1997 Ben Lawers 11 - 13 July Main Meeting
Chris Pogson must take credit for having organised what proved to be a most successful field meeting, and his forward planning really paid off, for all of the 15 people who were fortunate to attend had a wonderful three days' botanising, and saw many of Scotland's greatest rarities.
We met on the Friday at the Ben Lawers visitor centre which, at 1,500 feet, gives a head start to an exploration of the hills. Here we were introduced to Dave and Helen, the Ben Lawers wardens, who were to be our guides and mentors for two of the next three days. Dave has been a warden there for some 18 years and so knows the area extremely well, which proved of great benefit to us. After introductions we were shown a short video of the mountain which depicted its geology, flora and fauna, and provided a useful background to the rest of the meeting. We set off along the Burn of Edramucky where Dave showed us, among others, Tofieldia pusilla(Scottish Asphodel), Saxifraga aizoides (Yellow Mountain Saxifrage), Salix arbuscula (Mountain Willow), S. myrsinifolia (Dark-leaved Willow), S. lapponum (Downy Willow), and Epilobium anagallidifolium (Alpine Willowherb).
As we walked along the mile-long nature trail designed for visitors to see the flowers and the tiny black garnets embedded in the stones of the path-way, occasional stops to look at the different species helped to disguise the fact that we were beginning to ascend. Our path passed through many natural rock gardens, which we also saw later on Ben Vrackie, and in a somewhat more spectacular hanging format in the Birks of Aberfeldy. We saw the pretty little mountain ringlet butterflies so many times that it as easy to forget that, while it is common locally, it is not a common species generally. The ascent became steeper, and we were grateful for the excuse to stop for lunch at the 2,000-foot level. We then followed the path which contoured around Beinn Ghlas, and Dave pointed out Carex saxatilis (Russet Sedge), Juncus trifidus (Three-flowered Rush) and Cerastium alpinum (Alpine Mouse-ear).
Once the west rocks were reached the excitement really began, for we spotted the bright blue flowers of Myosotis alpestris (Alpine Forget-me-not) which contrasted with the wonderful white Sagina saginoides (Alpine Pearlwort). We picked our way extremely carefully along the path in order to minimise damage to a fragile habitat and we found many plants without any mishaps to humans or to the flora. We scrambled up the scree slope to see Erigeron borealis (Alpine Fleabane) and the site of Sagina nivalis (Snow Pearlwort). Then the sun came out and we were privileged to see the beautiful ultramarine Gentiana nivalis (Snow Gentian) in their full glory, proudly displaying their open blooms for our enjoyment. One plant of Sibbaldia was in flower, though I nearly sat on it before spotting the flower. Salix reticulata (Net- leaved Willow) was nestling beautifully amid the cool of the rock face, and the Poa alpina (Alpine Meadow-grass) stood up on the damp mountain ledges. The day was truly a botanist's heaven, and the sites Dave showed to us revealed a rare glimpse into some amazing natural microcosms which unfortunately are under severe threat. Most of the party had seen lots of plants they had dreamt of for a long time, and we all had an unforgettable day.
On the return we met a young man looking for Alpine Woodsia. We took his name and address in order to send him an application form to join the Society. An excellent close to a superb day's botanising!
On the second day of the meeting we gathered on a misty, dreich morning at the car park at Moulin, just below Ben Vrackie. We set off past the stream passing through the wood containing young plants of Larix kaempferi (Larch), Picea sitchensis (Sitka Spruce), and Abies grandis (Giant Fir). The terrain opened up into moorland and a wet area revealed Schoenus ferruginous (Brown Bog-rush) and Eriophorum latifolium (Broad-leaved Cottongrass). We continued along a wide well-trodden path past a small lochan and reached the start of the crags where, after five minutes search on our hands and knees, we found the pretty lilac and white flowers of Astragalus alpinus (Alpine Milk-vetch). Unfortunately, Oxytropis halleri (Purple Oxytropis) was not yet in flower.
We returned to the cars, and en route to the Birks of Aberfeldy, stopped to admire Lysimachia ciliata (Fringed Loosestrife), Equisetum x mildeanum and Leonurus cardiaca (Motherwort). The Birks of Aberfeldy are the botanist's equivalent of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Hanging in the gorge were lush fronds of ferns, numerous woodland plants, such as Pyrola minor (Common Wintergreen), Stellaria nemorum (Wood Stitchwort), Melampyrum sylvaticum and M. pratense (Small and Common Cow-wheat), Equisetum pratense and Sanicula europaea (Sanicle). Recent rain meant that the deep gorge was filled with beautiful waterfalls, their contents speeding to some unknown far-off destination.
We rounded the day off at Keltneyburn where we had permission to wander along the side of the strawberry fields. It was hard to behave and not steal any of the luscious berries, but, with our minds set firmly on flowers we resisted. The berry pickers must have thought us an odd lot rushing off to see Polygonatum verticillatum (Whorled Solomon's Seal) in the wood, and then rushing back.
Sunday morning marked the final day of the meeting, and we assembled at the Lawers Hotel, and then began the uphill trek along the Lawers Burn. This proved to be the most arduous part of the three days' hiking. One member displayed a remarkable degree of dedication by becoming so engrossed in taking photographs of the Salix lapponum (Downy Willow) that he almost missed seeing his lens box floating off down the stream. We hauled ourselves over a number of deer fences and finally reached the 2,000-foot level, where we felt justified in having lunch. Our trudge was fully compensated for, when we saw some superb sedges - Carex capillaris (Hair Sedge), C. atrofusca (Scorched Alpine Sedge), C. microglochin (Bristle Sedge), C. rupestris (Rock Sedge), C. dioica (Dioecious Sedge), Juncus biglumis (Two- flowered Rush) and Kobresia simpliciuscula (False Sedge). A steep wet area running into the stream was a mass of Yellow Mountain Saxifrage with the nodding Epilobium alsinifolium and Alchemilla alpina (Alpine Lady's-mantle), We detoured to see Rubus chamaemorus (Cloudberry), an Emperor moth caterpillar and later a viviparous lizard basking on the rocks by the Lawers Burn, which we followed down to the road. We gave Dave and Helen a well deserved and sincere vote of thanks, for without their help and expertise we would never have seen so many different flowers.
We then gave Chris a hearty thank, you for his successful efforts in making our botanical field meeting so perfect. He may rest assured that every member of the party was greatly appreciative of his efforts. So, thanks again Chris. Oh - fancy organising a trip to Glen Clova next year?
Anna White