Altcar Rifle Range  22nd May 2015   Leader: Steve Cross   Photos: Steve Cross

17 members and friends met at Hightown on a cloudy, cool evening  to proceed in convoy on to Altcar Rifle Range. We were treated to the massed ranks of some 28,000 Green-winged Orchids Anacamptis morio, probably the largest concentration in Northern England. As well as the dark purple form that predominates there were a handful of the white "alba" form as well as the slightly commoner pale pink form of this variable species.  Other species such as the marsh orchids and Ragged Robin Silene flos-cuculi were not quite yet in flower. Marsh Pennywort  Hydrocotyle vulgaris was common on the wettest areas along with various sedges and horsetails which provided more of an identification problem. 

On I Range we found around about 1000 Cowslip Primula veris flowerheads, though many already gone to seed. Also here were Adderstongue Ophioglossum vulgatum, some 3000 Common Twayblade Listera ovata just coming into flower and a hybrid Dactylorhiza Marsh Orchid that had Common Spotted Orchid D. fuchsii as a parent but was the other Northern (D. purpurella) or Southern Marsh Orchid (D.praetermissa), still working on that one, though I think it is the former which would make it D. x venusta.

In a roadside ditch was a mass of Changing Forgetmenot Myotis discolor, a nice end to a visit to Altcar, which always seems to deliver good botanising!

Aughton  Saturday 6th June 2015   Leader – Dave Earl   ​Photo- Barbara Allen

Risley Moss   Saturday  20th June 2015   Leader : Howard Harris    ​Photos by Barbara Allen

Millers Dale  Saturday 11th July 2015  Leader – Tim Rogers   ​Photos by Barbara Allen

Yarrow Valley, Chorley  Thursday 16th July 2015  Joint WFS meeting.   ​Photos by Barbara Allen

Wyre Way  Saturday 18th July 2015   Leader – Eric Greenwood   ​Photos by Barbara Allen

Smardale  Sunday 2nd August 2015  Joint MNA coach trip   Leader David Bryant 

Liverpool City Centre  Saturday 12th  September 2015  Leader: Wendy Atkinson.

14 members started out in the rain at the museum and then headed up towards the university and cathedral areas. We saw at least 156 species of plant (of which at least 36 planted). List to follow.

Many alien species predominated with the likes of Shaggy Soldier Galinsoga quadriradiata, Oxford Ragwort Senecio squalidus, Japanese Rose Rosa rugosa and Buddleia Buddleja davidii abundant, also in this warmer urban environment  Guernsey Fleabane Conyza sumatrensis is now much commoner than Canadian Fleabane C.canadensis.

Eastham Fungus Foray  Saturday 26th September 2015  Leader – Steve Cross 

Marshside  Saturday 10th October 2015  Leader – Peter Gateley   ​Photos by Barbara Allen