Field Trips 2000
Caergwle 4th April, Gathurst 6th May, Moston 13th May,
Silverdale & Gait Barrows 10th June, Cefn y bedd 24th June, Mersey Shore 1st July, Helsby 15th July, Neston July 29th, Ellesmere Port 5th August,
North Wirral Coast 19th August, Hightown 23rd September, Birkdale 21st October.
Caergwle 4th April, Gathurst 6th May, Moston 13th May,
Silverdale & Gait Barrows 10th June, Cefn y bedd 24th June, Mersey Shore 1st July, Helsby 15th July, Neston July 29th, Ellesmere Port 5th August,
North Wirral Coast 19th August, Hightown 23rd September, Birkdale 21st October.
Caergwle 4th April (Leader-Guy Sloman)
The by now traditional first walk of the season in the Hope Mountain area started at Caergwrle station when twenty of us met, including a few welcome guests. We made our way to the packhorse bridge over the River Alyn but were disappointed that there was no trace this year of the Toothwort Lathraea squamaria despite a spirited search amongst the plentiful and pungent Ramsons Allium ursinum. On the other side of the path Butterbur Petasites hybridus was still in flower. Walking south along the Alyn, Black Currant Ribes nigrum was in flower as was a single plant of Gooseberry Ribes uva-crispa, in the town a little later. On waste ground there were several well-developed stems of Caper Spurge Euphorbia lathyris. Turning north through the town we rejoined the Alyn at Hope station and walked through the meadows, undistinguished except for fine displays of Blackthorn Prunus spinosa, to the Hope Road and headed for the mountain itself passing on the way a well-established clump of Greater Periwinkle Vinca major.
At the foot of the mountain a small area of waste land proved interesting with Charlock Sinapis arvensis, Green Field-speedwell Veronica agrestis, Common Field-speedwell Veronica persica, a fumitory, probably Common Ramping-fumitory Fumaria muralis, Herb-Robert Geranium robertianum and the attractive Shining Crane’s-bill Geranium lucidum just coming into flower. The glen leading up to Horeb was botanically disappointing and the stiles difficult but there was an abundance of Wood Anemone Anemone nemorosa and much Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium. Halfway up we stopped for lunch in full sunshine and a panoramic view. Here there was much Ground-ivy Glechoma hederacaea.
On reaching the top we headed south along the lanes to Cymau. Initially they were uninteresting but later they became steep sided hosting, even at this time of year, many attractive plants such as Greater Stitchwort Stellaria holostea, Barren Strawberry Potentilla sterilis, the fascinating Town Hall Clock Adoxa moschatellina, Bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus, Common Dog-violet Viola riviniana, Wood-sorrel Oxalis acetosella, occasional Bluebells Hyacinthoides non-scripta, and a single clump of Climbing Corydalis Ceratocapnos claviculata. A search for Orchids along the woodland edge of the lane leading down into Cymau produced only a few rosettes of spotted leaves of the Early Purple Orchid Orchis mascula but for the cold winds of the last ten days it would have been well in flower.
However massed Primroses on the nearby banks were some compensation. Leaving Cymau by the path leading to the now filled sandpits we saw Bush Vetch Vicia sepium, and Crosswort Cruciata laevipes. From here we headed, somewhat deviously, for Cefny-bedd station and home but not without seeing Marsh Valerian Valeriana dioica on the way and some of us chanced upon the Morel fungus Morchella esculenta on a steep bank under the trees.
Not a day for striking botanical finds, more an opportunity to renew friendships after our winter hibernation and to sharpen our faculties for the coming summer.
Guy Sloman
Gathurst 6th May (Leader-Mrs E. Stephenson)
A day spent around Gathurst and Crooke, to the west of Wigan, took in a variety of habitats: the ‘Dirty Duggie’ (the river, that is!!), a reclaimed and replanted area, old clay pits, and a wood ‘of ancient origin.’
The day’s highlight, and underlying reason for the choice of date, was Porter’s Wood. Crammed with Bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Ramsons Allium ursinum, Lesser Celandine Ranunculus ficaria (ssp. ficaria & ssp. bulbilifer), Marsh Marigold Caltha palustris, Three-nerved Sandwort Moehringia trinervia, to name but a few, and trees in fresh leaf, it was a delight. In the sunshine, birds sang, and butterflies flitted through the glades, most notably Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria and a Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni, both increasing locally. Many more than 57 varieties here – who would have thought we were cheek-by-jowl with the giant Heinz factory?
And then there was the Hoax Apple! Golf ball size, pink and puffy – undoubtedly an Oak Apple, except that it was allegedly growing on Sycamore. The leader (that’s me) roundly asserted that gall wasps don’t make mistakes in their tree identification, so back we went. Tree buds were swelling though not yet open, but careful searching produced a few of last year’s leaves still attached. Oak. Faces pink and puffy! Later reflection, however, makes leader’s head feel uncomfortably large. The truth of the matter is that unless extremely patient researchers have kept careful watch, we cannot be certain that Oak-gall causers never mistakenly lay eggs on other tree species. Crucially, it is the tree, which manufactures the gall-tissue in response to stimulation by the insect. Maybe the gall wasp Biorrhiza pallida does sometimes lay on Sycamore buds, but no galls will form. My apologies for a hasty remark.
On a very hot day, a stop at the canalside pub at Crooke provided welcome refreshment and enabled good timing for the return train.
Edna Stephenson
Moston 13th May (Leader- Miss P. Tolfree)
Nine members and two visitors assembled for our walk on a very hot day near Mills Hill station. We started by descending the very steep steps on the far side of the railway line to join a path by the River Irk, which here is narrow, clean and fast flowing. It rises less than three miles away at Low Crompton and flows southwest, with the addition of several brooks to join the River Irwell, near Victoria Station and thence to the Manchester Ship Canal.
The party from Liverpool were interested to see so much Common Bistort Persicaria bistorta growing by the river. Conversely it was good to see abundant Marsh-marigold Caltha palustris, none too common in the Manchester area. There were clumps of Tall Fescue Festuca arundinacea, which is a typical grass of South Lancashire. A Liverwort, thought to be Lunularia cruciata was also seen here.
Spotting many other plants on our way, we skirted around the British Vita works to reach the Myrtle Pools, originally mill lodges. The leaves of Flowering-rush Butomus umbellatus were very much in evidence, which will later make a wonderful sight. We had our lunch here with the anglers. We then continued to Boarshaw Bridge to join The Rochdale Canal, which, over the last few years has been much cleaned out with a view to ‘environmental improvement.’
