West Kiby we explored a grassy relict dune behind the houses on the promenade at Meols. A large number of new hectad and tetrad records were found including natives such Thyme Thymus polytrichus and Slender Trefoil Trifolium micranthum, and also more naturalised escapes such as Dropwort Filipendula vulgaris, Bloody Crane’s-bill Geranium sanguineum, Garden Cat-mint Nepeta x faassenii, and False Apple Mint, Mentha spicata × suaveolens = M. × villosa. Finally, at teatime the highlight of the day for me was to find a new site for Mackay's Horsetail, Equisetum x trachyodon which was compared the next day with the plants at Red Rocks marsh, Hoylake.
Hall Road 15th June
Leader - Mrs Pat Lockwood
For once the trains and buses were kind to us, arriving on time. Some of our members travelled long distances, some using their own transport. It was also a family affair. i.e. the Duerdens and the Rangers, and we were so pleased to have them join us. After our “hello’ s” and “nice to see you’s “ we set off from Hall Road Staton, I counted 14 members but wonder now if it time I went back to school as I could only recall 13. Yes, I did include myself in the 13.
The day was warm and sunny, perfect for botanising,. maybe too warm. We passed close to the Coastguards house with Rosa rugosa as a good hedge. It was in very good flower, smells nice too. It also grows very well in the dunes, and we saw lots of it. Another rose enjoying the dune system is the Burnet Rose Rosa pimpinellifolia. It is a beautiful plant, covered in bristles, and it was also covered in cream coloured roses. One of our members said that for him it was his best flower of the day.
We always ask each other what has been the best of the day, and the answers are very varied from the commonest of plants to the rarest. We made our way along the paths close to the West Lancs Golf Club There were many golfers on the course. I am sure they were having as nice a day as us, but of course we didn’t really think so. I think the flora of the area we were in is well worth a visit, and no I am not biased. I remember the first time I went there with Vera and Anne: it was magic. There are also many garden escapes. now well and truly naturalised and I name a few Red Hot Pokers, Laburnum, Honeysuckle. Marguerites, Cat Mint, Solomon’s Seal, Orange Blossom. The area was covered in Biting Stonecrop Sedum acre, and Bird's-foot Trefoil, Lotus corniculatus, and the larger Greater Bird's-foot Trefoil Lotus pedunculatus. We also saw Smooth Hawk's Beard Crepis capillaris, the hybrid between red and white Campion, Silene x hampeana, Horse Radish Armoracia rusticana, Hoary Cress Lepidium draba. Common Cat’s ear Hypochaeris radicata, Yarrow Achillea millefolium, Goat's-beard Tragopogon pratensis, with a huge pappus. Viper's Bugloss. Echium vulgare, a very beautiful plant. Tree Lupin Lupinus arboreus, Wild Parsnip Pastinaca sativa (I love the smell of the crushed leaves), Dog’s Rose Rosa canina, Blue Fleabane Erigeron acer (a very favourite of mine. and I haven't seen much of it this year), Wild Mignonette Reseda lutea, Tumbling Mustard, Sisymbrium altissimum and Black Mustard Brassica nigra.
We sat on a flat grassy arca near Hightown for our lunch, most of us more than ready for a rest, and then onwards to look for the Sulphur Cinquefoil Potentilla recta, and in the same area Changing Forget-me-not Myosotis discolor, Bee Orchid Ophrys apifera, Northern Marsh Orchid Dactylorhiza purpurella and Common Twayblade Listera ovata.
We walked further on towards the Hightown Visitor Centre to see in particular Leafy Spurge Euphorbia x pseudovirgata We also saw Sea Spurge Euphorbia paralias and Cypress Spurge Euphorbia cyparissias.
