Caergwrle 18 April 2026
​Highlights were the masses of Bluebell, Wood Anemone, Greater Stitchwort, Dogs Mercury, Wood Melick with supporting cast of Early Purple Orchid, Wood Sorrel and Crosswort. The stream area held big patches of Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage with some Bog Stitchwort, Lesser Spearwort, Water-cress, Brooklime and Meadowsweet. Through the village and bordering gardens were lots of Wood Forget-me-not, Green Alkanet, Greater Periwinkle, Wood Spurge (garden form) and Variegated Yellow Archangel. Fungi included St George's Mushroom, Vinegar Cup Helvella acetabulum and rusts on Mallow, Arum (and the same species on Allium).
Photo highlights and a full account are below.

Rimrose Valley LBS 25 April 2026
Seven of us toured the northern and central parts of the Rimrose Valley. It was also an iNaturalist City Challenge event https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/citynaturechallenge

Finds included Hornbeam, Dovesfoot Cranesbill, Red Clover, Sticky Mouse-ear, Common Whitlow Grass, Pink Ivy-leaved Speedwell, Petty Spurge, Yarrow, Coltsfoot, Hybrid Bluebell, Creeping Cinquefoil, Silverweed, Wall Speedwell, Meadow Vetchling, Common Vetch, Horse Radish, and Wild Onion. Osier, Crack, Goat and Grey Willows were here. Also Ground Elder, Hawthorn, Wild Cherry, Bird Cherry, Dogwood, Field Maple, Ash, Common Lime, Hybrid Coralberry, Franchet’s Cotoneaster, and Portuguese Laurel. The Apple was in flower as was a white form of Lilac.

Along the canal were Greater Willowherb, Reed, Hybrid Reedmace, Shasta Daisy, Hemlock Water Dropwort, Amphibious Bistort, Water Mint, Fringed Water Lily, Water Dock, Cuckoo Flower, Common Alder, Herb Robert and Floating Pennywort Hydrocotyle ranunculoides (the latter now costing thousands to clear it from the canal). The wetlands provided Meadow Foxtail, Yellow Iris, Hard Rush, Greater Spearwort, Brooklime  and Remote Sedge. The tiny piece of  “heathland” had the alien Virginian Rose Rosa virginiana, Heather (six plants makes a heathland!), Field Wood-rush, Sheep’s Sorrel, Sweet Vernal Grass, Gorse, and Broom. At the “Brimstone Woods”  were Imperforate, Perforate and hybrid Des Etangs' St. Johns Worts as well as a male of the eponymous butterfly.

We also found Bush Vetch, Meadow Vetchling, Pendulous Sedge, Creeping Buttercup, Tufted Vetch, Prickly Sowthistle, Canadian Goldenrod, Michaelmas Daisy, Red Campion, Common Sorrel, Common Knapweed, Japanese Knotweed, Dog Rose, Raspberry, Red Dead-nettle, and  Hairy Bittercress.

The lichenicolous lichen Erythricium aurantiacum was on the Physcia lichens. On tree bark were the lichens Lecidella elaeochroma, Lecanora chlarotera, and Sunburst Lichen Xanthoria parietina. Chewing Gum Lichen  Protoparmeliopsis muralis. The Hybrid Bluebell had Bluebell Rust Uromyces muscari.

Invertebrates included Common Pill Woodlouse Armadillidium vulgare and a Wolf Spider Pardosa sp., St. Mark’s Flies Bibio marci, Flesh Flies Sarcophaga sp., Garden Snail, Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus, Hoverfly Leucozona lucorum. Common Carder Bumble Bee, and a male Tawny Mining Bee. Butterflies included  Large and Green-veined Whites, Orange Tip, Peacock, Speckled Wood and Holly Blue. Click Beetle Agriotes sp,. Seven-spot Ladybird, and Alder Leaf Beetle.
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Singing birds included 8 Blackcap, 7 Common Whitethroat, 4 Blackbird, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Wren, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Chaffinch, and 1 Reed Warbler. Also, present were Pheasant, Magpie, Crow, Jay, Collared Dove, Robin, Blue Tit, Greenfinch, House Sparrow, Canada Geese, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen plus Black-headed Gull, Herring and Lesser Black backed Gulls  A Grey Heron flew over. Also, there were some basking Yellow-bellied Slider Terrapins Trachemys scripta scripta in the canal.

Croxteth Country Park LBS-WFS trip on 9 May 2026
Leader Steve Cross
A full account and species list is attached here.

Speke Hall 30 May 2026
Photos and account to follow.

Halewood Park (Triangle) 8 June 2026
Seven of us toured this woodland country park. Highlights were the woodland plants such as Wood Speedwell, Enchanter’s Nightshade, Ramsons, Dog's Mercury and Wood-sorrel; as well as a selection of wetland plants at the ponds. A full account is below and attached.