However, there is still a very interesting moss, Willow moss Fontinalis antipyretica, floating in it, looking much more like a vascular plant. It was too early to see the introduced American Pondweed Potamogeton epihydrus, that is known from this section of the canal. We walked northwards to Slattocks, where we left the canal and continued along Thornham Lane, which was formerly an early packhorse route between Lancashire and Yorkshire. We passed the tollhouse going into Stakehill Lane and also passed several farms.
Common spring flowers were growing all along in the hedgebanks such as Bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Greater Stitchwort Stellaria holostea, and various vetches.
On reaching the canal again, we were greeted with Royal Fern Osmunda regalis and a bit farther along in a damp meadow we saw Round-leaved Crowfoot Ranunculus omiophyllus. Nearby was Reed Sweet-grass Glyceria maxima, growing so prolifically as almost to look like a crop.
On the railway bridge we looked in vain for the fern Rustyback Ceterach officinarum, seen seven years ago. Back at the starting place on the waste ground near the Irk, someone spotted Quince Cydonia oblonga, no doubt bird sown.
Priscilla Tolfree
Silverdale & Gait Barrows 10th June (Leader- Peter Tipping)
The tenth of June dawned warm and fair, unlike the days either side of it: was this to be a blessing on the day? A party of ten met at Silverdale Station and was ferried in cars to the Nature Reserve itself, thank you for the lifts.
Gait Barrows National Nature Reserve is one of the most important areas of limestone pavement in Britain and is home to a not inconsiderable collection of rare plants. The limestone was shaped by glaciers 15,000 to 18,000 years ago and has since been the subject of weathering to form the pavement areas we can see today. On the walk to the first pavement, we were rewarded with some splendid views of Herb-Paris Paris quadrifolia, nestling behind a large limestone block and in the shade of Hazel Corylus avellana, and Spindle Euonymus europaeus.
The first pavement gave us views of Yew Taxus baccata, Rowan Sorbus aucuparia, and Common Juniper Juniperus communis in various sizes and forms, some being very stunted due to dry conditions on the pavement.
It was here that we found our first specimens of Orpine Sedum telephium. As the different pavements were encountered, we were lucky enough to find many of the rare plants we had hoped to see including, albeit not in full flower, Dark Red Helleborine Epipactis atrorubens. Ferns were to be had in plenty, including Broad Buckler-fern Dryopteris dilatata, Scaly Male-fern Dryopteris affinis, Male-fern Dryopteris filix-mas and Rigid Buckler-fern Dryopteris submontana.
Should we stop for lunch or search for another rarity, Angular Solomon’s seal Polygonatum odoratum? Of course, the plant won out and lunch was deferred until all had seen it. Lunch on the pavement but beware of deer ticks we were informed by the warden, Robert Petley-Jones, words I was to remember all too vividly on my return home only to find unwanted visitors!
During the lunch break an interesting discussion took place, we looked at Common Valerian Valeriana officinalis, or was it Saw-wort Serratula tinctoria? Never mind we won't go into that now!
As we began to leave the pavements, we saw considerable quantities of Lily of-the-valley Convallaria majalis and a little further Jacob's-ladder Polemonium caeruleum and Stinking Hellebore Helleborus foetidus.
Continuing downhill we approached a wet area with meadowland. Here we encountered beautiful displays of Ragged-Robin Lychnis flos-cuculi, Changing Forget-me-not Myosotis discolor, and Yellow-rattle Rhinanthus minor. Passing many specimens of the Cranesbill family, we again met up with Mr. Petley-Jones who showed us a rare leaf beetle that inhabits Wood Ants’ nests. This creature goes under the name of Clytra quadripunctata.
Beetles notwithstanding, we must move on if we are going to see Haweswater.
En route we were lucky enough to see Rue-leaved Saxifrage Saxifraga tridactylites, Rustyback Ceterach officinarum, and some rather splendid examples of Ostrich Fern Matteuccia struthiopteris. What if they had been planted! As Haweswater loomed into sight so did some wonderful plants, Common Gromwell Lithospermum officinale, Bird's-eye Primrose Primula farinosa, and Common Butterwort Pinguicula vulgaris. Great Fen-sedge Cladium mariscus, Common Sedge Carex nigra, Glaucous Sedge Carex flacca, and Wood-sedge Carex sylvatica. Black Bog-rush Schoenus nigricans was also seen at this location. By this time, it was appropriate to make for the station for those returning by train.
Those in cars made a short detour to Jack Scout and were able to add Thrift Armeria maritima and Carline Thistle Carlina vulgaris to the day’s list as well as learn about the complexities of limekilns! All in all, a day blessed by good weather and even better flora.
Peter Tipping
Cefn y bedd 24th June (Leader-Vera Gordon)
Soon after leaving the station, we went down a steep track to where a once busy water mill has now been turned into a “des res.” The huge water wheel still stands intact. Crossing a float bridge, we went up a steep muddy path in a wood, to a lane, which we crossed after admiring flowering Wood Melick Melica uniflora, growing on the huge bank.
Over the style we walked below a hillside hay meadow with Oxeye Daisies and occasional Common Spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii.
We were all brought to a halt when a lovely black and white rabbit came out of the hedge to us. It had obviously been dumped there, but with a cardboard box for shelter, and a choice of greens from the hedge and field. We hoped that a local would find it and give it a home. Then there was a short steep climb next to a field hedge, which was draped here and there with honeysuckle in flower, and plenty of foxgloves on the bank. We soon reached an old mineral railway line, now disused, cut into the hillside, with a densely wooded drop on the right, and a wide muddy cutting on the left, the land rising to an unseen village above. Here were Ladies Smock, or Cuckooflowers Cardamine pratensis, lots of pink Ragged Robin, and remains of Marsh Marigolds.
Although the ladies had spent half an hour or so the previous very, very hot Saturday clearing the largest brambles with secateurs, what were left were still a pest, as well as low twigs and branches of trees and shrubs. A footpath ascended steeply between hedges to a road.
Many common wildflowers adorned the hedges along some quiet lanes. There were Wild Strawberries Fragaria vesca, some ripe enough to eat, and thick stems of glossy red berries of Lords-and-Ladies Arum maculatum.
Then down a side lane, at the bottom of which a brook flowed across, with a ford for vehicles and a footbridge for walkers. It was here we missed one of the party. Three searchers climbed up to the road again, two of them to where we had last seen him, but no luck. We found out later that when he could not see us he went the way he knew to the gravel quarry, (we were then looking for him), and returned home by the train before ours.
Meanwhile, after lunch, we went up to the now abandoned gravel quarry where there was an abundance of wildflowers. Hundreds of Common Spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii, a few Bee Orchids Ophrys apifera, beds of Spiny Restharrow Ononis spinosa, lots of Common Centaury Centaurium erythraea, and Yellow-wort Blackstonia perfoliata, and in wet places forests of Great Horsetail Equisetum telmateia.
