Wild Flower Society Field Meetings 2012

Because not everyone has access to a computer with an internet connection, places on popular meetings will not be allocated until after the Spring issue of the Wild Flower Society magazine has been published. If more applications than places are received for a main meeting, a ballot will be held after the closing date (31st March 2012) for applications in Spring.

To book for Main Meetings apply to the meetings secretary Steve Parker or as detailed below. Send bookings either by post to 26 Laburnum Road Wellington Somerset TA21 8EL, 01823 666006 or by email to Stephen Parker

Please book as early as possible, if you want to attend more than one Main Meeting can you put your booking request in order of preference. If there are more applications than places for a meeting then a ballot will be held after the closing date for applications in spring.

Meetings information is sometimes updated and corrected by leaders or the meetings secretary after being first published on this site. Any amended text in the description will appear in blue as updated text in this colour. The dates of upon which changes happened are at the very bottom of the page.

Main Field Meetings 2012

Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd June 2012 Leaders: Steve Parker and Steve Clarkson Place: Kenfig and Gower.

A “Come and Find” meeting to search for some of the rare sand dune plants of this special area. For information and bookings contact Stephen Parker by end of March Party limited to 20 people.

Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th July 2012 Leaders: This is a joint meeting with Botanical Cornwall Group. Place: Penzance Marazion Cornwall.

A wide range of plants and habitats to be visited. Plants may include Pancratium maritimum (Sea Daffodil) and Malva pseudolavatera (Smaller Tree-mallow). Party limited to 20 people. For information and bookings contact Stephen Parker by end of March.

12th to 15th July 2012 inclusive. Leader: Chris Metherell Place: North Northumberland

North Northumberland Recording Week with BSBI Contact Chris and Hazel Metherell for booking details and more information contact Chris Metherell

Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th August 2012. Leader: Stephen Parker Place: Bridgewater Bay Somerset.

This is a Recording meeting visiting coastal habitats including sand dunes, reed bed, salt marsh and grazing marshes species should include: Bupleurum tenuissimum (Slender Hare's-ear), Petroselinum segetum (Corn Parsley), Artemisia maritima (Sea Wormwood), Hordeum marinum (Sea Barley) and Marrubium vulgare (White Horehound). For information and bookings contact Stephen Parker booking by End of June. Party limited to 20 people.

Friday 7th to Sunday 9th September inclusive Wild Flower Society AGM Lancashire, Southport area. Details will be published later in the year 2012

Linked Meetings 2012

These are meetings on consecutive days in close geographical proximity. You can attend either or both.

Cancellation of some Branch Y meetings

Colin Jacobs, whose meetings appeared only in the Spring magazine, regrets he will no longer able to lead them due to illness. Those meetings therefore are cancelled but the other Branch Y meetings run by Stephen Clarkson, advertised both on the web site and in the magazine, will go ahead as planned.

Two Surrey meetings

Saturday 5th May 2012 Leader: Pat Verrall Place: Albury, Surrey

Meet 10.15am at Gomshall railway station TQ 090479. (Trains from Dorking or Guildford arrive around 10am). The meeting will include a steep hilly walk of about four miles with woodland and stream side flora and ephemeral species of open sandy areas. Please telephone 01306 730854 if you wish to attend.

This is linked to:

Sunday 6th May Shalford 2012, Surrey Leader: Judith Moss Place: Shalford, Surrey

Meet in the car park beside Shalford Station at 10.30 am at TQ 002471. We will cross the A281 to see low-growing spring ephemerals in the short turf on the Common. Then walk to the River Wey and proceed towards Guildford looking at the riverside plants and, unless very wet underfoot, the flowers in some of the water meadows. Contact Judith Moss on 01483 537395. (or Stephen Parker or by post at above address)

Two Kent Meetings

Saturday 12th May 2012 Leaders: Priscilla Nobbs & Gareth Bursnall Place: Burham Downs, Kent.

Meet 10:30am at Burham Village Hall car park at TQ 730 630 (opposite Burham Bakers). "Come and Find" meeting for spring chalk downland flowers including Orchis purpurea Lady Orchid. Contact Priscilla Nobbs or Stephen Parker or by post at above address.

This is linked to:

Sunday 13th May 2012 Leader: Sue Buckingham Place: Haysden Country Park Tonbridge Kent

Early Stagers Meeting. Meet in the car park in Lower Haysden Lane, southwest of Tonbridge town TQ 571459, for 10.30 am. Parking charge for the day around £3. The car park is about 1 mile east of Tonbridge railway station. We will be walking about 3 miles, looking at a good variety of neutral grassland, woodland and waterside species alongside the River Medway. Special plants for the day include Orchis mascula (Early Purple Orchid), Geranium pupureum (Little Robin) and Scandix pecten-veneris (Shepherd’s-needle). Contact Sue Buckingham or Stephen Parker or by post at above address.

