1998 New Forest Hampshire 18 - 19 April Main Meeting
On a fine morning 25 members were welcomed by the leaders. Gill Read and Nick Rumens, in Ringwood car-park and given a plant list. Gill said that they had checked on most of the plants, but on their reconnaissance a few days ago, one site had been covered in snow, and she hoped, especially with 25 extra pairs of eyes, that we would find the plants this weekend. After sorting out the cars we drove to Moyles Court sandpit and walked to the top, from where the view was spectacular. We found Cerastium semidecandrum (Little Mouse-ear) on the way up, and on a flat bit at the top the rare Crassula tillaea (Mossy Stonecrop), also Teesdalia nudicaulis (Shepherd's Cress), Veronica arvensis (Wall Speedwell), Erophila verna(Common Whitlowgrass), and the leaves of Filago minima (Small Cudweed) and Ornithopus perpusillus (Bird's-foot). We then went down to the stream, near which were a number of very large old Carpinus betulus (Hornbeam) which, historically, had been used in the New Forest charcoal industry. Some had self-seeded and were thought to be as wild as they could be in the Forest. Their monoecious catkins were examined. On one tree Viscum album (Mistletoe) was growing and down by the stream was Claytonia sibirica (Pink Purslane).
We then drove on to Hale Park were Allium paradoxum (Few-flowered Garlic), Corydalis solida (Bird-in-a-bush), Vinca major (Greater Periwinkle), Glechoma hederacea (Ground-ivy), Veronica hederifolia (Ivy-leaved Speedwell), Anemone nemorosa (Wood Anemone) were found growing by a shady stream, and Ajuga repens (Bugle) by the roadside. We went up the Avon Valley Path opposite, to the churchyard of St Mary the Virgin where we were shown a mass of Chrysosplenium oppositifolium (Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage). There was a fine stand of Lathraea squamaria (Toothwort) growing on Prunus laurocerasus (Cherry Laurel), which was found along the footpath and down the side of small ravine. The churchyard also produced Petasites japonicus (Giant Butterbur), Pentaglottis sempervirens (Green Alkanet), Lamiastrum galeobdolon ssp. montanum (Yellow Archangel), Vicia sepium (Bush Vetch), Melica uniflora (Wood Melick), Viola riviniana (Common Dog-violet), Arabidopsis thaliana (Thale Cress) and Anthoxanthum odoratum (Sweet Vemal-grass).
Then it was over the border into Wiltshire, to Redlynch where two good plants were found, Tulipa sylvestris (Wild Tulip), with its yellow flowers and narrow leaves, and Asarum europaeum (Asarabacca). Tulipa sylvestris has been known at this site for over 50 years, the number of plants varying over the years - about 20 last year, rather less this year - but up to 50 have been known. Asarum europaeum was first recorded here in 1782 and has been accepted, with reservations, by E.J. Clement and M.C. Foster as native in most of its British sites.
After a lunch stop, it was on to Long Beech where Erodium cicutarium (Common Stork's-bill), Montia fontana (Blinks), Moenchia erecta (Upright Chickweed) and Cerastium arvense (Field Mouse-ear) were found. An unscheduled stop was made at Broomy to show several nice plants of Viola palustris (Marsh Violet) in flower in a bog. The day finished at Bickerley Common where the entrance to a small open lane had Pyrus pyraster (Wild Pear) in flower, alongside a small tip on which Symphytum officinale (Common Comfrey) was in flower. Leaves of Heracleum mantegazzianum (Giant Hogweed) and Mentha x piperita var. citrata (Eau-de- Cologne Mint) were also noted. Across the way, Crepis vesicaria (Beaked Hawk's- beard) was in flower. Then it was down to the watermeadows, past a bush of Cytisus scoparius (Broom). The watermeadows which stretch from Christchurch to Salisbury, were looking particularly lovely here, as there were masses of Geum rivale (Water Avens), amongst Caltha palustris (Marsh Marigold) and Cardamine pratensis (Cuckooflower),Carex riparia (Greater Pond Sedge), Carex disticha (Brown Sedge), and Carex nigra (Common Sedge) were looking very healthy, and leaves of Oenanthe fistulosa (Tubular Water Dropwort) were noted. As we walked back, Ranunculus hederaceus (Ivy-leaved Water-Crowfoot) was seen and in the brickwork of the bridge was Asplenium trichomanes (Maidenhair Spleenwort), and Phyllitis scolopendrium (Hart's-tongue Fern).