We prowled about there and then went on our way down a lane cut between high banks, and in one place a spring trickled down the bank, forming a bed of tufa.
The last part of the walk was along a footpath on a line of springs, always very wet, even in high summer. The woods on each side are lovely in the Spring, with primroses, wood anemones, wild hyacinths, and violets.
Vera Gordon
Mersey Shore 1st July (Leader - Joan Davis)
From Hale Road, just east of Speke, the party of ten went through a small wood to join a path between the wood and an arable field with plenty of weeds in it, such as Field Pansy, Viola arvensis, the annual Small Nettle Urtica urens, Cut-leaved Crane’s-bill Geranium dissectum, Common Field Speedwell Veronica persica and Fathen Chenopodium album.
We stayed along the cliff top path because the full tide had covered the salt marsh and was almost up to the cliff. Again, there were plenty of weeds growing among the crops, such as Red Dead-nettle Lamium purpureum, Cut-leaved Dead-nettle Lamium hybridum, and Henbit Dead-nettle Lamium amplexicaule, the three colour forms of Wild Radish Raphanus raphanistrum ssp. raphanistrum, white, mauve and yellow. The flax Linum usitatissimum, reminded us that the flax had been the previous year’s crop.
We enjoyed our picnic near a wood and John Benson pointed out a very tall slender Aspen Populus tremula, growing just along the cliff edge, whose leaves quivered from base to top as though controlled by an electrical current.
After lunch, the tide having receded a yard or two we walked along the shore
to Hale Lighthouse. On the cliff were large plants of the Garden Angelica Angelica archangelica, many tall Teasels Dipsacus fullonum, the Bristly Oxtongue Picris echioides, Yellowwort Blackstonia perfoliata, Common Centaury Centaurium erythraea, Large Bindweed Calystegia silvatica, and the Hedge Bindweed Calystegia sepium ssp. roseata. The Field Bindweed Convolvulus arvensis, grew nearby On the salt marsh the Sea Pinks, or Thrift, had finished flowering but it was obvious that they had increased from just a few plants some years ago.
A few Sea Asters Aster tripolium, were in flower, but they would not be at their best for three or four weeks. Passing the lighthouse, we walked along the cliff top to where the coast path ended at a barbed wire fence. A road led inland to Hale Village where we duly visited the grave of the nine-foot Childe of Hale before getting the bus back.
Vera Gordon
Helsby 15th July (Leader - Dave Parry)
On a bright sunny day, fifteen members met at Helsby station to visit Helsby Hill. There were enough cars to transport everyone to the car park halfway up the hill which avoided half a mile of uphill road walking. Our footpath climbed through woodland, where Climbing Corydalis Ceratocapnos claviculata was growing, to emerge on the grassy and rocky top of the hill with good views over the River Mersey and Ship canal to Runcorn and beyond.
Among grasses in flower were Wavy Hair-grass Deschampsia flexuosa and Yorkshire-fog Holcus lanatus. Other plants in this area included Green Alkanet Pentaglottis sempervirens, Black Horehound Ballota nigra, Heath Groundsel Senecio sylvaticus and Corn Spurrey Spergula arvensis. We had our lunch break here.
Dropping down steeply below the escarpment, the high-level path continued through woods, where Hard Fern Blechnum spicant, was growing, to emerge into a pleasant unmade lane.
At the junction was a magnificent Silver Birch Betula pendula with a girth of 96 inches (244cms) Marsh Cudweed Gnaphalium uliginosum, was growing among crops in a north field. At the end of the lane, a semi luminous moss Schistostega pennata, occupied a cavity in the sandstone.
We joined a road, which led back to the top of the hill. Common Hempnettle Galeopsis tetrahit was profuse at one point, also Barren Brome Anisantha sterilis. After a tea break, another path downhill through woodland led us back to the car park. On returning to the station, some members briefly explored the salt marsh to the north.
Joan S. Duerden
Neston July 29th (Leader- Joan Duerden)
Sixteen members met at Neston station on a warm sunny day, and we made our way via the Wirral Way for field paths leading to the Dee estuary shore. There were many plants of Yarrow Achillea millefolium, Wild Carrot Daucus carota, and Wild Celery Apium graveolens, growing on the shoreline the last named having the characteristic strong smell of celery.
Further along the shore path were Common Bird's-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus, Mugwort Artemisia vulgaris, Field Bindweed Convolvulus arvensis, and Cut-leaved Crane’s-bill Geranium dissectum. Near a patch of Creeping Thistle Cirsium arvense, we stopped to admire four species of butterfly feeding on the flowers - Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper. Sea Plantain Plantago maritima and Sea-purslane Atriplex portulacoides were in a damp area here, also Lesser Sea-spurrey Spergularia marina.
Reaching an old shipway at Old Quay, we stopped for lunch in a pleasant grassy area with trees. Traveller’s-joy Clematis vitalba, grows here. Out on the salt marshes were Hard-grass Parapholis strigosa and Sea Aster Aster tripolium.
Leaving the shore, we followed a path and lane heading for Ness village seeing Hedgerow Crane’s-bill Geranium pyrenaicum, in the verges.
Briefly following roads, we joined a footpath heading across fields to Cuckoo Lane and the Wirral Way. A short break at Lees Lane was made where Least Duckweed Lemna minuta, was growing in one of the ponds.
To return to Neston, our way was through the cutting on the Wirral Way where numerous ferns were growing in the walls.
Joan S. Duerden
Ellesmere Port 5th August (Leaders-Doug Messenger and Carl Clee.)
The party was met at Ellesmere Port Railway Station by our leaders who took us to the ferry. It was a lovely day and we all felt it quite a treat to be crossing the Manchester Ship Canal by ferry to the huge expanse of salt marsh.
The object was to record all the plants growing there so we wandered about shouting out what we had seen. Typical salt marsh plants included Sea Milkwort Glaux maritima, Sea Aster Aster tripolium, Sea Plantain Plantago maritima, Sea Arrowgrass Triglochin maritimum, Sea Mayweed Tripleurospermum maritimum, Saltmarsh Rush Juncus gerardii, Annual Sea-blite Suaeda maritima, Lesser Sea-spurrey Spergularia marina, and Greater Sea Spurrey Spergularia media, and two species of Glasswort, Long-spiked
Glasswort Salicornia dolichostachya and Purple Glasswort Salicornia ramosissima.
There was Parsley Water-dropwort Oenanthe lachenalii, which does not grow on every salt marsh, and it was interesting to come across one plant of the Bindweed Calystegia sepium ssp. roseata, here, maybe the seed had been washed across the Mersey from its original site at Hale from where Dick Brummitt first described it. Some waste ground on the bank of the Ship Canal where we first landed, provided some common plants like the large golden patches of Common Birdsfoot Trefoil Lotus corniculatus, and even the larger areas of Scentless Mayweed Tripleurospermum inodorum.