One Day Meetings 2012

Bookings are not always required but are frequently asked for by the leader. Leaders of one day meetings which start from April 2012 onwards may not finalise lists of participants until the 31st March 2012 deadline has passed to enable those without internet connections to have an equal chance of a place on a one day meeting. To make contact with a leader who uses email, click on the name in green. Otherwise use the telephone number or address if published here. If you know someone without an internet connection who might like to attend a very early meeting then let them know the details as the Spring magazine may be too late for meetings before April.

Sunday 4th March 2012 First Day Hunt Leader: Stephen Clarkson Place: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

Our first East Anglian venture out this year and to search for as many plants as possible in flower we’ll visit another urban site, and also look at the architecture around us, in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. Meet in Ram Meadow car park, Cotton Street IP33 1XP (£2 all day fee) for 10.30 am. Those wishing to attend would they please contact Stephen Clarkson on 01473 823220 or e-mail at Stephen Clarkson

First week in March Leader: Julie Clarke Place: N3 region

N3 meeting but open to others contact Julie Clarke if interested.

Sunday 25th March 2012 Leaders Bill and Carol Hawkins Place: Waylands Wood, Norfolk

Branch Y and visitors meet midday at the car park TL924 995. This very early, half-day meeting is primarily to demonstrate and survey the colonies of Gagea lutea (Yellow Star of Bethlehem) in the wood.

Saturday 31st March 2012 Leader: Steve Parker Place: Avon Gorge, Bristol

A meeting to find some of the special plants of the area including Hornungia petraea Hutchinsia and the very rare Arabis scabra Bristol Rock-cress Contact Steve Parker for information and bookings ASAP

Sunday 1st April 2012 Leader: Steve Parker Place: Pennard, Gower

A meeting to find the early flowering Draba aizoides Yellow Whitlowgrass and other spring annuals. Contact Steve Parker for information and bookings ASAP

April meeting, (before Easter) Leader: Julie Clarke Place: Darwen, Blackburn

N3 meeting but open to others. We hope to look for Lathraea clandestina Purple Toothwort and Maianthemum kamptschaticum False Lily-of-the-Valley and other woodland plants. Contact Julie Clarke if interested.

End May/early June Leader: Julie Clarke Place: St. Helens meeting on reclaimed industrial land

Contact Julie Clarke if interested.

Monday 7th May 2012 Leaders Bill and Carol Hawkins Place: Suffolk Lungwort Meeting

Pulmonaria obscura (Suffolk Lungwort) exists in just three, very private, ancient woodland coppices in Suffolk. The owners permit one open day per year and make a charge to visitors, proceeds going to the local village church fund. The WFS has been privileged to secure an opportunity of a visit prior to the official start time at a cost of £10.00 per head (coffee/tea and lunch included). Also on show is a fine range of woodland plants including Paris quadrifolia (Herb Paris) and Orchis mascula (Early Purple Orchid) often with the white variety albiflora present. Afterwards we shall go to nearby Carleton Rode for Tulipa sylvestris (Wild Tulip) among others. Please book with Carol Hawkins, in writing, enclosing an SAE and a cheque for £10 (paid to her and not returnable if selected). Address: 2 Smithson Close, Wymondham, Norfolk, NR18 0SU. Draw for places will take place at the same time as that for Main Meetings and joining instructions will be sent. The party is limited to 20 persons.

Saturday 26th May 2012 Leaders: Bill and Carol Hawkins. Place: Waylands Wood, Norfolk

Branch Y and visitors meet 10.30a.m. at the car park TL924 995 The ancient woodland at Waylands has been managed in a traditional manner for many hundreds of years. The cascade of flowers are a feature not to be missed.