This designated Local Wildlife Site of 31 ha (78 acres) is a combination of mature woodland, with ponds, and meadow habitats. Closely linked to its railway history, originally the Cheshire Lines Railway, it is part of the Liverpool Loop Line going all the way around Liverpool to Formby and Southport. You can now walk all the way to Aintree as part of the Transpennine Trail (Liverpool to Hull).
This area goes back as far as the 16th century Wood of Hale. Some was then cleared of woodland for agriculture. This changed with the arrival of the railways; the disused cuttings are still visible around the park’s perimeter as major paths. The central area naturally regenerated. The boardwalk goes through some of the oldest woodland of Oak, Birch, and Ash. A Friends Group does much conservation work. There are six ponds, some permanent and some seasonal.

Car Parking was an issue because of a major running event (as it had been previously at Croxteth) and eventually seven of us set out to tour the country park.

Car Park, Eco Centre, Triangle Café, and the Halewood Bug Hotel area (an amazing structure for insects to nest in). The area by the car park had American Willowherb and on a tree was the orange algae Trentepohlia. An unusual purple coloured Cornflower was here as well as Dovesfoot Cranesbill, Creeping Cinquefoil, Tufted Vetch, Hairy Bittercress, Hoary Willowherb, Toad Rush, and Smooth Sowthistle with leaf mines either Chromatomyia horticola or Chromatomyia syngenesiae. Also present was Annual Meadow Grass, Daisy, White Clover and we could compare Common Field, Thyme-leaved, Wall and Slender Speedwells. We also found Lady’s Smock, Dandelion, Self-heal, Pineapleweed, Silver Birch, a Harlequin Ladybird pupa, a Boletus sp. fungus and the oak had Oak Powdery Mildew Erysiphe alphitoides.

The mini meadow here had flowering Oxeye Daisy, Wild Carrot, Smooth Meadow Grass, False Oat Grass, Field Forget-me-not, Timothy Grass, Crested Dogstail, Cow Parsley, Dog Rose, Nipplewort, Creeping Buttercup, Herb Robert, Cut-leaved Cranesbill, Hedge Woundwort and Garlic Mustard. Plus, Ash, Common Knapweed, and Rowan. At the path edge was the minute blue flowers of the Wall Speedwell. A nearby tree had Silverleaf Fungus Chondrostereum purpureum.

We then headed west seeing Black Bryony in flower plus Enchanter’s Nightshade, Common Figwort and Field Rose that had the rust Phragmidium tuberculatum. This stretch also had more patches of flowering Ground Elder, Wood Speedwell, Dogwood, gone over Ramsons and Bramble, Nettle, Meadow Buttercup, Hazel, plenty of Wood Avens and Wood Dock.

Heading south along a muddy path was more Enchanter’s Nightshade, Wood Speedwell, Ramsons, Hedge Woundwort, Bush Vetch and Hogweed, Red Campion, Broad-leaved Willowherb were in flower. Locally abundant was Wood Millet and Remote Sedge. The moss Mnium hornum, Male Fern and Broad Buckler Fern were also present. A Dark-lipped Banded Snail was found. Also here were Dandelion, Dogwood, Hawthorn, Oak, Downy Birch, Wild Cherry, Cherry Laurel, Raspberry, Holly (and Holly Leaf Miner). Honeysuckle, some in flower and one had contorted a tree (see photo), and on the leaves was the fly leaf mine Chromatomyia sp. The Broad-leaved Dock had Pegomya mines. A wet patch had flowering Brooklime Veronica beccabunga. It is basically, an oak-birch slightly acidic woodland. Up steps to the right past the Field Horsetail. Then right again with Sycamore, lots of bramble and Wood Avens. In a damp depression was flowering Brooklime Veronica beccabunga. Right again on to main path. One Blackcap was singing. At The Main path we could see the problem they have with Variegated Yellow Archangel and also potentially Creeping Jenny and Montbretia.

The seasonal “Rafty Pond” was dry but other finds were flowering Wood Millet, Pendulous Sedge, Yellow Iris, Bittersweet (Woody Nightshade), and Tufted Vetch. Crack and Grey Willows, and Hedge Woundwort were also located.
Meadow. From the NE corner we did a clockwise circuit. In the grassland were several seedling trees. Flowering were the non-native Slender Speedwell, plus native Sweet Vernal Grass (the key new mown hay smell producer), Creeping and Meadow Buttercups, Curled Dock, Red Campion, Oxeye Daisy, White and Red Clovers, Birdsfoot Trefoil, Common Mouse-ear, Ribwort Plantain and Common Sorrel. Other grasses in flower were Crested Dogstail, Rough and Smooth Meadow Grasses, Perennial Rye Grass, and plenty of Yorkshire Fog. Here too was Common Knapweed, Pendulous Sedge, Raspberry, Great Plantain, Rosebay Willowherb, Spear Thistle, and Hedge Woundwort. In the SW corner a Guelder Rose had its leaves decimated by the larvae of the Viburnum Leaf Beetle Pyrrhalta viburni and a Broom had one flower. There was also Field Maple, Turkey Oak, a small, planted orchard (with apple trees). We then went south along a major path to the Ducky Pond and lunch. We saw Horse Chestnut, Enchanter’s Nightshade, and Ramsons. Flowering were Black Bryony, Thyme-leaved Speedwell and Elder. The Wood Avens had mildew Podosphaera aphanis.