Drainage from the built up bank of the Ship canal produced shallow pools where we recorded Bulrush Typha latifolia, Branched Bur-reed Sparganium erectum, Common Duckweed Lemna minor, and Water Plantain Alisma plantago-aquatica.
Among common plants on the upper edge of the salt marsh were four species of Epilobium sp., four species of Dock, Rumex sp., Perennial Sowthistle Sonchus arvensis, Creeping Thistle Cirsium arvense, and Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare.
It was warm and the sun shone all day. We had our lunch on a sandstone outcrop trying to name all the places we could see clearly across the water.
Vera Gordon
North Wirral Coast 19th August (Leader - Keith Watson.)
A party of eight met at Wallasey Grove Road station with the weather dry in Wirral, but with black thunderstorm clouds and rain over Liverpool. We walked towards the coast finding Persian Ivy Hedera colchica, with its characteristic smell, and rosette leaves of Dark Mullein Verbascum nigrum on waste ground near the new station car park. White Mignonette Reseda alba was not as common as formerly at the corner of the golf course. On the edge of the miniature golf course were Sea Rocket Cakile maritima, Sea Purslane Atriplex portulacoides, and a plant of Trifid Bur-marigold Bidens tripartita, at the site of the old baths.
Tetrad SJ 29R was recorded during the meeting (a total of about 125 records); notable was frequent Sheep's-bit Jasione montana. Lunch was taken on the gun site dunes, near Isle of Man Cabbage Coincya monensis ssp. monensis and Spanish Broom Spartium junceum. Other interesting plants were the abundant small leaved elm (never properly identified) and Hungarian Brome Bromopsis inermis.
Continuing along the coast towards the old lighthouse, Sea-holly Eryngium maritimum, and Sea Spurge Euphorbia paralias, were good records.
The afternoon weather became increasingly warm and pleasant as some of the party left to walk to Moreton station, but the rest of the party continued past the lighthouse for a tea break at the ponds. Greater Spearwort Ranunculus lingua, Fringed Water-lily Nymphoides peltata, Blunt-flowered Rush Juncus subnodulosus, Strawberry Clover Trifolium fragiferum and Spiked Water-milfoil Myriophyllum spicatum, are interesting at this site, and a new record of Parsley Water-dropwort Oenanthe lachenalii, was made.
As we walked towards Meols, Lesser Centaury Centaurium pulchellum was found in the old dug-out with a few plants of Hound’s-tongue Cynoglossum officinale, in the dunes. The day ended in warm sunshine with quite a long walk to Meols station.
Keith Watson
Hightown 23rd September (Leader - Pat Lockwood)
A very happy crowd left Hightown station, walking north alongside the railway towards the Altcar Training Camp, particularly to see the Traveller’s-joy Clematis vitalba, a beautiful plant in both flower and fruit which has colonised there. Further down the road, Hop Humulus lupulus, was twining through bushes and brambles. Nearing the Training Camp, we veered left, down a narrow path leading toward the River Alt, the best plant being Twiggy Spurge Euphorbia x pseudovirgata, also Sea Spurge Euphorbia paralias and Petty Spurge Euphorbia peplus. Very soon the River Alt, its muddy banks being covered by Sea Aster Aster tripolium, joined the sea and we found a place for lunch, some of us sitting on the sands, others in the dunes.
We continued along the shore where Vera identified Sea-purslane Atriplex portulacoides and Common Orache Atriplex patula, members of a very difficult group to identify. Sea Beet Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima, was increasing well, also Annual Sea-blite Suaeda maritima, and Prickly Saltwort Salsola kali ssp. kali, in fruit.
A speciality was Yellow Horned Poppy Glaucium flavum, still in good flower. We feared we would lose it during the winter storms, but it was better than ever, some plants surviving in pure sand. We compared Sea Sandwort Honckenya peploides and Sea-milkwort Glaux maritima, often confused. Further along the coast there was Sea-kale Crambe maritima, and the beautiful Rock Samphire Crithmum maritimum, very much on the increase. We also compared Sea Plantain Plantago maritima and Buck’s-horn Plantain Plantago coronopus and also the Arrowgrasses, namely Marsh Arrowgrass Triglochin palustre and Sea Arrowgrass Triglochin maritimum, which were growing close together. We turned inland into the dune system, passing an enormous spread of Japanese Rose Rosa rugosa. The slacks were very interesting, full of fruiting orchids, hundreds of Marsh Helleborine Epipactis palustris, also Autumn Gentian Gentianella amarella. On the edge of a path, we saw the Narrow-lipped Helleborine Epipactis leptochila var. dunensis.
We made our way home passing Soapwort Saponaria officinalis. Finally, I must apologise to Joan Duerden and Margaret Brown for presuming they had gone on ahead, when in fact they were lost in the dunes, an unfortunate happening and scary. I am so sorry.
Patricia A. Lockwood
Birkdale 21st October (Leader-Duncan Rothwell.)
We gathered at Birkdale Railway Station and then walked down towards the beach. First a visit to the Queen’s Jubilee Nature Trail that lies between the Marine Drive and the Esplanade. This could now be more accurately renamed ''Q.T. Doggie Walkers’ Trail.'' Every time someone stopped to look at a plant, they had to be warned of something nasty nearby.
There was an interesting evergreen shrub, Broad-leaved Oleaster Eleagnus macrophylla, a native from Japan and Korea. It flowers in late autumn, and had plenty of tiny buds, but only two or three flowers yet. Like the rest of the family, it produces no petals. The sepals in Eleagnus species look like petals. The only British native of this family is Sea-buckthorn Hippophae rhamnoides, and there is only one more genus in the small family Eleagnaceae.
Note! The other genus belonging to the Eleagnaceae is Shepherdia, an example of which, Shepherdia argentea, can be seen in the Spinney at Ness.
We then walked along the foreshore, noting the accretion at the end of the Sefton dunes compared to the erosion at the Hightown and Formby end. We came to a new dune slack that had been part of the beach but was now enclosed by a line of low dunes gradually formed by blown sand and still growing after strong winds. Along the edge of the slack were remarkable lines of Brookweed Samolus valerandi, some more than 20cms tall and very bushy. Among them were fine plants of Long-bracted Sedge Carex extensa. On the drier margins there were plenty of tiny Lesser Centaury Centaurium pulchellum, taller Seaside Centaury Centaurium littorale, and Common Centaury Centaurium erythraea. We walked along the bank of an old brook now in need of clearing out at the slack end. Higher up where it emerges from a culvert and the water is deeper and not so choked with common water plants, the Lesser Bulrush Typha angustifolia has spread.