The weather on Sunday started off fine as we met in Lyndhurst car-park, before going on to Holmsley for the morning. This divided itself into three parts, the first part being in the marshy area below Osmond Bushes car-park. Here we were shown Ophioglossum vulgatum (Common Adder's-tongue) with its fertile spike, and the leaves of Taraxacum palustre (Marsh Dandelion). One member lost her balance and fell, unfortunately getting covered in mud. However, she bravely changed into her waterproof clothes and rejoined us later. The party continued across the boggy area to see the dainty emerging fronds of Thelypteris palustris (Marsh Fem). The whole area was covered with Myrica gale (Bog Myrtle) with its wonderful smell. At one end Prunus x fruticans (P. spinosa x P. domestica) was seen in flower, with its longer pedicels and later flowering habit. Other plants seen included Equisetum palustre (Marsh Horsetail), Ranunculus peltatus (Pond Water-crowfoot) and Potamogeton polygonifolius (Bog Pondweed). The second part of the morning was spent on the old railway line, where leaves of Sedum telephium (Orpine) were found under several of the bramble bushes, and out of reach of the ponies. "Almost everything gets eaten in the Forest", we were told. Fragaria vesca (Wild Strawberry) leaves were also seen here. Down the side of the embankment were Luzula pilosa(Hairy Wood-rush), some handsome plants of Euphorbia amygdaloides (Wood Spurge), and several plants of the wonderful blue Pulmonaria longifolia (Narrow- leaved Lungwort) well known in this area. The third part of the morning stop was a longish walk across the moor to see Myrica cerifera (Bayberry). No one knows how it got here and according to Clement and Foster it has one other site in Britain at Fleet, Hampshire. There were several bushes in bud and quite a number of seedlings. On the way hack, Polygala serpyllifolia (Heath Milkwort) was seen on the moorland, and Ranunculus hederaceus (Ivy-leaved Crowfoot), with larger flowers than those seen yesterday at Bickerley Common, was seen in the stream. (The Ranunculus in the stream, which at first appeared to be Ranunculus hederaceus, was later determined as Ranunculus omiophyllus (Round-leaved Crowfoot)).
At our lunch stop it started to rain. and continued to do so for the rest of the day. At our next stop, Setley Plain, we found the leaves of Plagiobothrys scouleri (White Forget-me-not) in two shallow Hood hollows, with just possibly a few buds on one plant. At the pond a little further on, we were fortunate in finding an early flowering Hottonia palustris (Water Violet) out. although it was considered that Carex caryophyllea (Spring Sedge), which was known to be here, was probably under water! Moenchia erecta (Upright Chickweed), Montia fontana (Blinks) and Cerastium semidecandrum (Little Mouse-ear) were all found on the heath.
Standing Hat car-park was our next stop, and a lovely stop it was, with fine specimens of Ruscus aculeatus (Butcher's-broom) in both flower and berry. Orchis mascula (Early-purple Orchid) and the rare Carex montana (Soft-leaved Sedge). The ground on the way hack was covered with Salix repens (Creeping Willow) looking curiously Bonsai-like with its catkins (lowering. We crossed a Chamaemelum nobile (Chamomile) lawn of which there are said to be a few in the Forest. The rain was coming down heavily as we searched Beau'ieu Heath for Viola lactea (Pale Dog-violet) and Ophioglossum azoricum (Small Adder's-longue), known here from The past to some members, hut despite our very best endeavours we were not successful. This was the site which was under snow when Jill and Nick reconnoitred.
Four car-loads of people continued on to Lymington Reedheds Nature Reserve to see Lysichiton americanus (American Skunk-cabbage). This was a fascinating place: a large bog with tall trees between the railway line and the reeds, and the huge stand of Lysichiton americanus shone green-yellow in the fading light. Carex pendula(Pendulous Sedge), Carex panicuculata (Greater Tussock Sedge), Ribes sanguineum(Flowering Currant) and Valeriana dioica (Marsh Valerian) were also seen.
This concluded a most interesting and stimulating weekend. We are especially grateful to our leaders for all their hard work, organisation and careful preparation in making this such an enjoyable outing. Many thanks to Mr Read for looking after our cars.
JUDY WILSON