Leaving Hightown we walked along the coast and saw Sea Kale Crambe maritima, English Scurvy-grass Cochlearia anglica and also fruiting heads of Danish Scurvy-grass Cochlearia danica. The Yellow-horned Poppy Glaucium flavum was in good flower but their seed pods hadn't reached their full potential, which is very large indeed. After looking at the Sea Milkwort Glaux maritima, Sea Sandwort Honckenya peploides. Greater Sea Spurrey Spergularia media and Sea Plantain Plantago maritima we wandered onto the sand dunes, found a good “spot,’ and sat down and had our tea. Afterwards along the coastal path in the direction of Hall Road. we found the Small flowered Crane's-bill Geranium pusillum, Hairy Tare, Vicia hirsuta, and Salix cinerea ssp oleifolia.
If | haven't mentioned your favourite an honourable mention I am sorry, it is so hard knowing what to mention and what to leave out I should like to thank you all for being so helpful and hope that you all enjoyed the day as much as I did.
Footnote An added interest to us all was the sighting of birds, butterflies and insects. At
times we were very close to Stonechats and the Skylarks. Also, Black-headed Gulls, some now losing their black heads and Lesser Black backed Gulls, Curlews and Oystercatchers. The butterflies were numerous including Tortoiseshells, Painted Ladies, Skippers and Gatekeepers. Lastly, we saw Ragwort Senecio jacobaea, covered with Cinnabar moth caterpillars, completely stripping some plants of their leaves.
Seaforth - Rimrose Valley & Whabbs Reserve 6th July
Leader - Mrs Pat Lockwood Report by Miss Vera Gordon
We crossed the road from Seaforth railway station and entered the reserve and did not touch another road until we finished the walk and went to nearby railway stations in Bootle. This area, though used by locals for years has been improved and officially opened in September 1993. The party were warned that lunch could not be thought of until the 282 species already recorded for the tetrad had been increased to 300! No one went hungry as when we found a pleasant spot to sit the score was 311. We had provided interest to the passers-by and one lady walking a dog stayed with us a while spotting plants herself.
The ditch of Great Spearwort. Ranunculus lingua with large golden flowers shining in the sun was a rare sight and even the Scentless Mayweed Tripleurospermum inodorum bordering the wooden steps where we lunched could not have been improved as a garden feature. In a few places nature had been helped with seed scattering, here we saw Cornflowers Centaurea cyanus, Red Poppies Papaver rhoeas, and Com Mangold Chrysanthemum segetum.
Eventually we arrived on the towpath of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal where there was quite a different range of plants typical of canals. The Fringed Water-lily, Nymphoides peltata, was not yet in flower. This was a rare naturalised species in the area but about 23 years ago it began to spread over miles of this canal and is now dredged out every year. The hybrid Reedmace (Bulrush), Typha x glauca, was seen in large colonies.
Fazakerley 27th July
Leader - Miss Vera Gordon
Since this meeting was planned the building of the proposed, and much disputed new prison had been started, covering much of the area we would have examined. However. we still found much of interest. A Small-leaved Lime Tilia cordata was in good flower, the cymes held quite erect above the leaves. Further on there were a few large Ash trees Fraxinus excelsior, of the cultivar ‘Diversifolia” (*Monophylla’). The large simple leaves gave a very distinctive appearance. We had been following a tributary of the River Alt starting as the Tue Brook and then continuing as the Fazakerley Brook. We followed this through a maintained park-like area of paths and beds of shrubs where we found many interesting weeds introduced with the shrubs and doing well, making good additions to our records.
Lunch was taken in the banks of the River Alt when a grapnel was used to obtain some Broadleaved and Fennel Pondweed., Potamogeton natans and P. pectinatus. Along Back Gillmoss Lane we crossed another tributary of the Alt Knowsley Brook, which further upstream is called the Croxteth Brook, on the banks of which Bistort Polygonum bistorta grows. To get to the other side of the M57 we had a short road walk where dried remains of Danish Scurvy-grass Cochlearia danica were seen. From here it was a mile along the valley of the Kirkby Brook, another tributary of the Alt which starts its life as the Mill Brook flowing from Kirkby Mere. When the new town of Kirkby was built, this area was saved and some trees planted, obscuring the buildings. The White Poplars Populus alba here and there along the brook added to the scene and a couple of tall Balsam Poplars Populus trichocarpa were examined.