Baltic Rush Juncus balticus was seen in a few of the old slacks and Sea Rush Juncus maritimus also grows on this northern Sefton coast. We returned up the long and now very sandy path to Hillside Railway Station.
Vera Gordon
The by now traditional first walk of the season in the Hope Mountain area started at Caergwrle station when twenty of us met, including a few welcome guests. We made our way to the packhorse bridge over the River Alyn but were disappointed that there was no trace this year of the Toothwort Lathraea squamaria despite a spirited search amongst the plentiful and pungent Ramsons Allium ursinum. On the other side of the path Butterbur Petasites hybridus was still in flower. Walking south along the Alyn, Black Currant Ribes nigrum was in flower as was a single plant of Gooseberry Ribes uva-crispa, in the town a little later. On waste ground there were several well-developed stems of Caper Spurge Euphorbia lathyris. Turning north through the town we rejoined the Alyn at Hope station and walked through the meadows, undistinguished except for fine displays of Blackthorn Prunus spinosa, to the Hope Road and headed for the mountain itself passing on the way a well-established clump of Greater Periwinkle Vinca major.
At the foot of the mountain a small area of waste land proved interesting with Charlock Sinapis arvensis, Green Field-speedwell Veronica agrestis, Common Field-speedwell Veronica persica, a fumitory, probably Common Ramping-fumitory Fumaria muralis, Herb-Robert Geranium robertianum and the attractive Shining Crane’s-bill Geranium lucidum just coming into flower. The glen leading up to Horeb was botanically disappointing and the stiles difficult but there was an abundance of Wood Anemone Anemone nemorosa and much Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium. Halfway up we stopped for lunch in full sunshine and a panoramic view. Here there was much Ground-ivy Glechoma hederacaea.
On reaching the top we headed south along the lanes to Cymau. Initially they were uninteresting but later they became steep sided hosting, even at this time of year, many attractive plants such as Greater Stitchwort Stellaria holostea, Barren Strawberry Potentilla sterilis, the fascinating Town Hall Clock Adoxa moschatellina, Bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus, Common Dog-violet Viola riviniana, Wood-sorrel Oxalis acetosella, occasional Bluebells Hyacinthoides non-scripta, and a single clump of Climbing Corydalis Ceratocapnos claviculata. A search for Orchids along the woodland edge of the lane leading down into Cymau produced only a few rosettes of spotted leaves of the Early Purple Orchid Orchis mascula but for the cold winds of the last ten days it would have been well in flower.
However massed Primroses on the nearby banks were some compensation. Leaving Cymau by the path leading to the now filled sandpits we saw Bush Vetch Vicia sepium, and Crosswort Cruciata laevipes. From here we headed, somewhat deviously, for Cefny-bedd station and home but not without seeing Marsh Valerian Valeriana dioica on the way and some of us chanced upon the Morel fungus Morchella esculenta on a steep bank under the trees.
Not a day for striking botanical finds, more an opportunity to renew friendships after our winter hibernation and to sharpen our faculties for the coming summer.
Guy Sloman
Gathurst 6th May (Leader-Mrs E. Stephenson)
A day spent around Gathurst and Crooke, to the west of Wigan, took in a variety of habitats: the ‘Dirty Duggie’ (the river, that is!!), a reclaimed and replanted area, old clay pits, and a wood ‘of ancient origin.’
The day’s highlight, and underlying reason for the choice of date, was Porter’s Wood. Crammed with Bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Ramsons Allium ursinum, Lesser Celandine Ranunculus ficaria (ssp. ficaria & ssp. bulbilifer), Marsh Marigold Caltha palustris, Three-nerved Sandwort Moehringia trinervia, to name but a few, and trees in fresh leaf, it was a delight. In the sunshine, birds sang, and butterflies flitted through the glades, most notably Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria and a Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni, both increasing locally. Many more than 57 varieties here – who would have thought we were cheek-by-jowl with the giant Heinz factory?
And then there was the Hoax Apple! Golf ball size, pink and puffy – undoubtedly an Oak Apple, except that it was allegedly growing on Sycamore. The leader (that’s me) roundly asserted that gall wasps don’t make mistakes in their tree identification, so back we went. Tree buds were swelling though not yet open, but careful searching produced a few of last year’s leaves still attached. Oak. Faces pink and puffy! Later reflection, however, makes leader’s head feel uncomfortably large. The truth of the matter is that unless extremely patient researchers have kept careful watch, we cannot be certain that Oak-gall causers never mistakenly lay eggs on other tree species. Crucially, it is the tree, which manufactures the gall-tissue in response to stimulation by the insect. Maybe the gall wasp Biorrhiza pallida does sometimes lay on Sycamore buds, but no galls will form. My apologies for a hasty remark.
On a very hot day, a stop at the canalside pub at Crooke provided welcome refreshment and enabled good timing for the return train.
Edna Stephenson
Moston 13th May (Leader- Miss P. Tolfree)
Nine members and two visitors assembled for our walk on a very hot day near Mills Hill station. We started by descending the very steep steps on the far side of the railway line to join a path by the River Irk, which here is narrow, clean and fast flowing. It rises less than three miles away at Low Crompton and flows southwest, with the addition of several brooks to join the River Irwell, near Victoria Station and thence to the Manchester Ship Canal.
The party from Liverpool were interested to see so much Common Bistort Persicaria bistorta growing by the river. Conversely it was good to see abundant Marsh-marigold Caltha palustris, none too common in the Manchester area. There were clumps of Tall Fescue Festuca arundinacea, which is a typical grass of South Lancashire. A Liverwort, thought to be Lunularia cruciata was also seen here.
Spotting many other plants on our way, we skirted around the British Vita works to reach the Myrtle Pools, originally mill lodges. The leaves of Flowering-rush Butomus umbellatus were very much in evidence, which will later make a wonderful sight. We had our lunch here with the anglers. We then continued to Boarshaw Bridge to join The Rochdale Canal, which, over the last few years has been much cleaned out with a view to ‘environmental improvement.’
However, there is still a very interesting moss, Willow moss Fontinalis antipyretica, floating in it, looking much more like a vascular plant. It was too early to see the introduced American Pondweed Potamogeton epihydrus, that is known from this section of the canal. We walked northwards to Slattocks, where we left the canal and continued along Thornham Lane, which was formerly an early packhorse route between Lancashire and Yorkshire. We passed the tollhouse going into Stakehill Lane and also passed several farms.
Common spring flowers were growing all along in the hedgebanks such as Bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Greater Stitchwort Stellaria holostea, and various vetches.