At the Ducky Pond. Here was Yellow Iris, masses of White Water Lily (some with creamy yellow tinge), Water-soldier Stratiotes aloides, plus Grey Club-rush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani, Water Forget-me-not, Brooklime, Rigid Hornwort Ceratophyllum demersum, Marsh Willowherb, Cuckoo Flower, Creeping Cinquefoil, Water Mint, Purple Loosestrife, Yellow Loosestrife Lysimachia vulgaris, Marsh Marigold, Cypress Sedge, Remote Sedge, Fool's-water-cress Helosciadium nodiflorum. Also,  flowering Daisy, Cleavers, Groundsel, Remote Sedge,  and Wavy Bittercress. There was masses of flowering Many-flowered Rose Rosa multiflora here and elsewhere. The pond also had Coot with four youngsters and there was also a pair of Moorhen. A birch tree was covered in the orange algae Trentepohlia, which can be free living or in symbiotic relationship with fungi making several lichen species. There was a mating pair of Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella and a Large Red Damselfly. The bramble had Phragmidium violaceum both the spots on the leaf top and the yellowy-orange uredinia on the lower surface of the leaf. In crevices in tree bark was the dust lichen Lepraria incana and a log had Turkeytail fungus Trametes versicolor.

Heading southwest along a major path we had  Ash, Horse Chestnut, plus plentiful oak, and Downy Birch. Plentiful Black Bryony in flower with its shiny pointed leaves. We could compare the leaves of Common Alder, Aspen and Grey Poplar and there were some Yew saplings. Also here were flowering Thyme-leaved Speedwell plus Horse Chestnut, Blackthorn, Broad-leaved Dock, Hartstongue Fern, Fringecups Tellima grandiflora and Holly, complete with mines of the leaf miner Phytomyza ilicis. Two Blackcap were singing. There was one clump of flowering Tutsan and a couple of Betony Betonica officianalis in flower bud.
We took the path right just before Crater Pond area and found Yellow Iris as well as flowering Cow Parsley. Hybrid Crack Willow and Broad-leaved Dock were also here.

North through the woodland back towards the Meadow area had dry acidic birch woodland with plenty of Male and Broad-Buckler Ferns, plus Turkey Oak, Raspberry, and Field Maple. The lower main path is a long way down in the cutting and there is quite a slope down. There was a large patch of Wood-sorrel Oxalis acetosella. A ditch edge near the Play area had plenty of Remote Sedge. The central part near the Play Area had Fringecups Tellima grandiflora and it had Powdery Mildew  Podosphaera macrospora and this fungi was also on the Wood Avens. False Brome was locally frequent along the path. We also encountered flowering Ramsons (or Wild Garlic), Raspberry, Wood Millet and Thyme-leaved Speedwell.

North along the boardwalk path we found Hybrid Bluebell gone over, a flowering Welsh Poppy, plenty of Enchanter’s Nightshade, Remote Sedge, Wood Dock, and some more Wood Millet Milium effusum.

Towards Wetland Pond Hartstongue Fern, Pendulous Sedge; Variegated Yellow Archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon ssp. argentatum was again a problem. Field Rose, Broad-leaved Willowherb, Black Bryony, and Thyme-leaved Speedwell were in bloom. Remote Sedge, Wood Millet, and Enchanter’s Nightshade (some with leaf mines of moth Mompha langiella) were locally abundant. A ditch provided Brooklime Veronica beccabunga and both Yellow Iris and Marsh Marigold were at the pool. Hornbeam, Hazel, Hogweed, Tutsan, and Raspberry were also present.

At the Seasonal Pool there was a female Mallard plus Soft Rush and Goat Willow. The Polio Pond was covered in mainly Least Duckweed, even smaller and mat coloured compared to the shining green Common Duckweed which was also present.
Near the school field was plenty of Hazel, Elder, and Hawthorn. The School Pond had, again, a mixture of Least (mostly) and Common Duckweeds. We came across more Black Bryony, Yellow Iris, Broad-leaved Willowherb with the four-lobed stigma; Wavy Bittercress, Hartstongue, Foxglove, and Creeping Jenny.

NE corner Heading back south to car park we located Wild Cherry, Raspberry and there was one large patch of Dog’s Mercury. The Honeysuckle was sprawling over the shrubs and trees. The Mildew Podosphaera spiraeae was on Meadowsweet and bramble had lost pigment in leaves.  We also located flowering Ground Elder, Creeping Buttercup, Cow Parsley, Thyme-leaved Speedwell, Rough Meadow Grass, Green Alkanet, Cleavers, Snowberry and Red Campion. Grey Poplar, Annual Meadow Grass, and Downy Birch were also present.

