1996 Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire 1st to 2nd June Main Meeting
WFS members from all over the British Isles assembled in the car park of Goring railway station on Saturday morning. We met our leader for the weekend, Joanne Colthup, left the station by car and made our way into the heart of the Thames valley for our 'first port of call, a secluded reserve of chalk grassland. At the reserve entrance we were welcomed and escorted by two wardens who led the party through a steep wooded escarpment and onto the summit of a grassland slope. Here we were shown the most sought after, and well protected, Orchis simia (Monkey Orchid). Careful management of this precious site has benefited the orchid tremendously. According to the warden over 90 flowering spikes had been counted and labelled; the most beautiful of which were admired equally by member's eyes and camera lenses. The orchids were growing against a stunning rural backdrop; the Thames valley could be seen stretching for miles from our high vantage point. Other chalk grassland flowers were in bloom causing a riot of colour. There was a great deal of Polygala vulgaris (Milkwort), Lotus corniculatus (Bird's-foot Trefoil), Briza media (Quaking-grass), and Campanula glomerata (Clustered Bellflower), which delighted many members. While some people wandered along a specially designated pathway through the orchids, others were guided by one of the wardens in groups of five to see the inconspicuous Carex filiformis (Downy-fruited Sedge).
Lunch was eaten on an adjacent hillside where access was unrestricted. Members took advantage of this and began searching for the elusive Thesium humifusum (Bastard Toadflax). Many plants were found, but only a few with one or two flowers. On another part of the reserve a patch of Cuscuta epithymum (Dodder) was easily determined by its web of fine coral-coloured stems in the turf.
We were to spend the afternoon looking at the rich flora of a typical Chiltern beechwood while also observing the reserve's most treasured possession; yet another rare orchid. As before, we were met and escorted around the BBONT reserve by its resident warden. Growing on a sheltered grassland bank were a handful of flowering specimens of Orchis militaris (Military Orchid). As with Orchis simia, many members were fascinated by the exquisite form of each individual orchid flower. Under the lens, and with a little imagination, the form of a miniature soldier could be detected. After this, a short detour was made to see some fat flowers of Cephalanthera damasonium (White Helleborine) growing in the beech litter. The remains of the afternoon were spent in the main body of the wood where the largest colony of Orchis militaris could be seen and photographed. In order to conserve future generations of the orchid one area had been enclosed with a high perimeter fence. Visitors were excluded from this enclosure where the orchids were particularly thick. Each orchid growing outside the enclosure was given additional protection in the shape of a carefully constructed wire cage. Permission was kindly granted for these 'wire hats' to be taken off so photographs could be taken.
Members were delighted by the beautiful swathe of Ophrys insectifera (Fly Orchid) near its much rarer relative. Returning to the cars we were briefly shown several fragile-looking plants of Neottia nidus-avis (Bird's-nest Orchid) growing under the gloomy forest canopy. The graceful Poa nemoralis (Wood Meadow- grass) was an added bonus.
Our final destination was, by way of complete contrast, a marshy area of scrub and carr by the river Thames at Remenham. With Henley-on-Thames just a stone's throw away, it was surprising to see another speciality of the Thames valley growing in the greatest profusion; Leucojum aestivum ssp. aestivum (Summer Snowflake).
Sunday was devoted to exploring the Warburg and Bix nature reserve buried deep in a Chiltern valley, the flagship of BBONT. After we had admired a collection of rare arable weeds in the reserve centre, Joanne led the group into a belt of woodland to show us the fruiting stems of Daphne mezereum (Mezereon). Many common woodland flowers were still looking good, including Bluebells, Yellow Archangel and Woodruff, and outside the wood there was Paris quadrifolia (Herb Paris). Nearby, a few spikes of Orchis mascula (Early Purple Orchid) were spotted although they were past their best. Some members made a brief detour into the wood to seemore robust-looking Neottia nidus-avis (Bird's-nest Orchid) growing along the side of a track. Platanthera chlorantha (Greater Butterfly Orchid) in tight bud and Listera ovata (Twayblade) were further additions to the weekend's formidable list of orchids. It was pleasing to see an abundance of fruiting Helleborus viridis (Green Hellebore) seeking refuge in the hedgerows and woodland by the ancient track taking us back to the main car park.
After lunch Joanne led us to another part of the reserve. The woodland here was quite dense and much darker than the area of woodland we had visited in the morning Nevertheless, orchids were again a prominent feature. The late season had prevented Platanthera chlorantha from flowering, but Ophrys insectifera (Fly Orchid) made another appearance. Cephalanthera damasonium (White Helleborme) also managed a few flowers but certainly nowhere near its best. Polygonatum multiflorum (Solomon's Seal) highlighted the importance of the reserve as an invaluable collection of ancient woodland indicator species. Carex muricata ssp. lamprocarpa (Prickly Sedge) attracted the interest of many. A single fruiting Helleborus foetidus (Stinking Hellebore) was duly admired in its natural setting and was a nice finishing touch to a superb weekend of botanising.
Many thanks go to Joanne Colthup who, with the efforts of Rosemary Cashmore, expertly organised the weekend's itinerary. It was a great shame that illness prevented Rosemary from attending. However, Joanne managed magnificently in her stead ensuring that everyone saw what they were supposed to with effortless patience. We all thank you for your time, effort and leadership.
NICK RUMENS