On reaching the canal again, we were greeted with Royal Fern Osmunda regalis and a bit farther along in a damp meadow we saw Round-leaved Crowfoot Ranunculus omiophyllus. Nearby was Reed Sweet-grass Glyceria maxima, growing so prolifically as almost to look like a crop.
On the railway bridge we looked in vain for the fern Rustyback Ceterach officinarum, seen seven years ago. Back at the starting place on the waste ground near the Irk, someone spotted Quince Cydonia oblonga, no doubt bird sown.
Priscilla Tolfree
Silverdale & Gait Barrows 10th June (Leader- Peter Tipping)
The tenth of June dawned warm and fair, unlike the days either side of it: was this to be a blessing on the day? A party of ten met at Silverdale Station and was ferried in cars to the Nature Reserve itself, thank you for the lifts.
Gait Barrows National Nature Reserve is one of the most important areas of limestone pavement in Britain and is home to a not inconsiderable collection of rare plants. The limestone was shaped by glaciers 15,000 to 18,000 years ago and has since been the subject of weathering to form the pavement areas we can see today. On the walk to the first pavement, we were rewarded with some splendid views of Herb-Paris Paris quadrifolia, nestling behind a large limestone block and in the shade of Hazel Corylus avellana, and Spindle Euonymus europaeus.
The first pavement gave us views of Yew Taxus baccata, Rowan Sorbus aucuparia, and Common Juniper Juniperus communis in various sizes and forms, some being very stunted due to dry conditions on the pavement.
It was here that we found our first specimens of Orpine Sedum telephium. As the different pavements were encountered, we were lucky enough to find many of the rare plants we had hoped to see including, albeit not in full flower, Dark Red Helleborine Epipactis atrorubens. Ferns were to be had in plenty, including Broad Buckler-fern Dryopteris dilatata, Scaly Male-fern Dryopteris affinis, Male-fern Dryopteris filix-mas and Rigid Buckler-fern Dryopteris submontana.
Should we stop for lunch or search for another rarity, Angular Solomon’s seal Polygonatum odoratum? Of course, the plant won out and lunch was deferred until all had seen it. Lunch on the pavement but beware of deer ticks we were informed by the warden, Robert Petley-Jones, words I was to remember all too vividly on my return home only to find unwanted visitors!
During the lunch break an interesting discussion took place, we looked at Common Valerian Valeriana officinalis, or was it Saw-wort Serratula tinctoria? Never mind we won't go into that now!
As we began to leave the pavements, we saw considerable quantities of Lily of-the-valley Convallaria majalis and a little further Jacob's-ladder Polemonium caeruleum and Stinking Hellebore Helleborus foetidus.
Continuing downhill we approached a wet area with meadowland. Here we encountered beautiful displays of Ragged-Robin Lychnis flos-cuculi, Changing Forget-me-not Myosotis discolor, and Yellow-rattle Rhinanthus minor. Passing many specimens of the Cranesbill family, we again met up with Mr. Petley-Jones who showed us a rare leaf beetle that inhabits Wood Ants’ nests. This creature goes under the name of Clytra quadripunctata.
Beetles notwithstanding, we must move on if we are going to see Haweswater.
En route we were lucky enough to see Rue-leaved Saxifrage Saxifraga tridactylites, Rustyback Ceterach officinarum, and some rather splendid examples of Ostrich Fern Matteuccia struthiopteris. What if they had been planted! As Haweswater loomed into sight so did some wonderful plants, Common Gromwell Lithospermum officinale, Bird's-eye Primrose Primula farinosa, and Common Butterwort Pinguicula vulgaris. Great Fen-sedge Cladium mariscus, Common Sedge Carex nigra, Glaucous Sedge Carex flacca, and Wood-sedge Carex sylvatica. Black Bog-rush Schoenus nigricans was also seen at this location. By this time, it was appropriate to make for the station for those returning by train.
Those in cars made a short detour to Jack Scout and were able to add Thrift Armeria maritima and Carline Thistle Carlina vulgaris to the day’s list as well as learn about the complexities of limekilns! All in all, a day blessed by good weather and even better flora.
Peter Tipping
Cefn y bedd 24th June (Leader-Vera Gordon)
Soon after leaving the station, we went down a steep track to where a once busy water mill has now been turned into a “des res.” The huge water wheel still stands intact. Crossing a float bridge, we went up a steep muddy path in a wood, to a lane, which we crossed after admiring flowering Wood Melick Melica uniflora, growing on the huge bank.
Over the style we walked below a hillside hay meadow with Oxeye Daisies and occasional Common Spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii.
We were all brought to a halt when a lovely black and white rabbit came out of the hedge to us. It had obviously been dumped there, but with a cardboard box for shelter, and a choice of greens from the hedge and field. We hoped that a local would find it and give it a home. Then there was a short steep climb next to a field hedge, which was draped here and there with honeysuckle in flower, and plenty of foxgloves on the bank. We soon reached an old mineral railway line, now disused, cut into the hillside, with a densely wooded drop on the right, and a wide muddy cutting on the left, the land rising to an unseen village above. Here were Ladies Smock, or Cuckooflowers Cardamine pratensis, lots of pink Ragged Robin, and remains of Marsh Marigolds.
Although the ladies had spent half an hour or so the previous very, very hot Saturday clearing the largest brambles with secateurs, what were left were still a pest, as well as low twigs and branches of trees and shrubs. A footpath ascended steeply between hedges to a road.
Many common wildflowers adorned the hedges along some quiet lanes. There were Wild Strawberries Fragaria vesca, some ripe enough to eat, and thick stems of glossy red berries of Lords-and-Ladies Arum maculatum.
Then down a side lane, at the bottom of which a brook flowed across, with a ford for vehicles and a footbridge for walkers. It was here we missed one of the party. Three searchers climbed up to the road again, two of them to where we had last seen him, but no luck. We found out later that when he could not see us he went the way he knew to the gravel quarry, (we were then looking for him), and returned home by the train before ours.
Meanwhile, after lunch, we went up to the now abandoned gravel quarry where there was an abundance of wildflowers. Hundreds of Common Spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii, a few Bee Orchids Ophrys apifera, beds of Spiny Restharrow Ononis spinosa, lots of Common Centaury Centaurium erythraea, and Yellow-wort Blackstonia perfoliata, and in wet places forests of Great Horsetail Equisetum telmateia.
We prowled about there and then went on our way down a lane cut between high banks, and in one place a spring trickled down the bank, forming a bed of tufa.
The last part of the walk was along a footpath on a line of springs, always very wet, even in high summer. The woods on each side are lovely in the Spring, with primroses, wood anemones, wild hyacinths, and violets.