Sunday 27th May 2012 Leader: Peter Llewellyn Place: Snowdon, Clogwyn Coch Cliffs

We will meet outside Llanberis Railway station at around 10.00 am. This is a possible meeting to find Gagea serotina (Snowdon Lily). Some years Snowdon Lily does not appear and so the site will be checked the week before. No Snowdon Lily = no meeting. We will travel to the Clogwyn Coch railway station using the Snowdon railway (otherwise a seven mile round trip). We will walk back down. Walk length: about 1 mile from Clogwyn station to Gagea serotina and 3.5 miles back down to Llanberis. Current single fare in 2011 is £15. Other plants we should find include Thalictrum alpinum (Alpine Meadow-rue), Huperzia selago (Fir Club-moss), Sedum rosea (Roseroot), Silene acaulis (Moss Campion) and Arabidopsis petraea (Northern Rockcress) at its most southerly station in the British Isles. If you are interested contact Peter Llewellyn by email. Replies will come by email with any further details (time etc.) nearer the time and to confirm that the trip is going ahead. If Gagea serotina is not in flower in 2012 then the meeting will be postponed for a year. If the weather is gruesome the trip is also cancelled (far too unsafe on mountains in bad weather but we will go in drizzle). You will need sticks, boots, lunch and weather proof gear. Party limited to 8 only those with a current, regularly checked email address should enquire. Note: This meeting is not advertised in the WFS magazine. Contact Peter Llewellyn

Monday June 11th 2012 Leader: Edward Pratt Place: Hilton and Milton Abbas Churchyards Dorset

A walk around two churchyards which are very well maintained for wildlife. Milton Abbas' churchyard won the county competition last year. No rarities, but a colourful variety of wild plants. Leader: Meet at 2.30 pm at Hilton: SY781030. Bookings needed - 01929 427229 contact Edward Pratt

Wednesday 13th June 2012 Leader: Janice Reynolds Place: Tide Mills Bishopstone, East Sussex

A meeting to see mainly coastal plants and Thalictrum flavum Common Meadow-rue , Verbascum hybrids and Cotoneaster transens Godalming Cotoneaster and hopefully more in afternoon for details contact Janice Reynolds 01323 894933

Saturday 16th June 2012 Leader: Stephen Clarkson Place: Chafford Gorges, Essex.

A first visit to this Essex Wildlife Trust reserve at Chafford Gorges reserve. A reclaimed chalk pit of over 200 acres with large numbers of orchids. The area is dominated by several large lakes, woodland and chalk cliffs. The full address is at Drake Road, Chafford Hundred, Grays, Thurrock RM16 7RG and visitor centre at TQ 599 793. To meet in car park for 10.30am Those wishing to attend would they please contact Stephen Clarkson on 01473 823220 or e-mail at Stephen Clarkson

Sunday 17th June 2012 Leader: Mel and Elaine Linney Place: R.S.P.B. Old Moor Nature Reserve South Yorkshire

Meet 1t 10.30 am at Car park Old Moor Lane, Wombwell Barnsley, S730YF. Grid Reference SE422022. We anticipate a good show of Dactylorhiza species on Gipsy Marsh. The fun part is finding the species amongst a wealth of hybrids. Hopefully we will see the first blooms of Butomus umbellatus Flowering Rush and Lythrum salicaria Purple Loosestrife with other wetland plants. Any problems getting to the meeting place contact Mel Linney or telephone 01226 211252.

Sunday 24th June 2012 Leader: Vince Jones VC62 recorder Place: South Gare near Redcar Cleveland

Branch N1 meeting but open to all (limit 20). Meet at 10-30 a.m. at NZ556275 nr. Coastguard Station. Flora of coastal dunes and seashore including Dactylorhiza purpurella (Northern Marsh Orchid), Dianthus deltoides (Maiden Pink), Astragalus danicus (Purple Milk-vetch) Centarium pulchellum (Lesser Centaury), plus several grasses and sedges. Please contact Alan Bunn 01642 724955 or email Alan Bunn to book a place and to receive more detailed instructions for venue.

First week in July Leader: Julie Clarke Place: Wyedale, Derbyshire

Contact Julie Clarke if interested.

Saturday 7th July 2012 Leader: Stephen Clarkson Place: Wolves Wood, Suffolk

One of our new members discovered the riches of a RSPB woodland reserve last year when he discovered new sites for Epipactis purpurata Violet Helleborine. We’ll have a stroll around Wolves Wood, near Hadleigh, Suffolk and look at the woodland flora and also hopefully see the new populations of White Admiral butterfly too. There is a free car park and entrance is two miles east of Hadleigh on A1071 at TM 054 437. Meet at midday with packed lunch. It is also one of the wettest woods in Suffolk so wellies may be advisable. Those wishing to attend would they please contact Stephen Clarkson on 01473 823220 or e-mail at Stephen Clarkson

Saturday 14th July Leader: Stephen Clarkson Place: Sugar Fen, Norfolk.