Birds we had singing Blackbird, Robin, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Wren, Blackcap and Chiffchaff. Other birds seen on the day were Blue Tit, Magpie, Crow, Jackdaw, and Woodpigeon. Nuthatch and Great Spotted Woodpecker were heard calling. After we finished, I saw two Bullfinch. Several Grey Squirrel were present. White/Buff-tailed and Red-tailed Bumble Bees. 

Green Beach, Ainsdale-Birkdale 21 June 2026 - the Pat Lockwood Memorial Walk
​Highlights were Pyramidal, Marsh Helleborine, Southern, Common Spotted and Early Marsh (coccinea and incarnata) Orchids. Both Common Broomrape (possibly on Kidney Vetch and Common Catsear) and Sea Holly Broomrape. The slack specialities of Variegated Horsetail, Strawberry Clover, Small-fruited Yellow-sedge Carex oederi, Marsh Pennywort, Lesser Centaury Willowherb, Marsh Cinquefoil Comarum palustre and Few-flowered Spike-rush; with both Common and Confused Eyebrights. However the green beach saltmarsh and strandline was non-existent this year. There were masses of Kidney Vetch, Dune Fescue and Sand Catstail. The patch of Narrow-leaved Ragwort Senecio inaequidens was the first for the site. 

Vertebrates included singing Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Linnet  with several adult Common Frogs. Insects included a Hummingbird Hawkmoth, Small Heath, Dune Chafer, Dune Robberfly, and Burnet Moth caterpillar.
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Liverpool City Centre (William Brown Street to Everton Park)
​27th June 2026  LBS/WFS trip

Four of us toured urban Liverpool and Everton as well as the planted flower meadows at the Museum, Ukrainian Meadow and Everton Park. We found around150 plant species, a mix of native, aliens and planted species. Notable were Bee Orchid, and Common Toadflax already in flower, Bladder Senna, and the trees Caucasian Lime, Narrow-leaved Ash & Sugar Maple. The unusual Georgian lock up and the views at Everton were also well received. ​A full account follows.  Leader: Steve Cross

A short time was spent looking at the plants of the Museum Meadow. We then looked at the Ukrainian Meadow (mainly blue and yellow flowers) round the back of the museum at Cuerden Street. Then we headed back to William Brown Street and then through to Hunter Street and then Springfield and Everton Brow and up to Everton Park to “Prince Rupert's Tower” real name the Everton Lock Up and lunched with the spectacular views from the viewpoint by Rupert Lane. The start of the afternoon was spent around the Everton Terrace area of the park then back down William Henry Street, Springfield, Hunter Street, and William Brown Street.

The four of us started at the Museum Meadow which has some 250 planted species including Alkanet Anchusa officinalis, Hoary Mullein, Common Mallow, Crosswort gone to seed, White Clover, Barren Brome, Perforate St. John’s Wort, Meadow Cranesbill, Agrimony, Bloody Cranesbill, Common and Greater Knapweed, Viper’s Bugloss, Chicory, Crown Vetch, Oxeye Daisy, Field Scabious, Vervain, Creeping Bellflower, Teasel, Ash, Lady’s Bedstraw, Solomon’s Seal and lots more.

William Brown Street at the Lower Museum Meadow  We had Ivy, Cotoneaster, Garden Privet, Yarrow, Creeping Thistle, Smooth Sow-thistle and a mown grass area. On the Street side we had Lesser Swine Cress, Shaggy Soldier, Annual Meadow Grass, Groundsel, Ribwort Plantain, White Clover, Common Knotgrass, Great Plantain – a mix of natives and aliens.
Round the Back of Museum/Cuerden Street We found Daisy, Barren Brome, Annual Meadow Grass, Nipplewort, Oxford Ragwort, Petty Spurge, Common Poppy, Herb Robert, Lesser Trefoil, Black Medick, Procumbent Pearlwort, Smooth Sowthistle, American and Broad-leaved Willowherb, Shaggy Soldier, Canadian Fleabane, the Thale Cress had gone to seed (first plant ever to have DNA sequenced), Common Knotgrass, Pineappleweed, Shepherds Purse, and Common Chickweed. This is a harsh environment with plants having to be well adapted to drought, heat and other extreme environmental pressures. Common Liverwort Marchantia polymorpha ssp. ruderale was in the cracks and Chewing Gum Lichen Protoparmeliopsis muralis was on the stone paving.