At Kirkby railway station some members left the party and the others continued back to Fazakerly along an area recently planted as part of the Community Forest Woods. Here included Musk Mallow, Malva moschata, Greater Knapweed Centaurea scabiosa and Field Pepperwort Lepidium campestre. Then to Fazakerley siding where because of two dry summers and encroaching coarser species, the Coral Necklace Illecebrum verticillatum has almost gone, however, the Twiggy Spurge Euphorbia x pseudovirgata had not suffered. A more recent invader on some new rubbish tips was Great Lettuce Lactuca virosa.
Moore Nature Reserve 17th August
Leader - Mr John Holness
After slight confusion as to where the leader would meet the party from Liverpool, we caught the bus to Moore and then a pleasant walk to the Reserve. On arrival, we were met by Estelle Linney, one of the wardens. who first gave us a short story of the site. The site was crossed by the Runcorn-Latchford Canal, completed 1804, which was abandoned when it was cut by the Manchester Ship Canal, completed 1896, which borders the site, both canals leaving spoil dumps on the site. The area became low grade pasture with small woods of hawthorn, oak, alder, and birch. The potential ecological value of the area was noted in the Master Plan for the Warrington New Town and a conservation group carried out an ecological study of the Moore area in 1974. In the 1980’s there were proposals for a landfill site in the area, the outcome was that planning permission was given for the landfill and in compensation a nature reserve was created. The reserve while not having any national rarities did have a wide range of habitats with damp and dry grassland, various woodlands and the Runcorn-Latchford Canal which was largely dried out. The owners promptly set about extracting as much sand as possible from the site altering the topography and creating some new lakes, which will be soon completed.
We set off up a field being invaded by Gorse Ulex europeaus, to which recent plantings of trees and shrubs have been added and partly dug out where the visitor centre is planned.
Here we found Common Centaury Centaurium erythraea, Cornish Heath Erica vagans, Musk Mallow, Malva moschata, Large-flowered Evening-primrose Oenothera glazioviana, Heath Groundsel Senecio sylvaticus, Sand Spurrey Spergularia rubra, and two species of Nettle Urtica dioica and U. urens.
On to a quarried area with ponds which had an area planted with marginal and aquatic including Curly Waterweed Lagarosiphon major and Fringed Water-Lily Nymphoides peltata then along the bed of the canal, and along the footpath with Butterbur Petasites hybrida on the sides and some much disturbed grassland with Marsh Cudweed Gnaphalium uliginosa and Trailing St Johns-wort Hypericum humifusum . To Pond Wood where Water-violet Hottonia palustris had been successfully transplanted from a pond now under the tip and had become established, and on dry land Water Figwort Scrophularia auriculata and Swedish Whitebeam Sorbus intermedia were seen.
Then back to the canal again, now on the towpath, where there was Perennial Wall rocket Diplotaxis tenuifolia, Hop Humulus lupulus and Slender Rush Juncus tenuis. A detour to a field reverting to scrub revealed Corn Mint Mentha arvensis. Finally, leaving the canal, through fields with Heath-grass Danthonia decumbens and Biting Stonecrop Sedum acre we went back to our starting point having seen only a small part of the reserve.
Bebington 7th September
Leader – Dr. Keith Watson
On a fine warm day, the party met at Bebington station to visit the New Fern Butterfly Park & Cheshire Wildlife Trust reserve. We were met by Mel Roberts, who lives next door to the Reserve, and who showed us round the surprisingly large area pointing out features of interest. Although mainly an insect reserve with exceptional diversity, a good variety of plants were found, including Wild Carrot Daucus carota, Hoary Ragwort Senecio erucifolius, Small Toadflax Chaenorhinum minus, Figwort Scrophularia nodosa, Annual Wall Rocket Diplotaxis muralis and Common Imperforate St John's-wort Hypericum maculatum. A total of about 150 plants were recorded, although some have been planted to encourage the insect life, and a list has been prepared for the CWT.