A small reserve but beautiful to walk around with many boggy plants including Drosera intermedia Oblong-leaved Sundew and Salix aurita Eared Willow. Meet in the car park of Roydon Common which is itself a National Nature Reserve. From junction of A149/A148 just NE of King’s Lynn take minor road east (off A148) towards Grimston and use car park on right at TF 687 224. From here we will transfer in as few cars as possible to Sugar Fen at TF 695 205. Meet for 10.30am start. Those wishing to attend would they please contact Stephen Clarkson on 01473 823220 or e-mail at Stephen Clarkson

Saturday 11th August 2012 Leader: Stephen Clarkson Place: Limekiln Reserve, Cherry Hinton, Cambs

Whilst on our AGM last year in Cambridgeshire we visited a new reserve in Cherry Hinton in a reclaimed chalk pit which has been cleared and now allowing nature to reclaim it. Geologically interesting it has a surprising number of Cotoneaster species and I will attempt to lead a workshop on identifying as many as we can. There are a known twenty or so to be found there. If there is time it is a short walk to the Upper Pit which has Seseli libanotis Moon Carrot. Please meet and park on roadside parking opposite the old Robin Hood public house, now an eating-inn, at 1, Fulbourn Road, Cherry Hinton, CB1 9JL or TL 486 562 for a 10.30 am start. Those wishing to attend would they please contact Stephen Clarkson on 01473 823220 or e-mail at Stephen Clarkson

Saturday 18th August 2012 Leader: British Plant Gall Society Place: Uphill Cliff North Somerset

A joint Meeting with British Plant Gall Society to search for plants galls and to see Aster linosyris Goldilocks Aster and Koeleria vallesiana Somerset Hair-grass and other limestone and salt marsh plants. For information and bookings contact Steve Parker

Saturday 18th August Leader: Stephen Clarkson Place: Thorpe Marshes, Norfolk

A circular walk around Thorpe Marshes in Norfolk. There are hundreds of tall Sonchus palustris Marsh Sow-thistle lining the water’s edge and Zannichellia palustris Horned Pondweed one of the few plants found in the water itself. Meet at the edge of the slip road off the A143 leading to Haddiscoe station, just to the west of the Haddiscoe Cut bridge at TM 452 989 for 10.30am start. Those wishing to attend would they please contact Stephen Clarkson on 01473 823220 or e-mail at Stephen Clarkson

Sunday 19th August 2012 Leader: Vince Jones VC 62 recorder Place: Area around Scaling Dam reservoir on the A171 East Cleveland coast road.

Branch N1 meeting but open to all (limit 20). Meet at 10-30 a.m. at free car park NZ756127. Flora of acid heath land and reservoir and ponds. Species will include Myriophyllum verticillatum (Whorled Water-milfoil), Lythrum portula (Water purslane), Littorella uniflora (Shoreweed) and Hypericum elodes (Marsh St. John’s Wort) and Apium inundatum (Lesser Marshwort) plus grasses, ferns and sedges. Please contact Alan Bunn 01642 724955 or e-mail Alan Bunn to book place and to receive more detailed instructions for venue.

Saturday 27th October 2012 Leader: Unknown Place: Unknown

Last Week hunt to be arranged.

Last week in October Leader: Julie Clarke Place: N3 region

N3 last hunt meeting but open to others. Contact Julie Clarke if interested.

Email addresses of Leaders 2010

Clicking the green email addresses should produce an empty email for you to use with your email client (Outlook, Outlook Express or Thunderbird for example). If it doesn't work with your browser then the leader's email addresses can be obtained either from Stephen Parker or Peter Llewellyn:

Contact email for Stephen Parker

Contact email for Web site manager Peter Llewellyn

The Wild Flower Society is very grateful to all those who give their time and expertise when leading meetings. Offers to lead meetings will be gratefully received at any time. We particularly need leaders for one-day ones. In this case there is no need to be an expert or to show rarities. A variety of species in pleasant surroundings is all that is necessary.

Early Stagers meetings are specially suited to those wishing more detailed explanations of the plants shown. Beginners are especially welcome at all meetings. Leaders and others in the group will be pleased to help them if they make themselves known.

Members who do not drive and who have difficulty reaching the starting point of either Main or One-day events should contact the leader.

Packed lunches are required unless otherwise stated and will often need to be carried.

Please DO NOT bring dogs to any meeting as some landowners do not like them on their property.

All those attending WFS Field Meetings do so at their own risk.

Added on November 29th 2010, updated Nov 29th 09, Nov 30th 09, updated 21st November 2011