Vera Gordon
Mersey Shore 1st July (Leader - Joan Davis)
From Hale Road, just east of Speke, the party of ten went through a small wood to join a path between the wood and an arable field with plenty of weeds in it, such as Field Pansy, Viola arvensis, the annual Small Nettle Urtica urens, Cut-leaved Crane’s-bill Geranium dissectum, Common Field Speedwell Veronica persica and Fathen Chenopodium album.
We stayed along the cliff top path because the full tide had covered the salt marsh and was almost up to the cliff. Again, there were plenty of weeds growing among the crops, such as Red Dead-nettle Lamium purpureum, Cut-leaved Dead-nettle Lamium hybridum, and Henbit Dead-nettle Lamium amplexicaule, the three colour forms of Wild Radish Raphanus raphanistrum ssp. raphanistrum, white, mauve and yellow. The flax Linum usitatissimum, reminded us that the flax had been the previous year’s crop.
We enjoyed our picnic near a wood and John Benson pointed out a very tall slender Aspen Populus tremula, growing just along the cliff edge, whose leaves quivered from base to top as though controlled by an electrical current.
After lunch, the tide having receded a yard or two we walked along the shore
to Hale Lighthouse. On the cliff were large plants of the Garden Angelica Angelica archangelica, many tall Teasels Dipsacus fullonum, the Bristly Oxtongue Picris echioides, Yellowwort Blackstonia perfoliata, Common Centaury Centaurium erythraea, Large Bindweed Calystegia silvatica, and the Hedge Bindweed Calystegia sepium ssp. roseata. The Field Bindweed Convolvulus arvensis, grew nearby On the salt marsh the Sea Pinks, or Thrift, had finished flowering but it was obvious that they had increased from just a few plants some years ago.
A few Sea Asters Aster tripolium, were in flower, but they would not be at their best for three or four weeks. Passing the lighthouse, we walked along the cliff top to where the coast path ended at a barbed wire fence. A road led inland to Hale Village where we duly visited the grave of the nine-foot Childe of Hale before getting the bus back.
Vera Gordon
Helsby 15th July (Leader - Dave Parry)
On a bright sunny day, fifteen members met at Helsby station to visit Helsby Hill. There were enough cars to transport everyone to the car park halfway up the hill which avoided half a mile of uphill road walking. Our footpath climbed through woodland, where Climbing Corydalis Ceratocapnos claviculata was growing, to emerge on the grassy and rocky top of the hill with good views over the River Mersey and Ship canal to Runcorn and beyond.
Among grasses in flower were Wavy Hair-grass Deschampsia flexuosa and Yorkshire-fog Holcus lanatus. Other plants in this area included Green Alkanet Pentaglottis sempervirens, Black Horehound Ballota nigra, Heath Groundsel Senecio sylvaticus and Corn Spurrey Spergula arvensis. We had our lunch break here.
Dropping down steeply below the escarpment, the high-level path continued through woods, where Hard Fern Blechnum spicant, was growing, to emerge into a pleasant unmade lane.
At the junction was a magnificent Silver Birch Betula pendula with a girth of 96 inches (244cms) Marsh Cudweed Gnaphalium uliginosum, was growing among crops in a north field. At the end of the lane, a semi luminous moss Schistostega pennata, occupied a cavity in the sandstone.
We joined a road, which led back to the top of the hill. Common Hempnettle Galeopsis tetrahit was profuse at one point, also Barren Brome Anisantha sterilis. After a tea break, another path downhill through woodland led us back to the car park. On returning to the station, some members briefly explored the salt marsh to the north.
Joan S. Duerden
Neston July 29th (Leader- Joan Duerden)
Sixteen members met at Neston station on a warm sunny day, and we made our way via the Wirral Way for field paths leading to the Dee estuary shore. There were many plants of Yarrow Achillea millefolium, Wild Carrot Daucus carota, and Wild Celery Apium graveolens, growing on the shoreline the last named having the characteristic strong smell of celery.
Further along the shore path were Common Bird's-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus, Mugwort Artemisia vulgaris, Field Bindweed Convolvulus arvensis, and Cut-leaved Crane’s-bill Geranium dissectum. Near a patch of Creeping Thistle Cirsium arvense, we stopped to admire four species of butterfly feeding on the flowers - Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper. Sea Plantain Plantago maritima and Sea-purslane Atriplex portulacoides were in a damp area here, also Lesser Sea-spurrey Spergularia marina.
Reaching an old shipway at Old Quay, we stopped for lunch in a pleasant grassy area with trees. Traveller’s-joy Clematis vitalba, grows here. Out on the salt marshes were Hard-grass Parapholis strigosa and Sea Aster Aster tripolium.
Leaving the shore, we followed a path and lane heading for Ness village seeing Hedgerow Crane’s-bill Geranium pyrenaicum, in the verges.
Briefly following roads, we joined a footpath heading across fields to Cuckoo Lane and the Wirral Way. A short break at Lees Lane was made where Least Duckweed Lemna minuta, was growing in one of the ponds.
To return to Neston, our way was through the cutting on the Wirral Way where numerous ferns were growing in the walls.
Joan S. Duerden
Ellesmere Port 5th August (Leaders-Doug Messenger and Carl Clee.)
The party was met at Ellesmere Port Railway Station by our leaders who took us to the ferry. It was a lovely day and we all felt it quite a treat to be crossing the Manchester Ship Canal by ferry to the huge expanse of salt marsh.
The object was to record all the plants growing there so we wandered about shouting out what we had seen. Typical salt marsh plants included Sea Milkwort Glaux maritima, Sea Aster Aster tripolium, Sea Plantain Plantago maritima, Sea Arrowgrass Triglochin maritimum, Sea Mayweed Tripleurospermum maritimum, Saltmarsh Rush Juncus gerardii, Annual Sea-blite Suaeda maritima, Lesser Sea-spurrey Spergularia marina, and Greater Sea Spurrey Spergularia media, and two species of Glasswort, Long-spiked
Glasswort Salicornia dolichostachya and Purple Glasswort Salicornia ramosissima.
There was Parsley Water-dropwort Oenanthe lachenalii, which does not grow on every salt marsh, and it was interesting to come across one plant of the Bindweed Calystegia sepium ssp. roseata, here, maybe the seed had been washed across the Mersey from its original site at Hale from where Dick Brummitt first described it. Some waste ground on the bank of the Ship Canal where we first landed, provided some common plants like the large golden patches of Common Birdsfoot Trefoil Lotus corniculatus, and even the larger areas of Scentless Mayweed Tripleurospermum inodorum.
Drainage from the built up bank of the Ship canal produced shallow pools where we recorded Bulrush Typha latifolia, Branched Bur-reed Sparganium erectum, Common Duckweed Lemna minor, and Water Plantain Alisma plantago-aquatica.