After a brisk walk through New Ferry shopping centre, unfortunately leaving some party members behind, we had lunch on the edge of the cliffs on the Mersey shore, with a good view across the water to Liverpool. After lunch we found Dyer’s Greenwood Genista tinctoria in grassland on the cliff top and then went down to the shore to find the Common Cord-grass Spartina anglica, Annual Sea-blite Suaeda maritima, Glasswort Salicornia dolichostachya and Sea Aster Aster tripolium. Yellowwort Blackstonia perfoliata was present on the cliffs as we walked along the beach towards Rock Park and Reflexed Saltmarsh-grass Puccinellia distans was found on the Esplanade footpath. The footpath was closed towards Rock Ferry pier, but we found Sweet Cicely Myrrhis odorata as we walked towards Rock Park. Hoary Mustard Hirschfeldia incana and Shaggy Soldier Galinsoga quadriradiata were found on waste ground as we made our wav to Rock Ferry station at the end of our meeting.
Childwall 5th October
Leader - Donna Hughes (Broad Green Station to Childwall Woods) and Peter Gateley (Black Woods).
This was a joint meeting with The North West Fungus Group to Childwall. Unfortunately, the original leader for the field meeting, Mike Palmer could not join the group until later in the afternoon. Seventeen people from both groups turned up, some of us being members of both. We also welcomed some newcomers. We met at Broad Green Station and walked along the old Loop Line towards Childwall woods. This area has been previously well recorded by Vera Gordon. Notable species (botanical and fungal) along this track were the White-stemmed Bramble Rubus cockburnianus and the Wood Blewit Lepista nuda. We also saw some interesting galls all present on one tree: the Artichoke, Marble and Oak Apple galls.
We stopped to have lunch just before the end of the track and here we found Clitocybe odora the Aniseed Toadstool, so called because of its lovely distinctive smell. Walking from lunch up to the woods we stopped to look at the Silver Birch and Downy Birch Betula pendula and B. pubescens, growing side by side.
The churchyard of All Saints was well worth stopping off at, for here we found a group of Fly Agaric Amanita muscaria. Also present was Honev Fungus Armillaria mellea, Ugly Milk-cap Lactarius turpis and the Common Earth-ball Scleroderma citrinum.
The most exciting find of the day was the discovery of quite a large group of the rare species of fungi Phaeolepiota aurea in Black Woods Many took photographs of this magnificent large yellow toadstool. Two specimens were taken back to the Museum and put into the freezer, which will be incorporated into the Museum collection after freeze-drying. Also found in these woods were the Jelly Fungus Ascocoryne sarcodes and Neobulgaria pura.
Footnote: Since this piece was written we have lost the wonderful Phaeolepiota specimens. Unfortunately, the Botany Department suffered a power failure the weekend following the field trip and we lost not only these but many other fungi from this season’s collection.
Donna Hughes.
Toenote: Whilst preparing for this meeting I came across a copy of Howard Channon’s “A Pride of Parks” in this we leam that Childwall Woods was originally part of the pleasure grounds of Childwall Abbey - a mansion built in 1780 and pulled down after the last war. The woods were given to the City in 1963. Blackwoods occupies part of the former Childwall Heath which in 1718 was in the ownership of the Liverpool attorney Isaac Green. The land was passed down through the family (and through various name changes) until in 1939 it was given to the City by the 4th Marquis of Salisbury. At this time, the woods extended beyond their present boundary, however, after the war surrounding land was surrendered for housing development. The oldest trees here are Beech and Sweet Chestnut, and are thought to date from the mid eighteenth century. The Oaks are younger, probably early twentieth century, older specimens presumably having been felled for their valuable timber.
Mike Palmer