The Ukrainian Meadow had Planted Cornflower and Corn Marigold principally. Plus, Garden Grape Hyacinth Muscari armeniacum gone to seed, flowering Viper’s Bugloss, Austrian Chamomile, Lady’s and Hedge Bedstraw, Oxeye Daisy, Birdsfoot Trefoil (sativus), Field Scabious, Chicory, Musk Mallow, Common Poppy, Red Campion, and Great Knapweed. 15 sp
Plants that got there on own Common and Water Bents, Wall Barley, Sweet Vernal Grass, False Oat Grass, White Melilot, Fat Hen, Smooth Sowthistle, Buddleia in flower, Hoary Mustard, Hybrid Evening Primrose O. x fallax, Common Ragwort, Redshank (ochrea with long hairs), Pale Persicaria (yellow glands on inflorescence), Coltsfoot, Yarrow, Tall Melilot, Haresfoot Clover, Black Nightshade, Rape, Creeping and Meadow Buttercups, Large Bindweed, Red and White Clovers, Kidney Vetch (possibly introduced), Ribwort and Buckshorn Plantains, Common Centaury, White Campion, Creeping Thistle, Broad-leaved Dock. Goat Willow. Greater Quaking Grass Briza maxima. 35 sp. So, more natives than planted species in the meadow. Field Grasshoppers were hopping.

Back to William Brown Street Mid-Upper for Groundsel, Shaggy Soldier, Great Plantain, Pineappleweed, American & Hoary Willowherbs, and Common Knotgrass.
By the Wellington Memorial on the fifth bollard from the west are fossil brachiopods plus solitary and colonial Corals of Carboniferous age (about 350 Million years old) from North Wales. Plants around here were Shaggy Soldier, Procumbent Pearlwort, Annual Meadow Grass, Dandelion, old Wall Speedwell and flowering Thale Cress. On the stonework was Black Spleenwort, Wall-rue, and Hartstongue Ferns. Also present were Guernsey Fleabane, Buddleia, Smooth Sowthistle, Redshank, Common Field Speedwell, American Willowherb, Ribwort Plantain, Common and Silver Limes trees, London Plane, and more Chewing Gum Lichen Protoparmeliopsis muralis. We also viewed the measurement markings on the stone both in feet and links.

Along Islington/Churchill Way around the Unite Building we located Water Bent, Hedge Mustard, Shepherd’s Purse, Buddleia, Fat Hen, Perennial Rye Grass, Wall Barley, old Sticky Mouse-ear, Wall and Prickly Lettuce, Yorkshire Fog, Dovesfoot Cranesbill, American Willowherb, Creeping Thistle, Ribwort Plantain, Common Field Speedwell, Common Birdsfoot Trefoil, Black Medick, Yarrow, Common Catsear, Mouse-eared Hawkweed in flower, False Acacia Robinia pseudoacacia spreading with self-sown saplings, Ash sapling, Field Horsetail, White Stonecrop, Smooth Hawksbeard, Common Bent, Spear Thistle, Self-heal, White Clover, Common Ragwort, Oxford Ragwort, Hop Trefoil. By the black fence was Slender and Procumbent Pearlwort together, Greater Quaking Grass Briza maxima and by the pines just one Bee Orchid. It has a dry grassland-sand dune feel with this selection of plants. Also here were Eastern Rocket, Hogweed, Daisy, Lesser Trefoil, Swedish Whitebeam. Black Nightshade, Wild Carrot, Great Plantain, Water Bent, Petty Spurge, Canadian and Guernsey Fleabanes. by the Unite Car park near a London Plane was Rat's-tail Fescue Vulpia myuros.

Hunter Street (East End) and across St. Anne Street Here we found Wall Barley, Pineappleweed, Hoary Mustard, Yarrow, White Clover, Smooth Hawksbeard, Self-Heal, Buddleia, Tree of Heaven (Hell) Ailanthus altissima in flower is becoming a problem in urban areas as it suckers, produces chemicals (ailanthone) that inhibit other plants. Groundsel, Common Catsear, Wild Cherry in fruit, purple under-leaved Sycamore form purpureum plus lots of aphids. Norway Maple, Sycamore with mildew Sawadaea bicornis. Atlantic Ivy had yellowish hairs. Also located were Bramble, Dog Rose, Nettle, Daisy, Great Willowherb, White Clover, Ground Elder, Goatsbeard, Rowan, Spiraea, Hornbeam, Smooth Hawksbeard, Shaggy Soldier, Wall Lettuce, Hoary Mustard, and a single Silver Fir Abies alba. Common Lime, Ash, Barren Brome, and Hedge Mustard were also present. We found one Meadow Brown butterfly and two Cinnabar caterpillars were unusually on Groundsel.

Springfield had Annual Meadow Grass, Perennial Rye Grass, Common Mallow, Great Plantain, Black Medick, Common Poppy, Canadian Fleabane, Lesser Swine Cress, Yarrow, Wild Carrot, Common Catsear, Dovesfoot Cranesbill, Groundsel, Wall Barley, Barren Brome, Common Ragwort, Oxeye Daisy, Spear Thistle, Hedge Mustard, Meadow and Creeping Buttercups, False Oat Grass, Nettle, Rowan, Dandelion, Great Plantain, Hoary Mustard, Smooth Sowthistle with fly leaf mines of either Chromatomyia syngenesiae or Chromatomyia horticola. Broad-leaved Dock, Canadian Fleabane, Cocksfoot, Yorkshire Fog, Great Willowherb in flower, Field Horsetail, and Hybrid Black Poplar was also present.