Among common plants on the upper edge of the salt marsh were four species of Epilobium sp., four species of Dock, Rumex sp., Perennial Sowthistle Sonchus arvensis, Creeping Thistle Cirsium arvense, and Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare.
It was warm and the sun shone all day. We had our lunch on a sandstone outcrop trying to name all the places we could see clearly across the water.
Vera Gordon
North Wirral Coast 19th August (Leader - Keith Watson.)
A party of eight met at Wallasey Grove Road station with the weather dry in Wirral, but with black thunderstorm clouds and rain over Liverpool. We walked towards the coast finding Persian Ivy Hedera colchica, with its characteristic smell, and rosette leaves of Dark Mullein Verbascum nigrum on waste ground near the new station car park. White Mignonette Reseda alba was not as common as formerly at the corner of the golf course. On the edge of the miniature golf course were Sea Rocket Cakile maritima, Sea Purslane Atriplex portulacoides, and a plant of Trifid Bur-marigold Bidens tripartita, at the site of the old baths.
Tetrad SJ 29R was recorded during the meeting (a total of about 125 records); notable was frequent Sheep's-bit Jasione montana. Lunch was taken on the gun site dunes, near Isle of Man Cabbage Coincya monensis ssp. monensis and Spanish Broom Spartium junceum. Other interesting plants were the abundant small leaved elm (never properly identified) and Hungarian Brome Bromopsis inermis.
Continuing along the coast towards the old lighthouse, Sea-holly Eryngium maritimum, and Sea Spurge Euphorbia paralias, were good records.
The afternoon weather became increasingly warm and pleasant as some of the party left to walk to Moreton station, but the rest of the party continued past the lighthouse for a tea break at the ponds. Greater Spearwort Ranunculus lingua, Fringed Water-lily Nymphoides peltata, Blunt-flowered Rush Juncus subnodulosus, Strawberry Clover Trifolium fragiferum and Spiked Water-milfoil Myriophyllum spicatum, are interesting at this site, and a new record of Parsley Water-dropwort Oenanthe lachenalii, was made.
As we walked towards Meols, Lesser Centaury Centaurium pulchellum was found in the old dug-out with a few plants of Hound’s-tongue Cynoglossum officinale, in the dunes. The day ended in warm sunshine with quite a long walk to Meols station.
Keith Watson
Hightown 23rd September (Leader - Pat Lockwood)
A very happy crowd left Hightown station, walking north alongside the railway towards the Altcar Training Camp, particularly to see the Traveller’s-joy Clematis vitalba, a beautiful plant in both flower and fruit which has colonised there. Further down the road, Hop Humulus lupulus, was twining through bushes and brambles. Nearing the Training Camp, we veered left, down a narrow path leading toward the River Alt, the best plant being Twiggy Spurge Euphorbia x pseudovirgata, also Sea Spurge Euphorbia paralias and Petty Spurge Euphorbia peplus. Very soon the River Alt, its muddy banks being covered by Sea Aster Aster tripolium, joined the sea and we found a place for lunch, some of us sitting on the sands, others in the dunes.
We continued along the shore where Vera identified Sea-purslane Atriplex portulacoides and Common Orache Atriplex patula, members of a very difficult group to identify. Sea Beet Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima, was increasing well, also Annual Sea-blite Suaeda maritima, and Prickly Saltwort Salsola kali ssp. kali, in fruit.
A speciality was Yellow Horned Poppy Glaucium flavum, still in good flower. We feared we would lose it during the winter storms, but it was better than ever, some plants surviving in pure sand. We compared Sea Sandwort Honckenya peploides and Sea-milkwort Glaux maritima, often confused. Further along the coast there was Sea-kale Crambe maritima, and the beautiful Rock Samphire Crithmum maritimum, very much on the increase. We also compared Sea Plantain Plantago maritima and Buck’s-horn Plantain Plantago coronopus and also the Arrowgrasses, namely Marsh Arrowgrass Triglochin palustre and Sea Arrowgrass Triglochin maritimum, which were growing close together. We turned inland into the dune system, passing an enormous spread of Japanese Rose Rosa rugosa. The slacks were very interesting, full of fruiting orchids, hundreds of Marsh Helleborine Epipactis palustris, also Autumn Gentian Gentianella amarella. On the edge of a path, we saw the Narrow-lipped Helleborine Epipactis leptochila var. dunensis.
We made our way home passing Soapwort Saponaria officinalis. Finally, I must apologise to Joan Duerden and Margaret Brown for presuming they had gone on ahead, when in fact they were lost in the dunes, an unfortunate happening and scary. I am so sorry.
Patricia A. Lockwood
Birkdale 21st October (Leader-Duncan Rothwell.)
We gathered at Birkdale Railway Station and then walked down towards the beach. First a visit to the Queen’s Jubilee Nature Trail that lies between the Marine Drive and the Esplanade. This could now be more accurately renamed ''Q.T. Doggie Walkers’ Trail.'' Every time someone stopped to look at a plant, they had to be warned of something nasty nearby.
There was an interesting evergreen shrub, Broad-leaved Oleaster Eleagnus macrophylla, a native from Japan and Korea. It flowers in late autumn, and had plenty of tiny buds, but only two or three flowers yet. Like the rest of the family, it produces no petals. The sepals in Eleagnus species look like petals. The only British native of this family is Sea-buckthorn Hippophae rhamnoides, and there is only one more genus in the small family Eleagnaceae.
Note! The other genus belonging to the Eleagnaceae is Shepherdia, an example of which, Shepherdia argentea, can be seen in the Spinney at Ness.
We then walked along the foreshore, noting the accretion at the end of the Sefton dunes compared to the erosion at the Hightown and Formby end. We came to a new dune slack that had been part of the beach but was now enclosed by a line of low dunes gradually formed by blown sand and still growing after strong winds. Along the edge of the slack were remarkable lines of Brookweed Samolus valerandi, some more than 20cms tall and very bushy. Among them were fine plants of Long-bracted Sedge Carex extensa. On the drier margins there were plenty of tiny Lesser Centaury Centaurium pulchellum, taller Seaside Centaury Centaurium littorale, and Common Centaury Centaurium erythraea. We walked along the bank of an old brook now in need of clearing out at the slack end. Higher up where it emerges from a culvert and the water is deeper and not so choked with common water plants, the Lesser Bulrush Typha angustifolia has spread.
Baltic Rush Juncus balticus was seen in a few of the old slacks and Sea Rush Juncus maritimus also grows on this northern Sefton coast. We returned up the long and now very sandy path to Hillside Railway Station.
Vera Gordon