The path from Harker Street towards William Henry Street held Wall Barley, old Wall Speedwell, American Willowherb, Black Medick, Dovesfoot Cranesbill, Yarrow, Smooth Hawksbeard, Toad Rush, Cocksfoot, Wheat, Black Nightshade, Common Knotgrass, Annual Wall Rocket, Common Bent, Ash, Hawthorn, a row of Caucasian Lime Tilia x euchlora (between Small-leaved Lime Tilia cordata and Crimean Lime Tilia dasystyla useful as honeydew not a problem unlike other limes) and a row of Sugar Maple Acer saccharinum.
Rosebay Willowherb and Hemp Agrimony were in flower at the sports courts, False Acacia, London Plane, Oxeye Daisy, Common Field Speedwell, White Clover, Common Catsear, Hogweed and by Soho Road Narrow-leaved Ash Fraxinus angustifolia (from the West Mediterranean) plus Norway Maple and one Caucasian Lime Tilia x euchlora. 
Lichens – we found Chewing Gum Protoparmeliopsis muralis plus whitish one Circinaria calcarea on the paving and on the trees was Lecidella elaeochroma, Lecanora chlarotera, Common Sunburst Lichen Xanthoria parietina and Physcia sp.

Soho Street had Hoary Mustard, Herb Robert, Bramble, Buddleia, Pellitory of the Wall, Wall Barley, Hoary Willowherb, and Common Poppy.

Everton Brow By the Big Wall  was Yorkshire Fog, Smooth Hawksbeard, Smooth Sowthistle with leaf mines, Ground Elder, Cleavers, Bramble, Nettle, Elder, Field Horsetail, False Oat Grass, Rosebay Willowherb, Herb Robert, Petty Spurge, Common Poppy, Goatsbeard, Hogweed, Hoary Mustard, Mugwort, Nipplewort, Hemp Agrimony nearly in flower. Broad-leaved Dock, Oxford Ragwort, Black Medick, Great Birdsfoot Trefoil, Dovesfoot Cranesbill, Dandelion, Fat Hen, Pellitory of the Wall, Broad-leaved Willowherb, Eastern Rocket, Annual Wall Rocket, Pineappleweed, Procumbent Pearlwort, Common Ragwort, Barren Brome, and Zigzag Clover in flower. Further along Everton Brow was Prickly Lettuce, Hedge Mustard, Hedge Woundwort, Groundsel, Prickly Lettuce, Tufted Vetch, Purple Toadflax, Redshank,  Oxeye Daisy, seedling Italian Alder. Also, we found Common Knapweed, Common Knotgrass, Mugwort in flower, Hoary Willowherb, Smooth Sowthistle, Lesser Trefoil, Black Medick, Wood Avens, and Purple Toadflax. Black Bindweed was flowering by a buddleia grove and here too was Bramble, Sycamore, Wild Cherry, Elder, Ash and the Red Valerian was in flower.

By and In the Gardens of upper Everton Brow was White Clover, Field Maple, Common Poppy, Petty Spurge, and Common Catsear plus Fat Hen, Lesser Swine Cress, Shaggy Soldier, Petty Spurge, Shepherd’s Purse, Spear Thistle, Rosebay Willowherb, and Pellitory of the Wall in flower. Flowering as well were Long-headed Poppy, Buddleia, Hoary Mustard, Ground Elder, Red Valerian, Hemp Agrimony, Barren Brome, Scarlet Pimpernel, Wood Avens, and Fool’s Parsley by the car park. Everton Brow around the Shop Flowering Common Ragwort, Common Poppy, White Stonecrop, Nipplewort, Herb Robert, Broad-leaved Dock, Dandelion, Common Catsear, Wall Barley, Common Field Speedwell, Goat Willow, Broad-leaved Willowherb, Hybrid Evening Primrose and patches of Scarlet Pimpernel.

Netherfield Road South/ Everton Brow corner  had planted Common Poppy, Viper’s Bugloss, Meadow Cranesbill, Field Scabious, Musk Mallow, Hedge Bedstraw, and a Variegated rather pale Sycamore.
Here too were Common Catsear, American Willowherb, Large Bindweed, Smooth Hawksbeard, Groundsel, Wild Radish (white and yellow flowered forms), Lucerne (Alfalfa in America) Medicago sativa ssp. sativa (purple) next to Tufted Vetch (spot the difference of flower and leaves). White and Red Clover, Common Catsear, Ribwort Plantain, Cocksfoot, Smooth Sowthistle, Curled Dock, Groundsel, Common Field Speedwell, Great Plantain, Yarrow, Creeping Cinquefoil, and Pineappleweed.

Brow Side (Everton Park)  had old Viper’s Bugloss, Large Bindweed, Bramble, Broom in flower, Wall Barley, Atlantic Ivy, Brachyglottis. The Everton Lock Up Area had Cotoneaster, and Swedish Whitebeam. The tower is a Georgian Lock Up built in 1787 (143 years after Prince Rupert's visit to that area while besieging Liverpool Castle in Civil War) a grade 2 listed building and on the crest of Everton FC. Nearby was Bladder-senna Colutea arborescens a yellow legume, below Himalayan Tree Cotoneaster Cotoneaster frigidus. Nearby was Aspen, Common Ragwort, Sycamore, Sweet Chestnut. Broad-leaved Willowherb was in flower.

Up to the viewpoint by Rupert Lane the path by wall had Caucasian Lime, Sweet Chestnut in flower, Garden Privet, Wild Cherry, Oak, Cleavers, Grey Poplar, Yorkshire Fog, Nipplewort, Daisy, Cocksfoot, Bramble, Whitebeam sp., Sycamore, Oak, Meadow Vetchling, and Purple Sycamore.

At the Viewpoint area we had Lunch. The Common Mallow had Mallow Rust Puccinia malvacearum, and the Hogweed held mildew Erysiphe heraclei. Here we found Water Bent, Cocksfoot, Creeping Cinquefoil, Hedge Mustard, Goatsbeard, a pink form of Yarrow, Redshank in flower, Yorkshire Fog, Great and Ribwort Plantain, Annual Meadow Grass, Dandelion, Rape, White Clover, Wall Barley, Lesser Swine Cress, Fat Hen, and on the steep slopes Apple, Large Bindweed, Nettle and Weld. We went as far as a group of flowering Wild Parsnip.

At Rupert Lane is a planted Wildflower Meadow, part of Scouse Flowerhouse (now part of Eden Project, formerly Landlife and the National Wildflower Centre) with Viper’s Bugloss, Cornflower, Musk Mallow, Common Poppy, Austrian Chamomile, and Wild Carrot.
Everton Park is over 40 hectares created between 1984 and 1989 after house clearance in the 50s and 60s of over 100 terraced streets, reduced the population by over 100,000!
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Rupert Lane (south) We located Hybrid Black Poplar, sapling Horse Chestnut with leaf mines of Horse Chestnut Leaf miner Moth Cameraria ohridella, which has only been in Britain since 2002; Beech, Narrow-leaved Ash Fraxinus angustifolia and the Common Toadflax was in flower.

William Henry Street had flowering Wild Radish (white form), Mugwort and Bramble. Japanese Knotweed, Common Ragwort, Tufted Vetch, Cocksfoot, Hogweed, Oxeye Daisy, Spear Thistle, Buddleia, Coltsfoot, and the Common Vetch had gone to seed. Her too was Common Catsear, Hairy Bittercress, Ribwort and Great Plantains. On the wall were the Ferns Wall rue, Maidenhair and Black Spleenworts and old Rue-leaved Saxifrage on the top. Also present were Ground Elder, Shepherds Purse, masses of Pineappleweed between the paving, Shaggy Soldier, Hoary Willowherb. Lesser Swine Cress, Redshank, American Willowherb, Wall Speedwell, Procumbent Pearlwort, and a Dandelion in flower. We also located False Oat Grass, Herb Robert, Petty Spurge, Black Medick, Wall Barley, Water Bent, Dovesfoot Cranesbill, Creeping Thistle, Yarrow, Mugwort, Hedge Mustard, Red Clover, Slender Pearlwort, Rowan, Canadian Fleabane and Large Bindweed.

Soho Street had Vipers Bugloss, Yarrow, Common Poppy, Whitebeam, Narrow-leaved Ash,  Goatsbeard, Rowan. The Dovesfoot Cranesbill, Hemp Agrimony and Rosebay Willowherb wee in flower. Also present were Common Chickweed, Common Catsear, Smooth Hawksbeard, and Biting Stonecrop.

At Harker Street the Caucasian Limes had very large-leaved epicormic growth, looking so different to the main upper leaves.
We were surprised that the area at Hunter Street had been mown so the Bee Orchid had gone!

Other things seen on the day Insects Various Bumblebees, Field Grasshopper, Honeybee. 7 spot Ladybird, adult, pupa and larva. Harlequin Ladybird pupa. Meadow Brown, Small Skipper, Red Admiral, Painted Lady and Large White butterflies. Birds Feral Pigeon, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Magpie, Crow, Goldfinch, Blackbird and 1 Blackcap was singing. 

Minera 11 July 2026

​In the searing heat the intrepid band of botanists explored the woodland and limestone flora of Minera. Due to roadworks, we met in the village. At the meeting place by the school the two Steves (Cross and Hurley) explored the plants for fungi and found that the Melilot had powdery mildew Erysiphe trifoliorum, the Ground Elder had the rust Puccinia aegopodii and the Great Plantain had the powdery mildew Golovinomyces sordidus. Plants of note here were Wild Carrot, Teasel, Common Mallow, Hoary Mustard, Great Willowherb, and Nipplewort.We headed down Wern Road finding Greater Celandine, as well as Common Knapweed, Wood Avens, Pendulous Sedge, Purple Toadflax, Foxglove, Hartstongue Fern, Polypody Fern and all the usual species. Burnet Saxifrage had the powdery mildew Erysiphe heraclei, as did the Hogweed.

Crossing the nearly dry River Clywedog we turned in to Ty Brith Lane were we found a large patch of Dog Lichen Peltigera sp., Common Orache and Mouse-eared Hawkweed. Flowering along the track beyond were Large Bindweed, Common Knapweed, Red Campion, Hedge Woundwort, Harebell, Common Sorrel, Meadow Vetchling, Marsh Thistle, Quaking Grass Briza media, Timothy, Fairy Flax Linum catharticum, Eyebright Euphrasia sp., Tufted Vetch, Crosswort and a few Common Spotted Orchid.  The Common Sorrel had the red spots of the fungus Ramularia pratensis var. pratensis.

Along the limestone wall was some Brittle Bladder-fern Cystopteris fragilis. We also located both Perforate and Imperforate St. John’s Wort. The Wild Angelica was just in leaf, and Springy Turf Moss dominated the ground of the fields. Butterflies seen included Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Speckled Wood, the three Whites - Green-veined, Large and Small; Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown. Some of the Red Campion had the Campion Anther Smut Microbotryum silenes-dioicae. Here too were Rough Hawkbit, Glaucous Sedge, Black Bryony Tamus communis and Jointed Rush.

The area of tipped limestone waste had plenty of Broad-leaved Helleborine Orchid Epipactis helleborine and Common Twayblade Orchid Neottia ovata. There were also several Chalk Fragrant Orchid Gymnadenia conopsea that smelled lovely. The Sanicle Sanicula europaea had gone to seed, but still readily told by the leaves. A nice find was four flowering plants of Round-leaved Wintergreen Pyrola rotundifolia. Here too was Hairy-brome Bromopsis ramosa, Wild Strawberry, Wood Sage, Tufted Hair Grass and plenty of Glaucous Sedge Carex flacca. Two patches of Yellow Bird's-nest  Hypopitys monotropa totalled 31 flowering-seeding spikes. This parasitic plant also known as Dutchman's Pipe, was probably associated with the mycorrhizal network of Tricholoma fungus below the birches. In profusion on the open woodland floor was Big Shaggy-moss Hylocomiadelphus triquetrus and also plentiful flowering Enchanter's-nightshade Circaea lutetiana . A hawthorn leaf had a Gymnosporangium rust fungus (it is an alternative host for two Juniper rusts; one is known as Tongues of Fire). Stalactites and Stalagmites were formed from the limestone at an overhang and Fairies were here too!

The area by the Cottage had Upright Hedge Parsley Torilis japonica and a small flock of Guinea Fowl. Heading on the main track in to the quarry we had False Brome, Quaking Grass, Wood Sage, a patch of Zigzag Clover, and a Cotoneaster horizontalis. By the bridge across the dry river bed of the Aber Sychnant was White Willow, a patch of Pale Toadflax Linaria repens and in the river bed itself Meadowsweet was in flower. Surprisingly the open quarry had a Brown Hawker Dragonfly. Lunch was taken in the shade of some willows, with a pair of Bullfinch and a Willow Warbler flitting past. On the limestone was Common Rock-rose Helianthemum nummularium, Burnet-saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga, Small Scabious Scabiosa columbaria, Salad Burnet Poterium sanguisorba ssp. sanguisorba, Wild Thyme Thymus drucei, Lady’s Bedstraw, Chalk Fragrant-orchid Gymnadenia conopsea and Common Spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii. Salad Burnet Rust  Phragmidium sanguisorbae was on its hosts leaves. Crested Dogstail and Cowslip seedheads were still visible.

By the tops of the kilns, we had Maidenhair Spleenwort and Brittle Bladder-fern. In the damp patch was Wavy Bittercress, Self-heal, Common Vetch and Brooklime Veronica beccabunga.

The encircled meadow had Salad Burnet Poterium sanguisorba ssp. sanguisorba,  Common Butterwort Pinguicula vulgaris, Mouse-ear Hawkweed, Hard Rush, plus Pyramidal and Chalk Fragrant-orchid Gymnadenia conopsea together. Three Ringlet butterflies were sighted and the humped nests of Yellow Meadow Ant. The steep steps down had Hard Shield Fern and nearby was Common Figwort and Raspberry. Near the Cottage was a sprawling patch of Hairy Bindweed Calystegia pulchra living up to its name, plus the large pink and white flowers.
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Heading back, we travelled along the flat, straight route of the old Wrexham and Minera Line where we discovered Field Rose, Thyme-leaved Speedwell, Germander Speedwell and Butterbur in leaf. Sycamore leaves had the red galls caused by Aceria mites. Heading along Church Road we added Yew, Pellitory of the Wall and on the walltops were Reflexed Stonecrop and Red Valerian.

Birds seen and heard included Jackdaw, Rook, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Starling, Swift, Blue and Great Tits, Blackbird, Nuthatch, two Bullfinch, Willow Warbler and Blackcap.